Although lots of the Philadelphia Flyers struggled this season, Sean Couturier was certainly not one. Lots of Philly’s fans and staff focused on the negative aspects, and all our somewhat successful players were lost in the mix; that is unless you’re Joel Farabee and admired by every Flyers fan. 28-year-old Couturier recorded 41 points this past season (18G, 23A), with only 45 games played. This left him always playing on the first or second line and 2nd overall for points among the Flyers (behind JVR, Voracek and Giroux, who all tied for first). So, I have decided to point out two major things I noticed he did very well, and why he is an alternative captain. I’m aware that the Flyers’ season didn’t go as planned, but you must be able to look past the results and see our potential success for future seasons.
Something I truly admire about Sean Couturier is, his skills and example for his teammates. In my opinion, a truly skilled player can prove his/her skills through assists. Don’t get me wrong, goals are great too, but an impressive and important save requires quick thinking, accuracy and complete selflessness. With Couturier’s quick moves, he can easily distract a goalie and fire an assist to a wing while throwing the keeper completely off-guard. While he played center on the first line, both of his wings played exceptionally well. Travis Konecny recorded 11 goals, and Claude Giroux recorded 16. Sean Couturier is very evidently a skilled player and encourages his teammates to improve.
Another reason to seriously appreciate Couturier is, his reliability. From shootout, to switching up lines, Sean Couturier never disappoints. Across his career, he’s recorded 28 game winning goals and 4 overtime goals. He’s even stepped up enough to collect 5 shorthanded goals and 25 power play goals. As I’ve mentioned before, he also helps push his teammates to step up and play their best. With 174 goals and 269 assists, you can tell he doesn’t disappoint. One of the few good things I want to say about Alain Vigneault after this season, is that he doesn’t let Couturier’s reliability and skill go to waste. Nine times out of ten, you’ll see Coots take a shot in a shootout. He often plays on the Flyers’ first line and help us put up some points. Sean Couturier is a truly outstanding and reliable player, and Philadelphia is beyond lucky to have him.
The final subject I would like to mention for Sean Couturier is not what I usually choose to write about. It’s not about something he did extremely well, or terrible. I would like to point out why Couturier is an alternative and potential future captain. Lots of what I’ve previously said about him has worked up to this topic, but it hasn’t been simply said. On the ice, Couturier helps make his line mates better. Take Travis Konecny for an example. Konecny is a decent player on his own, but he is evidently better and scores more when he is alongside Couturier and Giroux. He also is an exceptionally reliable player who coaches, and fans can depend on in remotely any situation. Another important responsibility in a/an (alternative) captain is their energy and leadership. From what fans can see through certain interviews, lots of the Philadelphia Flyers truly respect Sean Couturier and some are close friends with him. In this interview, you can hear Couturier calmly and firmly answer questions about him and his teammates, even after the disappointing loss to Boston in Lake Tahoe. He’s very loyal to the city of Philadelphia, just as much as the fans are loyal to him. Sean Couturier is truly one of the best current Flyers, and certainly deserves the title of alternative captain.
All in all, this season wasn’t disappointing for Sean Couturier. He scored when he had to and fired off assists to help his teammates do the same. He remained calm and firm, even when our team was at the lowest. He is a fitting example for our young team, and even helps improve our veterans. Coots had a great season, and proved now more than ever why he wears an A. The entire city of Philadelphia is beyond lucky to have a player like Sean Couturier, especially after a season like this one.
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