Hurricanes like seeing ‘Ghost’ make a good first impression after trade from Arizona
A week ago this time, Shayne Gostisbehere was a member of the Arizona Coyotes, hearing all the trade rumors, consulting with his agent, talking to his wife, his life in NHL limbo.
A week later, Gostisbehere is a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, the defenseman contributing two power-play goals and two assists in his first two games with his new team, settling in quickly.
Both were big wins, the first over the team that traded him and the second over a team that won Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. The Canes hammered the Coyotes 6-1, then returned to PNC Arena on Sunday for a 6-0 complete-game victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I was definitely a little nervous that first game,” Gostisbehere said Sunday. “You don’t want to be that guy that comes in and obviously it doesn’t go (well). But these guys and coaches are helping me make this transition seamless.”
It was a quick transition. The Coyotes traded Gostisbehere to the Canes on Wednesday, two days before the NHL deadline. Two days later, he was on the ice at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, trying to beat a team he had been with for 134 games over two seasons.
“It’s been a little emotional for my family and I,” Gostisbehere said. “We haven’t really dealt with this whole deadline situation like this before.”
Gostisbehere had been traded before — sent by the Philadelphia Flyers to the Coyotes in July 2021, after six seasons in Philly. But this was different.
“When I was traded the first time it was in the summer. You have a little more time to digress and whatnot,” he said. “For us, it has been awesome because these guys have made me feel like I’m at home and been really helpful to me.”
Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour noted, because of the timing and location, the trade put Gostisbehere in an awkward position, both in playing his former team so quickly while trying to distill and understand a new system.
The unusual situation was reminiscent of Sergei Samsonov’s trade to the Florida Panthers in February 2011. Samsonov practiced with the Canes in Raleigh, was traded later that day for Panthers defenseman Bryan Allen, and with the Panthers the next day for the morning skate and a game at the arena.
It was a bit surreal, for Allen and Samsonov.
But Gostisbehere was able to put it all behind him quickly, with two games in three days.
“When they throw you in the fire like that, sometimes it’s a little easier,” he said.
Gostisbehere has been paired defensively with Jalen Chatfield in his first two games, and quickly was assigned to quarterback the Canes’ second power-play unit while Brent Burns continues to be the QB on the first unit.
Against the Coyotes, Gostisbehere stepped into a shot from the top of the left circle for his first power-play goal. His second goal, against Tampa Bay, came on a heavy shot from the left point that easily beat goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy high to the glove side, no easy task.
Gostisbehere’s second assist in the game had Teuvo Teravainen scoring his third goal for his second career hat trick. Gostisbehere put a shot on net and Teravainen was there for the rebound and quick follow shot that soon had the ice littered with caps.
“He’s a good puck mover, sees the ice, all the stuff we knew,” Brind’Amour said Sunday. “So nothing’s really surprised me.”
The Hurricanes, leading the Metropolitan Division by two points over New Jersey after Sunday’s games, made two additions before the trade deadline: Gostisbehere, and forward Jesse Puljujarvi, acquired Tuesday from Edmonton. The Canes’ core group remained unchanged.
Gostisbehere, nicknamed “Ghost,” is a rarity for the Hurricanes, an acquisition who is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Brind’Amour said improving the power play was a priority, and that Gostisbehere “was the best guy out there.” Puljujarvi was scheduled to join the Canes in Montreal on Monday after obtaining his work visa.
“Do we have other needs?” Brind’Amour said Sunday. ”Every team has got holes they’d like to improve, but you do have to be cautious with what the price tags are. I think we do a good job of keeping level-headed.”
Did the Canes do enough?
They believe they did.
“The truth’s going to come later, as we know,” Brind’Amour said. “The proof’s always going to be later.”
This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Hurricanes like seeing ‘Ghost’ make a good first impression after trade from Arizona."
