Flyers grab Couturier at No. 8
Daily News Flyers blog
Flyers grab Couturier at No. 8
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- With the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Flyers selected... a player very few thought would slide to the No. 8 spot in center Sean Couturier.
Couturier was ranked as the No. 5 overall draft pick by the central scouting agencies. At one point during the scouting rankings, Couturier was ranked as the No. 1 available prospect.
It was a surprising turn of events in not only that Couturier fell to No. 8, but that the Flyers decided on a center instead of a defenseman just one day after Paul Holmgren unloaded Jeff Carter and Mike Richards because of an “overload” at the position.
The Flyers likely would have selected Dougie Hamilton, a strong, two-way defenseman from the OHL if Couturier had not been available. Hamilton went to Boston at No. 9 instead.
In a near instantaneous interview on TSN after making the pick, Holmgren said he “never thought” Couturier would still be on the board.
Earlier in the week, Holmgren said the Flyers would pick the best player available regardless of position.
Couturier racked up 96 points in 58 games for Drumondville (QMJHL) this past this season. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, the 18-year-old already has a full-sized frame. He is slated to top out at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. The scouting reports list him as a solid, two-way forward with good penalty killing abilities. The one weakness reported is his skating. His speed turning and pivoting is said to be subpar.
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Comment removed.- We all know about you Tonka but what about Sean Couturier?
— SFPhillyphan - Burn! — sla6yer
- "The one weakness reported is his skating." -
Good thing that is not important in ice hockey :)— phillydude - Couturier is a steal at 8. Absolute steal. Love that he fell this far. Good fortune for Flyers and Homer!— AFlyers66
- Sean Couterier has a physical presence and skating style that reminds me of a young Mario Lemieux.— schultz08
- Comment removed.
- Good pick and he should be decent after a few years in the minors.— General Turgidson
- Jordan Stahl type----dropped in value due to being ill earlier in the year with mono.— Romus
- One of those guys who got overanalyzed. Great pick, although Hamilton would have fit a need.— RG
- There is absolutely nothing to substantiate rumours the kid is into cocaine. As far as his skating ability, he is only 18. Higher level competition and coaching will improve his speed and skating ability. He has been above average at every level he has ever played. He might not make the team right away but prospects need time to develop and mature. Above all, he is ACTUALLY a natural left wing who was converted into a center because of his face-off prowess and willingness to take punishment for the right reward. Could he be a bust? Sure. But so could anyone. At least give the kid a chance. enough with the naysaying about EVERYTHING. Quit being so frigging negative ALL THE TIME!— Neebo
- a 'couturier' is a person who makes dresses... its in the dictionary, look it up.. lol— zwarte piet
- ...And all people named Gay are gay, and all people named black are black. Thanks for the most inane and meaningless post of the day. Dope.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- Good thing the Flyers have a nice core of young d-men. Oh wait...they don't have a core of young d-men.— scootch
- you can teach skating, you can't teach someone to be 6' 4" 225 lbs and to see the ice. Not bad but would rather had Hamilton and dumped Carle.— dedhed
