In recent years, Sean Couturier, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers, battled back problems and a strained relationship with his former coach. However, now, feeling healthy and with a fresh start under coach Rick Tocchet, Couturier demonstrated his value to a team eager to leave the rebuild behind and aim for the playoffs. Couturier scored two goals and two assists, securing Tocchet’s victory in his home coaching debut and leading the Flyers to a 5-2 victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, last Monday night.
Couturier, 32, has been out of action due to back problems and was even a substitute under the previous coach, John Tortorella. Two seasons ago, Tortorella benched Couturier just 34 days after being named team captain. Couturier was on the fourth line in the home opener last season, but now enjoys a solid relationship with Tocchet.I think he trained hard this year. He came to camp in very good shape. When your captain comes in good shape, it helps the coach. It was nice that he came in very good shape for us.
Rick Tocchet
Couturier, who debuted as a rookie in the 2011-12 season, became the athlete with the longest tenure in Philadelphia after the retirement of Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham at the end of last season. Tocchet easily received the loudest cheers from the fans during the pre-game introductions at the home opener. The Flyers hired the former fan favorite in hopes that his return would propel them out of an extensive rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet, who played more than a decade with Philadelphia at different stages at the beginning and end of his career, is in his fourth head coaching job after stints in Tampa Bay, Arizona, and Vancouver. Tocchet took over the position months after the Flyers fired Tortorella, with nine games remaining to finish another losing season for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020.I’m starting to regain confidence.
Sean Couturier
Philadelphia, once a model franchise in the league, has one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL. The Flyers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since they did so in 1974 and 75. The Flyers opened with a somber tribute to those teams with a tribute to Bernie Parent. Parent, who passed away in September at the age of 80, won the Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies in consecutive seasons for the Stanley Cup champions. The Flyers painted his retired uniform number “1” behind each net and chose to “show the same passion that he lived with a standing ovation.” They will wear a “1” jersey patch this season. It was a great effort in his honor. He will definitely be missed around here. We used to see him at the games. He always had that quality of just lighting everything up and illuminating and putting a smile on everyone’s face. The Flyers presented the player of the match with a goalie mask in the style of the Parent version he used in the 1970s, which earned the goalie the cover of Time magazine. Dan Vladar made 24 saves from 26 shots to earn his first win with the Flyers and become the first player to wear the mask. Vladar helped hand the Panthers their first loss in four games, which included a win in Florida over the Flyers last week.I love the first type of victory, but I’m happy for the guys, for the way they’ve been working on the concepts.
Rick Tocchet
Every single one of the guys had goosebumps during the ceremony. It was a sad thing, but what a great player and what a great person he was.
Dan Vladar
