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Sean Couturier Could Return This Season

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It has been a tough season for Flyers center Sean Couturier.  After it looked like he’d be able to return earlier than expected from a back injury, he suffered a setback in October and eventually required surgery.  However, it appears he’ll have a chance of getting back late in the season as GM Chuck Fletcher confirmed to Sam Carchidi of Philly Hockey Now that they haven’t ruled out the veteran returning to the lineup:

He’s been progressing well. I know the surgeon is happy with the progress he’s made. As you ramp up the intensity of the on- and off-ice workouts, hopefully things continue to go as expected, and in that case, it would be great for him to come back this year and get some games.”

We’ll just have to see if there are things that slow down the recovery or not. That’s hard to predict, but right now he’s doing well. We’re certainly not on a fast-track with him. We do things very methodically. At the end of the day, it’s about the long-term and not this year.

When the 30-year-old underwent surgery in late October, the anticipated recovery timeline was three-to-four months so Couturier appears to be on track.  But with Philadelphia struggling for most of the year (they currently sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division), it was also a strong possibility that they just held him out for the season to err on the side of caution to avoid any concern about him sustaining another injury.

When healthy, Couturier has been one of the stronger two-way centers in the league and was rewarded for his efforts in 2021 with an eight-year, $62MM contract with 2022-23 being the first year of that deal.  Getting him back to top form would go a long way toward boosting Philadelphia’s lineup although that type of performance isn’t likely to come this season after being off for so long.  Even so, just getting him back and Couturier showing that he’s healthy would certainly be a welcome sign heading into the offseason.

No Decision Made On Cutter Gauthier’s Pro Future

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For teams out of the playoffs, there’s still some excitement to come down the stretch. As the NCAA schedule comes to a close, top prospects can turn pro and get their feet wet in the NHL before setting in for an offseason of training and development.

That is, if they decide to leave the college ranks.

One of the names to watch is Philadelphia Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier, picked fifth overall in the 2022 draft. The big, speedy forward played mostly wing during his junior days but has transitioned to the middle of the ice (with some bumps along the way) for Boston College, and is now leading the club in goals and points.

That’s despite a leave to suit up at the World Juniors, where he had ten points in seven games for Team USA. Gauthier is a shining star in the Flyers prospect pool, and it’s hard to not get excited thinking about his NHL debut this spring.

Not so fast, says Philadelphia assistant general manager Brent Flahr, who spoke with Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic. When asked if Gauthier could be a one-and-done player at BC, Flahr wouldn’t commit, explaining that while players often want to go that route, it isn’t always best for their development.

The decision won’t come until after the college season ends, and they have a full examination of where Gauthier’s game stands. There is still more than a month left in the Eagles’ schedule, plus the potential of a playoff run if they can get things moving in the right direction. Plenty of time, anyway, for Gauthier to impress the Flyers front office enough to earn an entry-level contract at the end of the year.

To be clear, there is no risk of losing Gauthier’s rights if he decides to go back to school. Philadelphia holds them until the summer of 2026, and there’s virtually no chance of the big forward waiting that long before turning pro.

Zack MacEwen Undergoes Surgery

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The Philadelphia Flyers won’t have Zack MacEwen in the lineup for a while, announcing that he underwent surgery today to repair a broken jaw, according to Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. His recovery timeline has been set at five weeks.

MacEwen likely suffered the injury during his fight against Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno on Thursday, one of the three-straight fights that the two teams were involved in. He didn’t see a shift after that, and now will be out through the trade deadline.

Claimed off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks in 2021, MacEwen has established himself as one of the identity players that the organization is relying on to try and turn things around. He has played 121 games since the start of last season, racking up 164 penalty minutes in the process. While he doesn’t offer much offensive production – just nine points so far this season – head coach John Tortorella has significantly increased his ice time from a year ago.

MacEwen now averages more than 12 minutes a night and has even seen some powerplay time as the net front option on the second unit. On a contender, that likely doesn’t happen given his lack of scoring. But Tortorella is trying to install a culture that rewards hard work, something MacEwen has never lacked.

Undrafted he fought his way up the Canucks depth chart and debuted in 2018-19 in just his second professional season. Now with 176 games under his belt and a regular spot in the Flyers lineup when healthy, he heads into RFA negotiations this summer with a chance at a multi-year extension. The 26-year-old is one year away from unrestricted free agency, and currently carries a $925K cap hit.

Felix Sandstrom Recalled From Conditioning Loan

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Now that his two-week maximum is over, Felix Sandstrom’s conditioning loan has come to an end. The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender has been recalled, with Samuel Ersson reassigned back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in his place.

It’s kind of an odd situation, given how well Ersson has played. The 23-year-old netminder has a .918 save percentage in seven appearances and is 5-0 on the year. But the Flyers, despite their recent play, are still seventh in the Metropolitan Division. The front office knows that securing a higher draft position is important, if they aren’t going to compete for the playoffs.

So up comes Sandstrom, and down goes Ersson. The former has posted an .888 in nine appearances, losing all but one of them this year. There’s little doubt that right now, Ersson is playing better. There’s also a decent chance that Sandstrom would clear waivers if assigned, given his performance so far this year. But it isn’t worth the risk at this point, given where the Flyers sit.

Instead, they’ll go back to Carter Hart handling the lion’s share of the work. His play, like the rest of Philadelphia, has been inconsistent this year. One night he will be dragging the team to a victory, while the next he’s getting pulled early on. A .907 save percentage has resulted in 20 losses across his 33 appearances so far.

Ersson, who missed almost all of 2021-22 with injury, needs to play as much as possible. The fifth-round pick appeared in just five games last season but has shown enough this year for the Flyers to really value his future. He’ll get a lot more playing time in Lehigh Valley than he would as Hart’s backup down the stretch.

Gino Odjick Passes Away At 52

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Unfortunately, there’s some very sad news to report on this Sunday. Legendary Vancouver Canucks enforcer and fan favorite Gino Odjick has passed away at 52, according to the team.

Odjick played in 444 games with the Canucks between 1990 and 1998 and was a member of the team that reached the 1994 Stanley Cup Final. He made a strong impression after being drafted in the fifth round in 1990, making the team the following year as a 20-year-old and playing 45 games.

Odjick’s best offensive season came during the 1994 run, where he chipped in a career-high 16 goals and 29 points. Throughout stops with the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens, Odjick maintained a hard-nosed game that resulted in 2,567 career penalty minutes in just 605 NHL games.

Vancouver Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini spoke on the devastating news:

Gino was a fan-favourite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice. He inspired many and embodied what it means to be a Canuck. Personally, he was a close friend and confidant, someone I could lean on for advice and support. He will be deeply missed.

He will be sorely missed by the Canucks community, and the PHR team sends their absolute best wishes to the Odjick family.

Philadelphia Flyers "Open" To Moving Kevin Hayes

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Earlier today, we covered the state of the relationship between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ivan Provorov. Now, The Fourth Period’s Anthony Di Marco adds that the Flyers could be open to moving All-Star Kevin Hayes, who’s had a much-documented up-and-down season.

Ivan Provorov Trade Rumors Surface

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There’s always something going on in Philadelphia. Last night, Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo found himself stapled to the bench for the second half of the game after a brutal giveaway, finishing with just seven minutes of ice time. Today, things have shifted to Ivan Provorov, who was the subject of a long discussion between Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast.

Philadelphia Flyers Send Felix Sandstrom On Conditioning Stint

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After activating Carter Hart from injured reserve yesterday, the Philadelphia Flyers did not immediately send a goaltender to the minor leagues. It was a curious decision, given Samuel Ersson could be loaned without exposing him to waivers. Today, they’ve explained why, by sending Felix Sandstrom on a conditioning stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That does not require him to pass through waivers. The team has also recalled Kieffer Bellows from the AHL with the extra roster spot they had.

Sandstrom, 25, has essentially been overtaken by Ersson on the depth chart and has appeared just once in the last month despite Hart’s brief absence. The former top prospect has an .888 save percentage in nine appearances this season and has lost seven of them, looking shaky almost every time he entered the net. The only thing saving him from being assigned to the minor leagues more permanently is his waiver status, which would require the Flyers to expose him before sending him down.

Given that goaltenders are the most frequent waiver claims, that could be risky, though it is rather obvious who the team would prefer as the backup right now. Ersson has played well in Hart’s place, getting the last three starts and allowing just six goals on 86 shots. All three were wins, something the Flyers haven’t been able to say very often this year.

Some fans will suggest that it isn’t even a good thing. The Flyers sit 14-17-7 on the year and don’t look to have any chance of competing for the playoffs, but runs like their current win streak also push them further away from lottery contention. The club now sits 26th in the league, and 15 points ahead of the last-place Chicago Blackhawks. Eventually, they will have to make a decision on whether or not to expose Sandstrom to waivers or send Ersson back down.

Bellows, meanwhile, is coming back up after once again showing that he can score regularly at the minor league level. The 24-year-old was claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders earlier this season and struggled with his new club, failing to register a point in 12 Flyers games. But in 11 matches with the Phantoms, he has nine points and was back to playing his physical, gritty game. If the 2016 first-round pick has any NHL potential left in him, there’s no better time to show it.

Carter Hart Activated From Injured Reserve

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The Philadelphia Flyers have their starting goaltender back, after activating Carter Hart from injured reserve. The young netminder cleared from the concussion protocol a few days ago but is now ready to get back into game action. The team already had room on the roster after sending Olle Lycksell down yesterday.

Hart, 24, has a .911 save percentage in 27 appearances this season, a nice bounce-back campaign after his struggles the last two years. Unfortunately, given the team he plays behind, that has resulted in just ten wins, with Hart leading the entire league in overtime and shootout losses with six. His return gives the Flyers’ their best chance at victory, though some fans will now believe that’s the opposite goal at this point in the year.

In his absence, the Flyers gave three straight starts to Samuel Ersson, who actually played quite well in his first NHL experience. Interestingly, the 23-year-old Ersson hasn’t been loaned back to the minor leagues yet, meaning Philadelphia is carrying three goaltenders. Felix Sandstrom would need to clear waivers to go down (while Ersson wouldn’t), something they may not want to risk. Given he has been dealing with an illness of late, they may be keeping Ersson up just for the next few days.

Either way, it should be back to normal with Hart taking the majority of starts. The Flyers are back in action tomorrow and then have a back-to-back situation coming up on Sun-Mon, something to keep an eye on to see whether Ersson or Sandstrom gets in the net.

Philadelphia Flyers Activate, Loan Bobby Brink

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One of the many disappointing moments for the Philadelphia Flyers this season was the early injury of Bobby Brink, who underwent hip surgery in July. Now, months later, the young forward is ready to return to action.

Brink has been activated from injured reserve and loaned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, along with Olle Lycksell, who is on his way back after a recent call-up.

Selected 34th overall in 2019, Brink turned into a superstar at the University of Denver, scoring 57 points in his junior season to lead the nation and taking home an NCAA championship. In his ten-game stint with the Flyers at the end of last season, he flashed top-end skill and recorded four assists.

Still looking for his first NHL goal, Brink might have to wait a little while. Coming off major surgery and joining an organization that is struggling to stay competitive, it might be better off for him to spend the rest of this season in the minor leagues.

Even if he proves too good for that level, the Flyers would be giving him the opportunity to play big minutes and touch the puck a ton, something that he may struggle with in the NHL given the team’s inconsistent play.

No matter where he plays, Flyers fans should be excited about Brink’s future. The idea of him lining up alongside Cutter Gauthier, for instance, is an interesting one, given their respective strengths. Given his long layoff, it may take him some time to get back up to speed. But for Philadelphia fans searching for something to cheer about, this is it.

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