Timing is everything.
Sometimes, things don’t work out between a player and a new team for many reasons. Injuries, chemistry, and coaching can all play a big part in the players’ experience on the team.
For former Detroit Red Wings defender Shayne Gostisbehere, he’s found himself in the best position possible for his skill set.
Some may have questioned Gostisbehere’s addition to the Carolina Hurricanes roster this past summer, but the gamble has paid off in spades. He is ranked 11th in points among all NHL defensemen, but that is not where he has been utilized the most.
Gostisbehere’s 12 powerplay points rank him second among defenders in the category. The only blueliner with more points is Cale Makar (13) of the Colorado Avalanche.
Additionally, the 31-year-old averages the second-most time on ice with the man advantage at 3:54. Charlie McAvoy leads the league at 4:07 powerplay time per game.
In their 4-3 win on Wednesday night, Gostisbehere played 21 minutes, behind only Brent Burns (22:03) and Jaccob Slavin (22:37). He played 6:33 with the man advantage.
His 0.77 points-per-game pace is the second-best scoring rate of his career. Gostisbehere is on track to record 63 points, which would be one point shy of his career-high.
Gostisbehere and the Hurricanes have been like a hand in a well-fitting glove—a perfect fit. Time will tell if these trends will continue, but if something isn’t broken, there is no need to fix it.
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