3 Reasons Sean Couturier can win second Selke with Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 5: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on prior to the preseason game against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center on October 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 5: Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on prior to the preseason game against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center on October 5, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Patrice Bergeron fist bumps with Carter Hart after defeating the Flyers in the 'NHL Outdoors At Lake Tahoe' game. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Patrice Bergeron fist bumps with Carter Hart after defeating the Flyers in the ‘NHL Outdoors At Lake Tahoe’ game. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

#2. No more Bergeron for the Flyers

The longtime Bruins captain is now retired and can no longer be a thorn in the Flyers’ side, and his absence means more opportunities to win the Selke Trophy for players like Couturier.

After not having won the prestigious award since his age 31 season in 2015-16, Bergeron closed out his NHL career with back-to-back victories at ages 36 and 37. The pair of wins brought him up to a whopping six in total – an unprecedented level of dominance. Only he and Bob Gainey (4) have won the award more than three times.

With a clean bill of health and a rejuvenated supporting cast, Couturier is now in prime position to become the only Flyers player to win the Selke multiple times. In fact, only nine other players in total have won the award more than once, which makes for an even deeper cut into the history books.

A fairly large amount of people believe the Selke Trophy should be renamed after Bergeron, and the older Flyers players should be thankful every day that they won’t have to face such a dominant and smart player like that again. After that, they can turn their attention to helping their teammate secure his second piece of major silverware.