|
Quick Hits: Has Couturier Turned Corner, SHL Finals |
|
|
|
|
|
QUICK HITS: APRIL 17, 2017
1) It is hard to know exactly how much Sean 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.
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 Brayden 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, his offensive production has been streaky. In each of the last three seasons, he has had at least one offensive tear.
Going back to 2014-15, Couturier had a six-game point streak in early December (three goals, four assists, seven points, plus-three) while Brayden Schenn was 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).
Last season, 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, 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 there. However, the player needs to avoid those 20 to 30 game spells where he chips in very little offensively.
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.
"Me, Schenner and Weiser, we had some tremendous chemistry," Couturier said on exit day.
"We seemed to find each other right from the get go when we were reunited. We had a good first few games and built on that, and finished the year strong together. It was nice, and hopefully we can build on that and get the same thing going next year."
2) The best-of-seven Swedish Hockey League finals got underway on Sunday. The pre-series favorite, HV71 Jönköping, grabbed the early lead in the series with a 5-2 win over Brynäs IF Gävle in Game One. Flyers left wing prospect Oskar Lindblom scored one of the BIF goals, while Flyers goalie prospect Felix Sandström stopped 26 of 30 shots. The final HV71 tally was an empty net goal. Game Two is on Tuesday in Gävle.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»