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The 27-year-old standout in Sean Couturier 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 the 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 room, as Couturier has won the Bobby Clarke Trophy (Team’s Most Valuable Player) for the second straight year, “There’s always room for improvement, I’m not perfect,” Couturier said in regards to his game, “This is a game of mistakes, and I still make them. Just keep improving each year, every game.”
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 evolved 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, “As a team we had a good year,” Coots said, “The new coaches they have lots of experience, and the experienced additions with Hayes, Braun, and Niskanen. Those are three Veterans that provide Veteran leadership.”
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. 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. He still thinks of Oskar Lindblom on a daily basis, “It was awesome (The video) it gave me the chills. He fought through it like a champ. We get to hang out with him again and see him more often and get him soon back in our lineup.”
Well folks, with Lindblom hoarding rooting for this team throughout the playoffs, that could bode well for the Flyers during the upcoming playoffs.
