It might have taken some time but the Philadelphia Flyers have found a solid player in Sean Couturier.
The Philadelphia Flyers are streaking in hockey and it’s wonderful. The team has a three game win streak and has scored 12 goals over the course of those games. It would seem that after a rough start to the year the Flyers are finding that their mistakes have been corrected. Their secondary is working cohesively, their goaltending has been on point and their defensemen have been the goal scoring power of the team. However, there is one player that has been showing he has found what works and has boosted his profile. That man is Sean Couturier.
Couturier is part of a line alongside Michael Raffl and Brayden Schenn. That line has accounted for five goals and eight assists in the past three games, making them the most productive line for the Flyers. Couturier has been one of top producers and his numbers of the past three weeks have been nothing but extraordinary. In the last 10 games that he played, he’s produced 12 points. He’s always been known as the Flyers’ best defensive forward and despite a slow start, has become an impressive starter and has silenced critics’ voices.
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According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, his teammates also think that he’s been more on top of his game. Winger Matt Read said that “He’s winning puck battles and coming out of the corners with puck control and making plays.” Couturier came to the team in the 2011 NHL Draft after dominating during his time in juniors. He quickly established himself at a young age with the team. He’s in his fifth season in the NHL and at 23-years-old, Couturier has made himself a valuable asset to the team. Couturier worked with teammates Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds and it seemed like the two of them boosted his abilities. Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol saw a number one player in Couturier and moved him to the line with Raffl and Schenn.
Puck Prose
Couturier shows that he has been working on his strength in handling the puck. He’s a strong defensemen but can take advantage of offensive situations. He did have some rough patches earlier in the season and only had three points during the first 14 games of the season. Yet he’s skating as strong as some of the other forwards in the league, if not better. There is no doubt that if Couturier makes the same effort and puts forth more production through the second half of the season, there are honors in his future. The Frank J. Selke Trophy goes out to the forward who excels at the best at the defensive part of hockey. That could be Couturier if he continues to play at the same high level. He has been one of the best defensive forwards and the Flyers are benefiting from his strengths. He’s helping with the team’s possession of the puck and is contributing to the Flyers’ scoring success. Couturier signed a long term deal with the team and and with his success in Hakstol’s system, he might be one of the Flyers’ best for the foreseeable future.