PHILADELPHIA — Somewhere there's been a big-time communication breakdown between the Flyers and their top farm club.

News out of Allentown on Thursday had Lehigh Valley Phantoms coach Terry Murray telling the Morning Call that top defenseman prospect Shayne Gostisbehere's attempt to return to action this season from November ACL knee surgery is off.

Later, Gostisbehere confirmed it to the newspaper.

And then hours later, this saga took a big twist when Flyers GM Ron Hextall was asked for comment after the Flyers' 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues at Wells Fargo Center.

Gostisbehere shut down?

Hextall says that's news to him ... and it's apparently his call.

"A decision has not been made," Hextall said. "I know that it's been released up in Allentown out there, but there's a process going on here and we're not through with it yet.

"Shayne sees our doctor down here in about two weeks. Something will come out of that. Has there been talk about shutting him down for the year? Yes there has, but the final decision has not been made."

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Earlier, Murray stated differently in an interview with the Morning Call.

"He will not be playing a game," Murray said. "We're shutting him down. He's shut down. He's done."

Later, Gostisbehere confirmed Murray's statement in a phone interview with the newspaper.

"That is correct," Gostisbehere said. "It was decided a week ago or so. I was a little disappointed because originally when I got hurt, they told me there was a chance I'd come back this season. But I took it in stride. It's better for me in the long run."

These quotes from Murray and Gostisbehere seemed to flabbergast Hextall.

Asked why Murray would say such a thing if it wasn't true, Hextall answered, "I have absolutely no idea. I haven't talked to Murph and we're going to talk and straighten it out. I don't know. I will tell you that it's out there and we have talked about it, but until we go through the whole process and get all the information and (Gostisbehere) has his final doctor's appointment, or the one in two weeks we won't make that decision."

Gostisbehere resumed skating last month and, according to a Hextall update in mid-February, was expected to be playing again sometime in March.

Gostisbehere must have had a setback, right?

"No, there has not been a setback," Hextall said. "I'd probably be making stuff up if I gave you details, but I know it's an injury that there's new information every year that comes out on it and stuff recently where we're leery of putting him in at this point. But again, in two weeks depending on how things go and how things go with the doctor, then we'll make a determination at that point. But he's not going to play in the near future I can tell you that."

A third-round draft pick in 2012, Gostisbehere is a first-year pro who led Union College to a national championship last season. The 21-year-old is one of the best puck-moving defenseman prospects in hockey, and until his knee injury he had been expected to be with the Flyers next season.

Gostisbehere played his first two NHL games for the Flyers early this season when the team was hit hurt by injuries to blueliners.

"He's been back skating for awhile, probably about a month on and off," Hextall said. "He'll go on for a day, off for a day. It's not the skating (that is an issue). It's the contact. The skating is actually good because he has to build strength. Part of the process of building strength to support the muscles, because the muscles around (the knee) need support. So that's part of the process."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.