The Philadelphia Flyers made a shocking move on Thursday afternoon by signing forward Sean Couturier to a huge contract extension. Spanning eight years, the new deal is worth $62M, going into effect from the beginning of the 2022-23 season.
That final part is important given just how much salary cap pressure the team is under at the moment. Forecasting the long-term picture of the team, the Flyers lost a key cornerstone in Jake Voracek and dating back even further, one could even argue that the loss of Wayne Simmonds was a big one. Signing Couturier to an eight-year deal not only gives Philadelphia a Selke winning two-way center, but another cornerstone for AV to build his team around, in the same way that Kevin Hayes is.
“We are excited to announce Sean’s long-term extension with the Flyers today,” Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said via a press release. “As one of the premier two-way centers in the NHL, Sean has the rare talent to shut down opposing team’s top players while also contributing at a high offensive level. Throughout his 10-year career with the Flyers, he has proven to be the ultimate teammate. He carries an enormous presence inside our dressing room due to his preparation, determination and drive to win.”
Couturier has spent has entire 11-year career with the Philadelphia Flyers, having been drafted in the first round in 2011. Since then, he’s gone on to become a mainstay of the roster through era after era, coming into his own over the past few years.
Not only did he win the Selke award in 2020 after narrowly missing out just two years beforehand, but he’s won the Bobby Clarke trophy, given to the Flyers MVP for three consecutive seasons, becoming only the third player ever to do so, and the first since Eric Lindros.
“To be part of the Flyers organization for another eight years following next year is extremely exciting,” Couturier said. “I like the way the team is built and the mix of players that we have. I’m really looking forward to it but especially this year. We’ve made a lot of changes, but it’s all positive and very exciting.”
Most recently, Couturier potted 18 goals and 23 assists through in 45 games. This is on the back of a 2020 season where he had an incredible campaign prior to the COVID-19 pause. His average of 0.91 points per game over the past four years is second only to Claude Giroux.
The impact of Coots on the Flyers is immeasurable and the fact that Fletcher has been able to pencil him to a deal that will keep him in the City of Brotherly Love for close to a decade, shows that he loves Philadelphia just as much as Philly loves him. Here’s to another 8-years of some of the most stellar forward play in the entire NHL.
Photo Credit: Alex McIntyre
