Sean Couturier News
Couturier will return to the Flyers lineup after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury. He is expected to re-assume his role on the top line and top powerplay as Morgan Frost will serve as a healthy scratch. Couturier has eight points (2G / 6A) while averaging 19:32 time-on-ice through 10 games.
Couturier has played all 10 games for the Flyers this season, recording eight points (2G / 6A), but will not play on Friday due to a lower-body injury. Injuries are extra concerning when it comes to Couturier but, fortunately for the Flyers, this does not seem to be related to the back complications that forced him to miss the majority of the previous three seasons. Couturier missed the 2022-23 campaign in its entirety due to injuries and only played 74 combined games in the two seasons prior.
Couturier missed the Flyers' practice Monday as he is banged up with an undisclosed injury but will return Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver after being a game-time decision originally. The 30-year-old centre missed the entire 2022-23 season with a back injury but has been off to a solid start so far in 2023-24 with an assist, three SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus while averaging 20:19 TOI in two games. If he does play Tuesday, expect him to be atop both Philadelphia's top line and power play unit.
Couturier missed the Flyers' practice Monday as he is banged up with an undisclosed injury but is showing positive signs of returning Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver. The 30-year-old centre missed the entire 2022-23 season with a back injury but has been off to a solid start so far in 2023-24 with an assist, three SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus while averaging 20:19 TOI in two games. If he does play Tuesday, expect him to be atop both Philadelphia's top line and power play unit.
Couturier had another injury setback as his 2022-23 season from Hell continues. The star centre had back revision surgery Thursday and is expected to miss the net 3-4 months.
John Tortorella announced Thursday that star centre Sean Couturier has unfortunately stopped skating as he is not ready to ramp up his workload yet. His timetable to return is still indefinite with him now not expected back anytime soon. The 29-year-old has 460 points (180G/280A) through his first 721 career games.
Shortly after Couturier said that he was good-to-go for training camp after back surgery in February, the Flyers announced that he's week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Flyers are hopeful that Couturier will be able to return in 6-to-8 weeks, but if it doesn't, surgery would be required.
Couturier underwent season-ended back surgery on February 11th but is set to open training camp with the Flyers this week. 2022 was the worst point-per-game (0.59) season for Couturier since 2017. Couturier will serve as the Flyers' No.1 centre, but without a quality complement of wingers, a return to 60 points may be a little more difficult than it was for him from 2018-to-2020.
Couturier has been sidelined since December 18th and with the Flyers pretty far off of the pace, they've elected to shut Couturier down for the rest of the season. He finishes with six goals and 11 assists (17 points) in 29 games. According to Flyers' GM Chuck Fletcher, Couturier will need three months to recover and will healthy to start the 2022-23 season.
Couturier was the only active player added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Sunday but three more players joined him on Monday. The Flyers could get Kevin Hayes and Morgan Frost back ahead of Wednesday's game in Seattle, which would obviously help offset the loss of their No.1 centre.
Couturier was a surprise scratch on Saturday but head coach Alain Vigneault said that he "looks good for [Monday]" vs. the Islanders. If Couturier plays, look for Carsen Twarynski to come out of the lineup.
Couturier has been out since January 15th but was a full participant in Saturday's practice and may be available for Sunday's afternoon game. Head coach Alain Vigneault said that Couturier is close but wouldn't commit to him playing Sunday.
Couturier was forced to leave Friday's game with a mid-body injury and did not return. An MRI on Saturday revealed a Costochondral separation, which sounds horribly painful (Google it). Missing two weeks will cost Couturier at least the next seven games. While this is a brutal blow for the Flyers they have some of the best centre depth in the NHL and are built to withstand this loss.