I chose neither, but I am a realist.....
- mr4tno

Well then, lets look at some players who had major surgeries that in the past would have been career ending. The obvious starting point is Jack Eichel who was one of the first NHL players to get artificial disk replacement surgery. It took him some time to get back but this year has 60 points in 62 games! Farabee had the same surgery and didn't miss a regular season game because of it, and is finally showing signs of moving forward in his play again. Brad Marchand had hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips! Came back this year stating he hasn't felt this good in 10 years and has 63 points in 66 games. So it clear sports medical procedures and surgeries have come a long way and thus there is a realistic chance Couturier comes back close to 100% next season.

Well then, lets look at some players who had major surgeries that in the past would have been career ending. The obvious starting point is Jack Eichel who was one of the first NHL players to get artificial disk replacement surgery. It took him some time to get back but this year has 60 points in 62 games! Farabee had the same surgery and didn't miss a regular season game because of it, and is finally showing signs of moving forward in his play again. Brad Marchand had hip arthroscopy and labral repair on both hips! Came back this year stating he hasn't felt this good in 10 years and has 63 points in 66 games. So it clear sports medical procedures and surgeries have come a long way and thus there is a realistic chance Couturier comes back close to 100% next season.
- jd250

don't disagree that surgeries procedures and whatnot have improved. i had a surgery at 26, same surgery at 30. my recovery and all was very different. so is how one feels vs the other. same procedure, same doctor. farabee and jack are both younger. how coots does has yet to be seen. is promising, but we will hopefully find out next year. not thrilled about the set back. and farabee so far does not look the same. hopefully a good offseason helps this and should.

especially when we are looking at professional athletes, in a sport where even healthy players are not playing after 35. can he come back and play. probably yes but the older you get the harder surgery recoveries become.
- Peter Richards

Healthy players are most certainly playing in the NHL at 35. Routinely.

Lets look at the power play as a example. The Flyers have one of the worst Power plays in the league, yet when the team actually gets set up in the offensive zone they can move the puck and score, at least they have improved this area as the season has gone a long. So why is their PP % so poor? Its because most of the time they lose that first o-zone face off and the puck is cleared down the ice, taking at a minimum 20 seconds off the clock. Now this exasperates the other Flyers' problem, zone entries. During most PPs the Flyers have had this year, an entire minute has gone by before the Fyers finally set up in the o-zone. Getting better centers that can consistly win 54-58% of their face-offs will go a long way to improving possession. Yes couturier will help just by being in the lineup but to me, add 2 top centers on this current team and I see them contending, not just competing, much sooner than you think.
- jd250

Faceoffs are only a small part of the PP issues. The main issue is the same as everything else. Talent.

Drafting and developing two top centers to the point where they are of the quality to elevate this team to true contending status will take much longer than you think. When Fletcher was making his moves, you labeled it as putting the team on the path to the cup. I told you were wrong then and I think you're wrong now. The Flyers need a lot more than just two top centers. Especially if they trade Carter Hart . Let me ask you a question. Last year's Stanley cup winning team, the Avalance. How many star level players did they have on that team? Not to mention lesser players that are every bit as equal if not better than what the Flyers have. You have a track record of thinking there is going to be quick fixes. There isn't. Gauthier is years away from being a top level player. If he even gets there.

don't disagree that surgeries procedures and whatnot have improved. i had a surgery at 26, same surgery at 30. my recovery and all was very different. so is how one feels vs the other. same procedure, same doctor. farabee and jack are both younger. how coots does has yet to be seen. is promising, but we will hopefully find out next year. not thrilled about the set back. and farabee so far does not look the same. hopefully a good offseason helps this and should.
- Peter Richards

Claude Giroux had a major hip injury and had surgery and it took him a year. He's 35 now and is having an 80+ point season. Farabee has looked to have taken significant steps towards getting back to full strength in recent weeks.

Claude Giroux had a major hip injury and had surgery and it took him a year. He's 35 now and is having an 80+ point season. Farabee has looked to have taken significant steps towards getting back to full strength in recent weeks.
- MJL

how has simmonds looked since his pelvic surgery? farabee is young and should be able to fully recover.

Healthy players are most certainly playing in the NHL at 35. Routinely.
- MJL

seriously? didn't say no one over 35. look at the averages.

how has simmonds looked since his pelvic surgery? farabee is young and should be able to fully recover.
- Peter Richards

There are many players who have come back many who haven't. It's an individual thing.

seriously? didn't say no one over 35. look at the averages.
- Peter Richards

Seriously. Copied and pasted from your post

"especially when we are looking at professional athletes, in a sport where even healthy players are not playing after 35"

Seriously. Copied and pasted from your post

"especially when we are looking at professional athletes, in a sport where even healthy players are not playing after 35"
- MJL

does it say no players? yes there are players that can play into their 40's even. look at the averages

does it say no players? yes there are players that can play into their 40's even. look at the averages
- Peter Richards

I accept your clarification. What we should really talk about is how that applies to Couturier. Who is 30, not 35.

There are many players who have come back many who haven't. It's an individual thing.
- MJL

i think your missing my point. the older you get your body heals/reacts different. g gets that same surgery at 75 for example it can be life threatening.

i think your missing my point. the older you get your body heals/reacts different. g gets that same surgery at 75 for example it can be life threatening.
- Peter Richards

I get that point and I agree with it. Again, though, it's an individual thing for each player. Couturier is also 30 not 35.

I accept your clarification. What we should really talk about is how that applies to Couturier. Who is 30, not 35.
- MJL

obviously his recovery is taking longer.

obviously his recovery is taking longer.
- Peter Richards

It's not surprising that his back injury and surgery that required a follow up procedure is going to take a full year for recovery. He's going to need time once he comes back.

I get that point and I agree with it. Again, though, it's an individual thing for each player. Couturier is also 30 not 35.
- MJL

don't disagree that people individually heal or get injured differently. was speaking in general. just look at brassard/allison, or even patricks head stuff.

don't disagree that people individually heal or get injured differently. was speaking in general. just look at brassard/allison, or even patricks head stuff.
- Peter Richards

In general some players come back strong, some don't. Naming players is a wasted exercise because many players can be named on both sides.