Sean Couturier (Coots) wanted to prove to his critics that the 2017-18 season was no fluke. Well, Coots did just that. He was nothing short of phenomenal for the orange and black in 2018-19. For the season, Couturier registered 22 goals, and 37 assists for 59 points. He was also a plus 21 to boot. If people thought the past three years were good for Coots think again, we haven’t seen anything yet.
The 27-year-old standout has proved to the entire league that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Coots was the heart and soul of this young Flyers team all season long. There was no doubt he was the MVP of a young Flyers’ team. When Couturier’s name was called for the team MVP award last year, there were plenty of orange-clad fans roaring Coooooooooooots, to go along with the Let’s Go Flyers chants, unfortunately due to the Coronavirus Flyers fans were doing that from their living rooms over a week ago, as Couturier won the Bobby Clarke Trophy (Team’s Most Valuable Player) for the second straight year. The credit still keeps pouring in as today, as Couturier was officially announced as a finalist for the Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward). The other two finalists are Ryan O’Reilly, and Patrice Bergeron.
“It’s nice to be honored and recognized by the media,” Couturier said in the press release, “It reflects on the year that the team had as well. I try to pay attention to details and do the right things all the time, be on the right side of the puck and reliable in all aspects of the game. I try to take pride in that.”
Couturier was rock solid from the drop of the puck for the 2019-20 season, and this young player in Couturier emerged as a leader in the locker room. He was one of the last players off the ice at every practice. The difference of this season, as compared to other seasons, is Couturier is finally evolving into the leader this young team has craved for the past few seasons.
The Flyers locker room has needed that voice for the past few seasons. Couturier is a player that younger players look up to, and he is a new voice of the Flyers. If Couturier has a bad game he owns it. Moreover, that is something that sits well with Head Coach Alain Vigneault. Coots holds himself to a high standard, and also holds himself accountable when need be.
Accountability was a strong word that was used this season for the Flyers. Couturier is no stranger to holding himself accountable, and that rubs off on his teammates, as well. Former Flyers Interim Head Coach Scott Gordon spoke very highly of Coots last season, “He’s a 200-foot player. He’s valuable because of the fact he can produce, and mostly at the same time play against the other teams top line and be effective, kill penalties, plays on the power-play wins faceoffs. I mean there’s not much more you can ask for.”
“I think once we get going in the round robin we’re going to try to win every game, just in the nature of being a pro athlete,” Coots said following practice on Friday, “At the same time like you said you can practice all you want, skate all you want, feel great, but once you get into a game it’s different. The timing is different, the plays are different and the game shape is different. We’ll have one exhibition game to kind of get up to pace. Sometimes it takes a few games, sometimes it takes a few periods, it all depends on players and the situation. We’re going to have to be sharp from the start of that first exhibition game and try to get into game shape as quick as possible.”
Sean Couturier prides himself on being outstanding defensively, but wants to showcase his offensive skills, as well. He has really taken his game to another level these past few years, and it has given Couturier a ton of confidence. This season was no different for the new leader in Couturier, and finally, another elite player has been born in Philadelphia. Hopefully, Couturier can become the third member of the Flyers organization to win this award, only Dave Poulin and Bobby Clarke have won this particular award.
