Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Following a statement 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night back in October. It appeared, definitively, that Sean Couturier was back to his normal self. It didn’t take long, only four games to witness this. But, he was the former Selke shut down Center that the Flyers and their proud faithful have come to know. According to John Tortorella via his post game press conference, Couturier matched up against Connor McDavid for 21 out 22 shifts that night. Coots was relegated with shutting down one of the best players in the game, and he did just that as McDavid went home shot-less with just one assist to his name for the night. Even so much so, Couturier registered two assists bringing his point total to four in four games played (1G,3A).
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That was then, and this is now. Couturier has proven to be steady, while doing the little things right throughout the course of the season. Yes his offensive game may not be where once was a few years ago, but his presence on the ice is being felt by the youth. He is the first one of the first players on ice at practice, and the last one to leave it.
For his efforts, he was named the 20th Captain in Flyers history by Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere, “Sean Couturier is an ideal choice to be the next leader of the Philadelphia Flyers,” Briere said. “Sean was drafted here and has made Philadelphia his home. I have personally seen his development from a responsible forward to one of the best two-way centerman in the game and a playoff performer. The adversity he has had to overcome has only strengthened his proven leadership. In this New Era of Orange with Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones and John Tortorella at the helm, we couldn’t be more proud to call him Captain.”
Shortly thereafter, Couturier was benched for two games, a benching that drew wide criticism throughout the entire league. He was obviously not 100%, especially after going pointless through the month of March, while only netting one goal and four assists in the second half of the season. Couturier tallied 33 points in the first half of the season alone, while finishing with a total of 38 points for the season.
Today, on the nasty knuckles podcast, Couturier explained that he is in town and rehabbing from a sports hernia procedure that he just recently had done. This marks the second Flyers player to recently have surgery completed, Drysdale being the first.
This may also explain Couturier’s benchings, and the lack of success in the second half of the season. Hopefully, he recovers and this does not linger through the 2024-25 season.
