Photo Credit: Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer Photographer
A 29-year-old standout in Sean Couturier has proved to the entire league that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Coots is the heart and soul of this young Flyers team, and without his services it really depletes this team down the middle. There was no doubt he was the MVP of the team in 2020-21, and it might be because is no stranger to playing through pain.
Couturier played through a torn in MCL in games 5 and 6 versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018 playoffs, and he mustered four goals and two assists in those aforementioned games.
Coots missed a large part of last season, which turned out to be a season ending injury. He underwent successful back surgery and wound up missing the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign. Couturier was sidelined from December 29 and has yet toi play a meaningful hockey game since. It was labeled as an ‘Upper-body” injury by the Flyers, but Couturier ended up having surgery to not further delay his return following training camp for the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, that will not be the case, as he is experincing a “Herniated disc” per Anthony SanFilippo of Crossingbroad. However, the Flyers again have labeled his injury as an “Upper-body” injury, which would place him as week to week, per the Flyers (Again, yes again this is happening).
The Flyers statement on Sean Couturier: “He has an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated during training camp. He is considered week-to-week.”
Just last week Couturier said, “I feel good. I had a long recovery. Took longer than I thought, a lot of ups and downs, but now I’m feeling good and ready to go. I’m excited to get going again.” Herniated discs are no joke, and they are very painful, especially for athletes. The Flyers say he will be out at least 6 to 8 weeks, but again that’s not week to week like the team states. Really there is no certainty with this situation, so I do not expect him for the first two-three months of the season at least, that is of course if this latest injury does not require surgery.
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Accountability will be a missing element from Couturier on and off the ice. This was a strong word that was used at the exit interviews following the 2021-22 season for the Flyers. Couturier is no stranger to holding himself accountable, and that rubs off on his teammates, as well. Just how much can Couturier give with being on the shelf is anyone’s guess. Maybe he will be around the team, while receiving treatments for his aforementioned injury, who knows. At this time it really appears the Flyers would be in the running for a future generational talent like Conor Bedard.
Someone needs to step up in Couturier’s absence, but that will not be easy. It would be nice if Kevin Hayes starts to get going, since he is apparently 100%, but that is a lot of pressure to pile on him since he is coming back from hernia surgery after surgery himself. Hopefully someone steps up sooner rather than later, as the Flyers were poised to right the ship from the past few season’s, per Sean Couturier, Cam Atkinson, and Kevin Hayes.
Couturier prides himself on being the best, but with this injury that cannot be expected, it’s just not fair to him to expect that. Now he needs someone to help him battle through this pain for once, but that is a tall task for any player. Coots plays in all situations and does them well. This is a major blow to the orange and black, just three days before training camp commences.
Keith Yandle hangs ’em up
Keith Yandle took to Spittin’ Chiclets and said he was going to retire from the sport of hockey. What a career Keith Yandle had, congrats on all your achievements.
