When the Philadelphia Flyers signed restricted free agent Travis Sanheim to his new contract last Saturday, it looked like general manager Chuck Fletcher’s heavy lifting for this summer was complete.
But in what has already been a busy offseason, Fletcher is still at work.
-
Ep 59: Stanley Cup Final Preview; Game 1 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am
Jim and Chris give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final between Vegas […]
On Wednesday, the club announced that it has signed veteran forward Derick Brassard to a one-year contract. Thursday, the Flyers put pen to paper with Sean Couturier, locking up their Selke Trophy-winning center on an eight-year deal.
Couturier Commits
The deal carries a cap hit of $7.75 million per season. It will take effect in the 2022-23 season as Couturier, 28, was one year away from unrestricted free agency.
“As one of the premier two-way centers in the NHL, Sean has the rare talent to shut down opposing teams’ top players while also contributing at a high offensive level,” said Fletcher in a statement. “Throughout his 10-year career with the Flyers, he has proven to be the ultimate teammate. He carries an enormous presence inside our dressing room due to his preparation, determination and drive to win.”
Drafted eighth overall by the Flyers in 2011, Couturier has played 692 games in a Philadelphia uniform, amassing 174 goals and 443 points. He finished second in Selke Trophy voting in the 2017-18 season, then won the trophy in 2020.
“To be part of the Flyers organization for another eight years following next year is extremely exciting,” said Couturier. “I like the way the team is built and the mix of players that we have. I’m really looking forward to it but especially this year. We’ve made a lot of changes, but it’s all positive and very exciting.”
Currently 12th all-time in games played with Philadelphia, Couturier needs just 62 more games to move into the top five. Following Jakub Voracek‘s offseason trade to Columbus, Couturier is now second among active Flyers in games, goals, assists and points, behind captain Claude Giroux.
Couturier is entering the final season of a six-year deal which has provided tremendous value for the Flyers, at a cap hit of just $4.33 million per season. Though injuries limited him to just 45 games last season, he finished second on the Flyers in goals (18) and fourth in points (41).
Around FPC
NHL: Road to Playoff Success For Leafs Likely to Go Through Two Florida Teams
NHL: New York Rangers Mourn the Loss of “Mr. Ranger,” Rod Gilbert
Olympics: Qualification Tournaments To Decide Final Three Olympic Spots
NFL: Chicago Bears: Yes, Things Looked Ugly, But Team Is Getting Healthy Again
Wrestling: WWE Making A Mistake Turning Becky Lynch Heel
Brassard Adds Depth
On Wednesday, Fletcher also announced that the Flyers have signed forward Derick Brassard to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $825,000.
A versatile forward with a strong defensive component to his game, Brassard can play all three positions is best known as a center. Drafted sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2006, he’ll turn 34 in September.
Brassard played 309 games with the Blue Jackets, where he flirted with the 50-point plateau. In his last two years, he was teammates with new Flyer Cam Atkinson.
At the 2013 trade deadline, the Blue Jackets dealt Brassard to the New York Rangers, a key part of the blockbuster deal that saw Marian Gaborik go to Columbus.
Under John Tortorella, Brassard had an immediate impact. He put up 11 points in the Rangers’ final 13 regular-season games, then added another 12 in 12 playoff games. After the Rangers fell to the Boston Bruins in five games in the second round of the 2013 playoffs, Tortorella was replaced by Alain Vigneault behind the Rangers bench.
The next year, Brassard put up 45 points in the regular season and added another 12 in the playoffs as the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final. In 2014-15, Kevin Hayes joined the club after completing his four years at Boston College, and Keith Yandle was acquired at the trade deadline. Brassard hit his career-high of 60 points, and the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy with 113 points before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 Eastern Conference Final.
Latest Patriots News
- NHL Rumors: Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers
- New Jersey Devils To Host Stadium Series Game
- NHL Trade Deadline Report Card – Metropolitan Division
- NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers
- NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks
Man On The Move
The following year, Brassard his goal-scoring high, with 27 in 80 games. After the Rangers flamed out in the playoffs with a first-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, he joined Team Canada in Russia for the 2016 World Championship, where he led the star-studded roster with 11 points in 10 games and won a gold medal.
After their disappointing postseason, the Rangers shook up their roster. Brassard was traded to the Ottawa Senators on July 18, 2016. He was the key player in the deal that brought Mika Zibanejad to Broadway.
That spring, Brassard went on another solid playoff run, with 11 points in 19 games. The Senators reached the Eastern Conference Final, ousting the Rangers in six games along the way. As the Senators embarked on their rebuild, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2018 trade deadline. Since then, he has also spent time with the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, and Arizona Coyotes.
All told, Brassard now has 194 goals and 503 points in 906 career NHL games.
His addition should give the Flyers solid center depth next season. Couturier, Hayes, and Nate Thompson are also projected to play in the middle. Morgan Frost should also get a long look at the pivot position. Brassard will provide Vigneault with a trusted option in tough defensive situations.
Loading...
-
Ep 59: Stanley Cup Final Preview; Game 1 Thoughts
by Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 1:43 am
Jim and Chris give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final between Vegas […]
-
Ep 58: Stanley Cup Finals Set, Changes In Toronto, And More
by Full Press Coverage on May 31, 2023 at 11:12 pm
Jim and Chris give their early thoughts of the Stanley Cup Finals between […]
-
2023 Stanley Cup Final Talk - Vegas Golden Knights with Willie G. Ramirez
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 12:39 am
Jim Biringer speaks with Willie G. Ramirez of ESPN Las Vegas, The Sporting […]
-
Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Talk With Bill Lindsay
by Full Press Coverage on June 3, 2023 at 2:34 am
Jim Biringer is back once again as he is joined by former NHLer, current […]
-
Ep 83: Stanley Cup Playoffs Are Here; Can Bruins Keep Up Pace?
by Full Press Coverage on April 17, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Ian and Chris are back to give their thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, […]
-
Ep 82: Bruins Set Wins Record, Pasta Hits 60, Playoffs Around The Corner
by Full Press Coverage on April 10, 2023 at 2:27 pm
Ian and Chris react to the Bruins 63rd win of the season, David Pastrnak's […]
-
The Hockey World Revolves Around Toronto
by Jim Biringer on May 23, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim is back for a fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey as he is […]
-
S4Ep28 - Stanley Cup Playoffs - Conference Final Preview
by Jim Biringer on May 16, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Jim is back for the fourth season of the Final Word on Hockey previewing […]
-
Panthers at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on June 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Stars at Golden Knights
by Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:05 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Golden Knights at Stars
by Broken Controller Media on May 25, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown of every NHL Game on the card. For more […]
-
Episode #141: Tend The Goal
by Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 2:24 pm
The 2023 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs have reached its final four teams, and […]
-
Episode #140: Stone Cold's 4th Line
by Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:41 pm
And then, there were four. The 2023 AHL Division Finals have concluded, […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 769
by Charlie Saunier on June 4, 2023 at 4:31 am
Ep 769 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 5 Preview Game 6 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 768
by Charlie Saunier on June 2, 2023 at 9:19 am
Ep 768 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 4 Preview Game 5 Milwaukee […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Thursday, June 1st
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Kraken have offseason work to do, AHL Playoff update. Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Thursday, June 1st
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 12:15 pm
What could the Blackhawks do to trade up in the 2023 NHL Draft? Who on the […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, May 30th
by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Does picking Connor Bedard speed up the Blackhawks’ rebuild and few […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 767
by Charlie Saunier on May 30, 2023 at 4:01 am
Ep 767 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 3 Preview Game 4 Milwaukee […]
-
6/5 - Heat Take Game 2; Golden Knights; Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love
by Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Ian and John discuss the Heat's win over the Nuggets, the Golden Knights […]
-
6/2 - Nuggets Take Game 1, Barry Bonds, Stanley Cup Chat w/ Jim Biringer
by Full Press Coverage on June 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 1 win over the Heat, the upcoming […]
-
6/1 - NBA Finals Preview, Aaron Rodgers, and More
by Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Ian and John discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy G
by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]