Sean Couturier isn’t the same player he used to be. Back surgeries and age have taken their toll. But he doesn’t have to lead offensively to still be regarded as the Flyers’ leader.
There’s a reason Couturier continues to wear the ‘C’ on his chest despite all that he’s been through. It’s because he does exactly what is asked of him and whatever it takes to help the team win. He is a perfect example for those younger players looking to find their way in the league.
Porter Martone saw firsthand exactly why Couturier is such an important leader for this team.
“For me, man, Coots is just an incredible leader. I remember he got up to speak during the series against Pittsburgh, and I noticed how everyone in the room was completely locked in and just hanging on every word. And then he goes out there and he just plays the game the way it’s meant to be played. He’s a team-first guy who is just a master of the little things. When you see that out there, and you see the way he’s respected in our room … there’s just nobody better to be wearing our C.”
What stands out most is that Martone, who joined the Flyers late in the regular season, could already see the presence Couturier has in the locker room. And that says more than anything else could. He earned the respect that made everyone stop and listen to what he had to say.
Martone’s comments get right to the crux of why Couturier remains an important part of the Flyers. The 33-year-old doesn’t have to be the player he was a decade ago to have an impact on those around him. He’s not going to lead the team in scoring or dominate every shift.
And that’s okay.
Couturier was once considered one of the league’s top defensive forwards. He was recognized for those efforts with the Selke Award after the 2019-20 season, firmly establishing himself as one of the NHL’s best two-way players. He could have won multiple, but happened to play in the same era as Patrice Bergeron, who won the award six times. After Claude Giroux’s departure, the Flyers elected to go captain-free for almost two years until Couturier was given the honor in 2024.
“When I came down to see the Flyers play when I was eight, Giroux had the C. He was my guy, too. Him and Wayne Simmonds. They were so cool to me. Giroux always seemed so connected to the fans, to the city. People still talk about him here. I think that’s the same thing with Coots.”
Giroux was the face of the Flyers’ franchise for over a decade and became deeply connected to the city during his tenure. Couturier and Giroux have taken different paths to get where they are, but it’s telling that Martone can already see the connection.
And even then, Couturier went through adversity with previous head coach John Tortorella, getting scratched shortly after being named captain and being demoted to the fourth line.
He has been forced to reinvent himself as a player to keep up with today’s NHL. Missing nearly two years of hockey and coming back to play at any level is an impressive feat on its own. Couturier never seemed to air out complaints publicly about the situation he was dealt with.
Couturier’s role has shifted, but his importance to the team hasn’t. And that’s a significant note for a team that is building around a younger core. Players like Martone are learning what it takes to establish themselves in the NHL. And there could not be a better person to do so than Couturier. He has experienced nearly every stage there is to an NHL career and has had to adapt along the way. That knowledge and experience is invaluable.
Through everything he has been through, he’s remained the kind of dependable and selfless teammate Martone described. The Flyers don’t need Couturier to turn back the clock or become someone that he’s not. It’s evident his impact has been felt.
Martone’s comments are further proof that Couturier can still command a room at this point in his career. When he talks, the Flyers listen. And for a team trying to climb back into contention, his leadership could be just as important as what he does on the ice.
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