Sean Couturier has been named the 20th captain in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers, succeeding Claude Giroux and bringing a history of defensive prowess and consistent scoring to the role, while being in the second year of an eight-year contract extension.
Big news from the Philadelphia Flyers. Sean Couturier is stepping up as the team’s 20th captain. Quite the journey, huh? He’s been the alternate captain for the last four seasons. Now, he’s grabbing the reins as the first captain since Claude Giroux left the spot. Giroux was the face of the team for a solid decade.
This season, Couturier’s been on the ice for 50 games. Scored 11 goals and racked up a total of 33 points. It’s a comeback story, really. Last time we saw him in regular season action was back in the 2021-22 season. Injuries benched him for a rough 22 months.
Couturier’s not new to the Flyers. Nope, he’s a lifer. Been with them for all 12 seasons of his career. Drafted eighth overall back in 2011, he was part of a top 10 draft that’s all seen significant NHL play. Jumped straight into the NHL, scoring 27 points in his rookie year. His scoring? Well, it stayed pretty consistent, not sky-high. That is until the 2017-18 season when he just exploded. 31 goals and 76 points as Philly’s top center.
Since then, he’s kept the scoreboard ticking. 33 goals and 76 points followed by 22 goals and 59 points in subsequent seasons. Even in the shortened 2020-21 season, he was on fire with 41 points in 45 games.
This season? The numbers are a bit more modest, with Couturier on track for 54 points. But, let’s not overlook his impact. He’s been crucial for the success of linemates like Owen Tippett, Travis Konecny, and Joel Farabee.
Contract-wise, Couturier’s in it for the long haul. Signed an eight-year, $62M extension in 2021. That’s commitment. Keeps him on the Flyers’ roster till he’s 37, with a $7.75M cap hit each season.
Flyers’ GM, Daniel Briere, is playing the long game. He’s been busy shaping the team’s future. Securing top forward Owen Tippett and Ryan Poehling was just the start. Now, with Couturier as captain, it feels like the Flyers are setting the stage for the next decade.
