It was a surprise that Sean Couturier was still available when the Flyers selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Had it not been for setbacks due to a bout with mononucleosis, Couturier could very have been one of the top three picks in the draft. Is he NHL ready? If so, is there a spot for him on the roster in Philly?
Some quick camp observations
Before today, I never literally found myself in a “you snooze, you lose” situation. After my first trip to development camp, I came home and napped for the first time in years. Yup, that’s right; I took a nap and it was awesome. I saw no urgent reason to rush to post something on camp, as I could offer little more than the meaningless observations I posted on Twitter earlier: Tom Sestito is big! Oliver Lauridsen is tall! Kevin Marshall and Erik Gustafsson know how to skate! So, I took time to collect my thoughts and actually sleep on it, …
Putting some of the roster changes in perspective
In order to make sense of the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Holmgren, we need to compare these roster changes to a version of the 2010 Flyers and see how those parts changed. Here is a look at that the forwards from team: Gagne – Richards – Carter Hartnell – Briere – Leino JvR – Giroux – Asham Carcillo/Powe – Betts – Laperriere So, what’s different? A lot, on paper. Here’s my attempt at projecting the 2012 offensive lines, barring any other changes: JvR – Giroux – Voracek Hartnell – Briere – Jagr Nodl – Schenn – Simmonds …
Offseason questions
After shocking the hockey world with the blockbuster trades of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the Flyers created a number of questions that need to be answered before the regular season starts. Many of these questions will be answered during free agency and training camp. It’s too difficult to answer many, if not all, of these questions now. Nevertheless, it is important to identify them to make better sense of unexpected moves if and when they happen. Here, we will try to identify as many of the major questions as we can. Will Brayden Schenn and/or Sean Couturier make the …
Prospect Profiles: Sean Couturier
Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6’4″ Weight: 197 lbs Birthdate: December 7, 1992 Age: 18 Hometown: Bathurst, NB Acquired: 8th overall pick of the 2011 Entry Draft Sean Couturier is described by scouts as a two-way forward. He has good size, good vision, and good hockey sense. He protects the puck well and has the ability to play in all three zones. He had a solid character and is a competitor. He needs to work on his skating and needs to get stronger. Scouts took notice of Sean Couturier when he was only 13 years of age. Once considered a …
Hypothetically speaking: 2012 Phantoms edition
The Phantoms roster could look something like this next season: Read – Schenn – Testwuide Wellwood – Pither Couturier – Holmstrom Zolnierczyk Ranford – Kalinski – Akeson Rowe – Sestito – Rinaldo Marshall – Gustafsson Bourdon – Lauridsen Manning – Jancevski Bobrovsky Leighton Backlund Q: Are you crazy? What’s up with that fourth line? Where’s player X? I love player X! A: This is just a premature, quick and dirty concept to illustrate the newfound depth in the organization. I’m not actually advocating these should be the lines or the roster at this point. Step back from the edge. Everything will be …
Sean Couturier it is
With the 8th overall selection, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Sean Couturier of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 18-year-old center was named the QMJHL’s Most Valuable Player after finishing 4th overall with 96 points (36G, 60A). He was also the only 2011 draft- eligible player to make team Canada’s silver medal winning World Junior squad to become the youngest member of the team. Couturier was ranked the 3rd best player by the International Scouting Service, the 5th best player by TSN’s Bob McKenzie, ESPN.com’s Gare Joyce, and the 6th best skater by the NHL’s Central …