Flyers name Couturier 20th captain in franchise history

The Philadelphia Flyers named veteran forward Sean Couturier captain Wednesday.

He's the 20th captain in franchise history and will be the first player to wear the "C" since Claude Giroux in 2022. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton will serve as alternate captains.

"Sean was drafted here and has made Philadelphia his home," general manager Daniel Briere said. "I have personally seen his development from a responsible forward to one of the best two-way centermen in the game and a playoff performer. The adversity he has had to overcome has only strengthened his proven leadership."

Couturier was the eighth overall pick in 2011. He has dressed in 771 regular-season games for the Flyers, along with 39 playoff appearances. He's notched 493 career points and won the Selke Trophy in 2020 as the league's top defensive forward.

"It's such a great honor," Couturier said. "It's a really prestigious organization, so this makes it even more special. This city is my home, and I love it here."

Couturier was limited to 29 games in 2021-22 and missed all of last season as a result of two back surgeries. He's registered 33 points in 50 games this campaign and is second among Flyers forwards in average ice time at 19:47 per contest.

Philadelphia has been one of the league's biggest surprises this season, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points after finishing seventh in 2022-23.