Every now and then, something happens in a Flyers dressing room that surprises me.
Like ... Sean Couturier having some good things to say about himself, the penalty kill, the team, etc.
Most rookies are notoriously bad interviews. We all knew that Simon Gagne had enormous talent when he came in the NHL in 1998.
But his quotes on a daily basis were dreadful. In time, he became a pretty good quote.
You don't see many Couturier quotes from the Flyers on their nightly in-game, between periods emails because they realize he is a very difficult interview and ... shy.
But he's coming out of his shell and I have to think it has something to do with the fact he is displaying CONFIDENCE now when he talks about himself because he has been validated by the media and fans and around the league as a player deserving, not just of All-Star recognition, but Calder Trophy recognition.
I said at the start of training camp that I felt the Flyers would take Brayden Schenn on the initial roster because of the PR implications of the Mike Richards trade. As camp rolled on, I felt that Couturier had made a legit case to make the team.
I wrote he was on the team with Matt Read a week before it was announced. It just made sense.
Today, on CSNPhilly.com, I focused on what he does on the penalty kill. He has tremendous reach with his 6-3 size. He is deceiving fast for a big man. And he has a nasty wrister.
I made the comparison that he is the next Mike Richards in terms of shorthanded performance/goals on the Flyers.
Can't wait to see him 3 years from now.
Here's my story with others talking about Couturier, as well:
click here 
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