Last week the Flyers named Sean Couturier as the 20th captain in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers. The 31 year old forward adds his name to the list of great players who have worn the “C” for the orange and black such as Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Eric Lindros, Keith Primeau, and Claude Giroux. The Flyers have been captain less for almost three full seasons after the departure of Claude Giroux at the 2022 trade deadline. Since then the team has been in a rebuild trying to find a new identity. Couturier was sidelined for all of last season with a back injury. And since he returned he has played 52 scoring 11 goals and 22 assists. Couturier was drafted 8th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft and he is the longest current tenure player in the organization. With another 6 years left on his current contract. Additionally the Flyers named Travis Konecny as an alternative captain along with Scott Laughton.
This past weekend the Flyers played in their sixth outdoor game this time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey against the Devils. The Flyers have only ever won one of their outdoor matchups. That being the 2019 Stadium Series game against the Penguins from Lincoln Financial Field. Where the Flyers came from behind to win 4-3 thanks to a Claude Giroux game winner in overtime. Saturday night’s game it not go the Flyers way once again as they lost 6-3 against the Devils. The Flyers are in a funk of winning several games in a row followed by several losses in a row, until the cycle starts again.
The Flyers next three games are all on national television starting on Wednesday night in Chicago on TNT. Followed by a weekend doubleheader hosting the Rangers on ESPN followed by a visit to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins on TNT. These long breaks in between games will help the Flyers stay rested as well as letting the teams that have played less games than the Flyers catchup.
Right now the Flyers have 65 points through 56 games and are sitting 3rd in the metro standings. Carolina is the next team ahead of then with 71 points in 55 games. Followed by the Devils at 60 points and the Islander with 58 points as the first two teams outside of Wildcard spots each having played 54 games.
(Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)