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Meltzer's Musings: Couturier Still Capable of Higher Production |
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Over the course of his NHL career to date, Sean Couturier's best stretches of offensive play often came when Brayden Schenn was placed on his line. The two players had chemistry that spilled over into increased point production for both players. For whatever reason, they were never installed as a semi-"permanent" linemate tandem (ala Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek) despite having at least three significant simultaneous hot streaks over a few seasons while they were placed on the same line by Craig Berube and then by Dave Hakstol.
That question is now moot. Schenn is now a member of the St. Louis Blues. It will be up to Couturier to work through his pattern of 10-15 game bursts of offensive productivity interspersed with droughts of about 25 to 30 games where his bottom-line contributions on the offensive side of the puck are minimal.
I have never subscribed to the belief that Couturier simply isn't talented enough offensively to be a regular contributor. Those 10-to-15 game stretches where he produces at a point-per-game pace -- almost entirely at even strength -- have occurred in each of the last three seasons. There is still something more he is capable of unlocking. At the very least, the offensive droughts need not be as prolonged as they have been.
It is hard to know exactly how much Couturier's late November knee injury set him back offensively during the 2016-17 season. At his exit day press conference, the player said that the knee bothered him until late in the season.
"It was tougher than I thought finding my rhythm. I didn’t feel 100 percent. Don’t have my jump. I always felt like I was missing that half second to make a play or whatever. It was definitely frustrating at times. At but at the end there I was starting to feel better and I think it ended pretty good," Couturier said in April.
Couturier finished the season strong, compiling 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) and a plus-18 rating over the final 20 games (tops in the NHL over that juncture). Did the addition of Valtteri Filppula to the Flyers' roster and the reunion of Couturier and Schenn in the lineup really have that much an impact? How much of it was Couturier finally starting to feel better physically?
Most importantly, is this something Couturier can sustain for something much closer to a full season? Over the course of his career to date, while he has consistently handled tough defensive minutes as well as most any player in the NHL, it is hard to deny that his offensive production has been excessively streaky.
Going back to 2014-15, Couturier had a six-game point streak in early December (three goals, four assists, seven points, plus-three) with Schenn on his left wing. Late in the season, with Schenn on his right wing, Couturier closed out the campaign on another six-game point streak (two goals, five assists, seven points, plus-four).
In 2015-16, Couturier struggled out of the gates but then hit his stride right after Thankgiving. Over a 16-game stretch, Couturier posted 16 points (six goals, 10 assists, plus-13) but then got injured. After his return, he posted just one point (an assist) in his first five games back in the lineup but then went on a 12-game, 11-point (one goal, 10 assists, plus-four) run before a quiet finish to the regular season (one goal, two assists) and a game one shoulder injury in the Flyers' playoff matchup with the Washington Capitals that knocked him out for the duration of the series.
Couturier's critics tend to denigrate his offensive abilities. However, my view is that his offensive streaks have been numerous enough in quantity and extended long enough in duration to suggest that the ability to produce above-average offensive numbers -- without compromising his defensive game -- is within his capabilities.
One valid criticism of Couturier is that he has been an ineffective power play performer during his NHL career. At different juncture in the NHL, he has been tried out at the point, on the left half boards and, most recently, at net-front. None have really clicked. Most of the player's productivity comes at even strength.
Moving forward, it would be a big boost to the Flyers if Couturier's most recent late-season surge proves to be real deal. His line with Schenn and Dale Weise was arguably the team's best unit in the final weeks of the season. Now he will need to do the same in a new combination in 2017-18, and shorten the inevitable down stretches in between the surges.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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