Sean Couturier
The message at the start of Flyers training camp is that the team has “something to prove,” words written on t-shirts worn by Alain Vigneault and several players. That message rang loud and clear as the team gets to work in training camp.
Following an offseason of change, training camp has finally arrived for the 2021-22 Philadelphia Flyers. With that, we look at five questions facing the Flyers as camp begins.
After an impressive sophomore year, Joel Farabee was rewarded this offseason with a six-year, $30 million ($5 million AAV) contract extension, which will kick in during the 2022-23 season. Now that he’s got an extension, how will the young star in the making do from here on out?
The YWT Podcast is back and after what was thought to be a time of slowing down, Chuck Fletcher remained active. In addition to a new contract for Travis Sanheim, the Flyers also signed free-agent forward Derick Brassard and extended Sean Couturier for eight more seasons.
The Flyers have signed Sean Couturier to an eight-year contract extension worth $62 million, an average annual value of $7.75 million. The contract will take effect starting with the 2022-23 season.
The Flyers appear to be done for the offseason, outside of re-signing Carter Hart and Travis Sanheim, and are hoping a majority of their acquisitions turn out to be wins on “quality bets.”
For the better part of a decade, the Flyers have utilized the same core group and struggled to consistently put together successful seasons. After their most frustrating one to date, Fletcher knew action was necessary. “We just can’t keep bringing the same players back year after year and expect different results. We had to make changes this year,” Fletcher said.
The Flyers have protected forwards Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, Scott Laughton and Nicolas Aube-Kubel. They have also protected defensemen Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and the newly-acquired Ryan Ellis, as well as goalie Carter Hart in the upcoming Expansion Draft.
Joel Farabee not only finished the season as the Flyers leading scorer, but also capped off his season with a pair of goals to reach the 20-goal mark in just his second NHL season. His two goals helped pave the way for a 4-2 Flyers win over the Devils to close out the 2020-21 season on Monday night at Wells Fargo Center.
All that is left now for the Flyers is one more match with the New Jersey Devils to close out the 2020-21 season.
