Flyers Playoff Player Review: Sean Couturier

Not surprising, Couturier was one of the Flyers best forwards during the postseason.

Sean Couturier of the Flyers finally got the Selke trophy, and to some degree, the respect that he has deserved for years. The Selke winner also had a fine playoff run in 2020 where his two-way play drove the Flyers into the second round.

Couturier spent the playoffs as the Flyers top centerman where he logged most of the important minutes. He would miss one game, game six against the Islanders, with a sprained MCL only to bravely return in game seven where the Flyers ultimately fell.  Couturier would finish the playoffs with 2, goals both at even strength, seven assists for nine total points.  This would tie him for second on the team.

Couturier had the best advanced metrics on the team, with a team leading 58.87 5 on 5 corsi percentage.  Even corsi skeptics (like myself) must acknowledge the mark is impressive.  But looking beyond the number and at the actual games, there were very few shifts that Couturier lost, despite only a +3 5 on 5 goal differential. At least two of the goals against were just horrible luck, where the puck just jumped strangely, then was behind Carter Hart a moments later.

Couturier spent time on special teams as well, collecting just under 27 minutes killing penalties. He was 4th amongst forwards in shorthanded minutes and did give 5 goals against, the most by a forward on the Flyers.  Again some of this was bad luck, some of it was fine work by the opponent’s powerplay, but some of it was Couturier failing to clear a puck or win a battle. This was underwhelming, as Couturier’s penalty killing is usually impeccable.

Couturier was also featured on the powerplay where he collected a whopping 49:31 time on ice, third amongst forwards.  Like every Flyer, besides Jake Voracek, Couturier was ineffective, registering just two secondary assists.  Couturier is not out of place on the powerplay, but he is not exactly a guy who would be looked at as the offensive engine.

So while Couturier should get his share of criticism for what he did with his 49 minutes, it seems he is more a product of his environment. If the offensive stars are not scoring on the powerplay, it is unlikely Couts would buck the trend.

Couturier gets top marks for doing all the Couturier things he does. Driving play, superior defense, taking on any assignment, etc. His offensive production, as it ranked to the rest of the Flyers forwards, was a plus, especially in light of the struggles Giroux was having.

Couturier was unable to avoid the stink of the Flyers postseason powerplay, and deserves some culpability given the quantity minutes he played on it.  His penalty kill numbers could have been better, but goals happen when short-handed, plus there was little that was overtly bad in his short handed play.

Couturier did a really good job for the team, and while not perfect he was a key reason for the success the Flyers had.  Couturier ranked among the teams best forward and looked like the best player on the ice many nights.