A disservice to Gostisbehere and Flyers defense

IMAGINE, FOR one second, that the names and numbers were removed from the Flyers' jerseys during training camp.

Imagine that contracts and salary-cap information were thrown out the window.

Imagine that age really was just a number and experience counted only for as much as length of service in the NHL Players Association pension plan.

Then judge the Flyers' defense. Pick the best six players and give them a name and a uniform number on Opening Night next Wednesday.

Judging by that criteria alone, few who closely watched the Flyers this preseason would not have prospect Shayne Gostisbehere in their lineup at the Garden on Causeway Street in Boston.

Alas, that is not how Ron Hextall and Craig Berube decided they were going to evaluate the team's most vital position this preseason.

Gostisbehere, 21, was assigned to the Phantoms yesterday with 2012 first-round pick Scott Laughton, where both will begin their professional careers.

Laughton's demotion was not much of a surprise. Not only did he not stand out above the rest in training camp, Laughton also wasn't going to get the minutes required at center (behind Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Vinny Lecavalier) to properly develop in the NHL. Laughton didn't look ready to make the jump.

On the other hand, Gostisbehere was the Flyers' most dynamic, cerebral blue-liner - by far - in the preseason. He played only three games but was noticeable in every one.

His final stat total: two goals, one assist, six shots, minus-1 rating, two blocked shots, three giveaways, and one takeaway in 55:36 of ice time. More like Shayne "Gots-to-be-here."

The response from the Flyers since Hextall took over: "Why rush?"

Rather than let each player determine his spot for the season - and truly put veterans on the hot seat and competing for jobs - each prospect's fate was largely preordained the day Hextall took over on May 7.

"For one of these young kids to come in and make our team, they're going to have to come in and beat someone out, and that's not an easy task in a couple weeks," Hextall said in an interview with BroadStreetHockey.com on Aug. 26. "If a kid comes in and makes us a better team, then in all likelihood, he's going to make it. But he's got to make us a better team.

"I've said this over and over. Tell me one player that's been hurt by being sent back to junior, being trained the right way, playing in the AHL. Then you look at the players who have been hurt by playing in the NHL too early. The list is long.

"There's a history telling us that rushing young players is not a good thing and that's a philosophical thing that I've learned through the years. That's the way I approach things."

In years past, the Flyers have been guilty of sacrificing the future for the present. They've traded draft picks like candy, trying to land the biggest piece at the trade deadline, or handing out huge bucks in the summer for the top name available.

Hextall did not do that this summer.

He has, however, overvalued the current defense the Flyers have assembled. Around the league, it is the position where the Flyers aren't just viewed as vulnerable, but they're openly mocked.

None of the Flyers' seven defensemen - including newcomer Nick Schultz - blew the doors off anyone this season (or last). Braydon Coburn put together his worst training camp since joining the Flyers in 2007. Nick Grossmann scored a goal Tuesday night against the Rangers, but he obviously doesn't look any faster.

They are all locked into positions, largely by virtue of contract or experience - not necessarily talent or value.

The Flyers seem to be stuck in the thinking that bigger is better on defense. That is the old NHL. It's all about puck movement, speed, transition and vision.

Gostisbehere is that next wave of talent. The way he floats around the ice, jumping in and out of the play, is not just refreshing, it's needed. He is the way the game is going. As well as Mark Streit sees the ice, it's almost in black and white compared to the high definition inside Gostisbehere's visor.

As broadcaster Steve Coates joked during one preseason game, he saw Gostisbehere play all five positions on the ice in one shift.

There were growing pains, yes. Gostisbehere admitted he was nervous in the first period of his first preseason game. He wasn't rock solid defensively, though his positioning was surprisingly good. Then again, which of the Flyers' current seven defensemen is lights out in his own zone? Gostisbehere wouldn't be on the ice for his defensive prowess - a fact the coaches of Erik Karlsson and P.K. Subban understand.

Gostisbehere's upside, here and now, is such that you could live with his growing pains until he gets fully acclimated to the league.

So, Gostisbehere will go and "work out the kinks" in Lehigh Valley, where he will adjust to playing an AHL style of game that is more physical and less finesse than the NHL. He probably will be back with the Flyers sometime in December - or whenever injuries occur.

Somewhere along the way, the Flyers became so panicked about not wanting to screw up the future that they looked past players who can help them now. Seemingly on principle alone.

Sending Gostisbehere to the Phantoms was like preventing a brilliant student from taking advanced college courses while in high school. At a certain point, it's a disservice to the player who knows and has proven he belongs at the next level.

"You really notice Gostisbehere," Berube said before camp opened. "The way he gets up the ice, he's so smooth, it's hard not to notice him. You can't just shut your eyes to people because they're young."

Or can you?

Maximum roster of 23 players due to NHL by Tuesday at 5 p.m.:

FORWARDS (14)

LW Brayden Schenn: $2,500,000

C Claude Giroux: 8,275,000

RW Jake Voracek: 4,250,000

LW Matt Read: 3,625,000

C Sean Couturier: 1,750,000

RW Wayne Simmonds: 3,975,000

LW Michael Raffl: 1,100,000

C Vinny Lecavalier: 4,500,000

RW R.J. Umberger: 4,600,000

LW Zac Rinaldo: 750,000

C Pierre-Edouard Bellemare: 600,000

RW Jason Akeson: 575,000

W Blair Jones: 600,000

W Jay Rosehill: 675,000

Total: $37,775,000

DEFENSE (7)

D Mark Streit: $5,250,000

D Nick Grossmann: 3,500,000

D Luke Schenn: 3,600,000

D Michael Del Zotto: 1,300,000

D Braydon Coburn: 4,500,000

D Andrew MacDonald: 5,000,000

D Nick Schultz: 1,250,000

Total: $24,400,000

GOALTENDERS (2)

G Steve Mason: $4,100,000

G Ray Emery: 1,000,000

Total: $5,100,000

TEAM FIGURES

Salary Cap: $69,000,000

Cap Payroll: $67,620,000

Cap Space: $1,380,000

LONG-TERM INJURY LIST* (3)

D Kimmo Timonen: $2,000,000

D Chris Pronger: 4,941,000

F Ryan White: 575,000

Total: $7,516,000

*For players on long-term injury list, team receives a bonus equal to injured players' salary-cap hit to spend on replacement.

BONUS OVERAGE

Total: $345,000

**The Flyers paid out $345,000 in performance-based bonuses last season, which exceeded the salary cap. As such, the $345,000 penalty is applied to this season.

COMPLIANCE BUYOUTS*** (2)

C Daniel Briere: $833,333 (Through 2016-17)

G Ilya Bryzgalov: $1,642,847 (Through 2026-27)

Total: $2,476,180

Compliance buyouts do not have any salary-cap penalty.

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Email: seravaf@phillynews.com