Philadelphia Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones stated recently that forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson are expected to participate in training camp for the organization.
Both veterans missed the 2022-23 season with their respective injuries.
Couturier has not suited up in a game for the Flyers since December of 2021. The center had back surgery twice in the calendar year of 2022. With the most recent surgery taking place on October, 27, 2022. On the other hand, Cam Atkinson had a back surgery to remedy a herniated disk in his neck on December, 21, 2022.
“The end of last season, they were ready to come back then,” Jones told NHL.com at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan. “Now they’re getting a full off-season of training and getting ready to prepare for the rigors of a long regular season. All indications are that they are full-go, and we’re really excited about that.”
Couturier won the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the NHL in 2020. The center typically played for the Flyers in all situations throughout his career. With the forward set to make his much-anticipated return, he should provide a boost to Philadelphia’s penalty kill that was ranked seventh worst in the NHL in 2022-23.
If Couturier can return to his previous form and stay healthy this upcoming season, the veteran will in all likelihood play a large role for John Tortorella’s squad. Being a two-time 30-goal scorer, he’ll contribute some much-needed scoring punch to the Flyers lineup as well.
Atkinson who had been an advocate for the Flyers hiring coach John Tortorella ironically did not play one game for his former head coach last season. The 34-year-old was initially acquired by the Flyers for winger Jakub Voracek in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Considering Atkinson was second on the Flyers in scoring with 50 points in 73 games in 2021-22, the winger’s return may add a much-needed offensive boost to the team’s forward core. The Riverside, Connecticut native was recently spotted taking part in the no-checking Cap City Elite Summer League in Columbus during July. Where the veteran encouragingly stated he would be ready to go for game one of this upcoming season.
Jones also mentioned that defenseman Ryan Ellis will most likely be unable to continue his playing career due to a torn psoas muscle in his back. Philadelphia acquired Ellis from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Nolan Patrick and defenseman Philippe Myers on July 17th, 2021.
The defender suited up for a total of four games since becoming a member of the Flyers organization.
“I think that he’s exhausting everything that he can in order to play, like we all do,” Jones said. “You never want to have the void of not doing something that you’d love to do. And he did it very effectively when he played, so it’s got to be really difficult.”
With a total of 275 points in 566 career games, Ellis played a significant role for the Nashville Predators in ten seasons with the organization. He demonstrated a modern yet aggressive style as a smaller defenseman in the NHL and contributed in all situations on the ice. Most notably, Ellis and the Predators reached the 2017 Stanley Cup final, where they eventually lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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