Flyers: Sean Couturier joins his teammates and compliments his “father”, Daniel Brière

DAY

Twice operated on his back in less than a year in 2022, Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier took part in his first training session on Tuesday with his teammates since his second time under the knife and he took the opportunity to salute the promotion of his friend Daniel Brière. 

The French-speaking player is familiar with the one who obtained the position of interim general manager of the Flyers on an interim basis following the dismissal of Chuck Fletcher last week. Couturier and Brière lived together when the first of the two played his first campaign in the National Hockey League (NHL) in Philadelphia, in 2011-2012. To the media who came to meet him after the session, he was very clear about his state of mind.

“You understand that it is Danny B. I am happy for him. He is a father to me,” he said of the 45-year-old CEO.

The big comeback is coming soon?

However, reporters were also keen to get more information about the 30-year-old hockey player's short-term plans and the news looks good. He has already been skating for a few weeks and a return to competition by the end of the regular calendar is possible.

“It's not just about getting in shape. I want to relive the sensations related to a game and know, when the summer begins, what I need to raise myself to the required level, he indicated. I want to push as far as possible and try to come back to the game this season by playing a few games.

Luckily for him and the Flyers, the pain seems much less tenacious, compared to the ailment that afflicted him after his first surgery. “It's day and night,” he said. Since the operation, the objective is a return this year. We are getting close. There may be another practice by the end of the week and then we'll see.”

“You often take everything for granted…until you stay on the floor for a long time . But this is something that I understood. When you return to the game, you have to savor every moment as much as possible. You never know when such a mishap can happen,” he said.

Inactive so far in 2022-2023, Couturier hopes to put some balm on a painful season in his training, holder of the 14th in the Eastern Conference.

“This is definitely not the situation I had in mind when I signed my contract, but we are here and it is part of the business of the NHL. Except that everything can go quickly in this league. I'll do my best to get this team back on track early.”