In somewhat important news, the Philadelphia Flyers officially activated veteran forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson from injured reserve on Sept. 21. In addition, the Flyers also activated defenseman Victor Mete.
Mete, 26, joined the Flyers on July 5 when he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the team. The defenseman was mostly recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs and brings 247 games of NHL experience, but he’s likely to be an AHL depth piece by the time the season starts.
However, the activation of Couturier and Atkinson confirms that the two forwards are healthy, and healthy enough to play in the 2023-24 season. Couturier’s last NHL action came on Dec. 18, 2021, at the age of 29, in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators. The former Selke Trophy winner’s most recent NHL point came in that game as well. Now 30 and nearing 31, Couturier will look to prove that he still has gas left in the tank this season.
Atkinson, meanwhile, hasn’t seen NHL ice since the 2021-22 season, when he last played in the Flyers’ 73rd game of the year – a 9-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The former Columbus Blue Jacket was still effective that season, scoring 23 goals and 50 points in 73 games, but it’s worth noting he finished his season with no goals and three assists in his last 13 appearances.
Now 34, Atkinson is much closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but this season the veteran will have the chance to reunite with his former Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella on the ice for the first time. Under Tortorella, Atkinson scored a career-high 41 goals in the 2018-19 season and should now be able to help the young forwards get a firmer grasp of their coach’s system in Year 2.
Both Couturier and Atkinson were “very active” in the Flyers’ veteran skate on Sept. 14, according to PHLY Sports’ Charlie O’Connor, and the paper transaction of their activations now reflects that. Both players hated sitting on the sidelines for 2022-23, and will now look to prove their health and flex their skills once again this season.