Without question, one of the most promising aspects of the 2011-12 season for the Philadelphia was the play of the team's rookies and young players. Their emergence is the single biggest reason why I feel better about the Flyers heading into this off-season than I did a year ago.
Over the course of this week, I will be looking in depth at each of the Flyers rookies and players under the age of 25. First up is Sean Couturier.
After Claude Giroux, I consider Couturier to be the closest thing to an untouchable player (at least among those who don't have NMCs in their contracts) on the roster. The defensive job he did during the regular season and playoffs was astounding for a teenaged player, and he showed hints of the offensive game (13 goals, 27 points in mostly a 4th/3rd line and penalty killing role) that made him a prolific scorer in junior hockey.
That does not mean, however, that there is not room for improvement. In fact, I would be surprised if Couturier doesn't get better in the following areas in years to come:
* Working on his skating. He'll never have blazing speed but you could see him get more and more out of every stride even over the course of his first season in the NHL. Part of it is that he almost always takes the most direct route from Point A to Point B. I anticipate that he'll add a little more first-stride power.
* Working on his faceoffs. He won 53.2 percent in the playoffs (despite a rough game in the dot in the final game against New Jersey) after winning just 47 percent during the regular season. There was definite improvement over the course of his first season in the NHL. It would not surprise me a bit if he becomes a dominant faceoff man as his career progresses. He has both the hockey smarts and work ethic to do it.
* Adding some more muscle. That was the biggest question mark about his readiness for the NHL at the start of the season. It turned out not to be a major hindrance. However, I expect that he will become physically stronger over the next couple off-seasons. Eventually, I think his 6-foot-4 frame can play at about 210 to 215 pounds rather than the 195 he carried at the time of the draft last summer.
* Showing his readiness for power play time. Couturier had a hat trick game in the playoffs (Game 2 of the Pittsburgh series) and a pair of offensive hot streaks during the regular season. He also had some lengthy offensive droughts. Much of it, no doubt, was related to his role on the team and his even strength linemates. Some was simply the normal ups and downs that virtually all rookies experience. At any rate, the surface of Couturier's offensive potential has barely been scratched.
In Peter Laviolette's postseason media address, the coach indicated that he would like to see Couturier show he's ready to assume greater offensive responsibilities next year while also remaining the team's go-to center in matchups against Evgeni Malkin and the other top scoring centers of the NHL.
“I think the upside of Sean is really bright," said Laviolette. "He’s been an offensive guy his whole career, he comes with a tag of being a smart two way player as well. We had to find roles for all of our guys and I think that the role that Sean filled this year for us and the way that it increased and the way it stared and increased to the way that it ended, it was a terrific year and a terrific start for him. Certainly the option of more ice time and possible power play time and increased offensive role, that certainly factors into the equation."
First things first: It would not be surprising if Couturier's name shows up on the team's as-yet unreleased postseason surgery list.
Although he suited up for the fourth and fifth games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals following a lower-body injury that knocked him out of Game 3, he looked a bit limited physically. He skated only 7:08 in Game 4. In the elimination game, he played 13:41, but really didn't look like himself physically.
Hopefully Couturier doesn't need any sort of surgery this summer. But even if he does, I'm sure he will rehab very diligently and be ready to go for training camp.
I don't say this about many second-year players, but I have a high degree of confidence that Couturier will not suffer a "sophomore jinx" of any kind. I think he'll only continue to get better and better.
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