What Will the Flyers do With Shayne Gostisbehere?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The decision to take out Brandon Manning, who’s been pretty good for the Flyers lately, so that Luke Schenn could return from injury was hard for Dave Hakstol.

Just wait ‘til you see the next call they have to make.

In about a week, the Flyers will activate Mark Streit from long-term injured reserve and it could mean that rookie phenom Shayne Gostisbehere goes back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

“We’ve got too many defensemen,” general manager Ron Hextall said. “That’s the reality. It’s a good problem to have, but we do. We’ll wait and see how it plays out. We’ll have to make a move. We’ll wait and see what happens.”

Last year, the Flyers recalled Gostisbehere for two games and Hextall couldn’t have been less enthused about it. He flat out said that Gostisbehere shouldn’t be there after Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald went down hurt and in short order Gostisbehere was returned to the minors.

Even though he’s had three overtime winners in 17 games, is second in the NHL among rookie defensemen in scoring and breathed life into the Flyers’ offense this year, sending “Ghost” back to the minors isn’t off the table.