COUTURIER’S AGENT CHANGE RAISES QUESTIONS

MONTREAL, QC — It isn’t often you see captains scratched in the NHL. It is even more rare to see captains get scratched a little more than a month after receiving the captaincy.

That’s why when Philadelphia Flyers Head Coach John Tortorella brought the hammer down on captain Sean Couturier, shockwaves were sent through the NHL.

As General Manager Daniel Briere said at the time, the move was yet another reminder that Tortorella holds all players to the same standard and level of accountability. And, to be fair, Couturier’s game had been on a downward spiral since the turn of the new year two and a half months prior. From a strictly on ice perspective, there was merit to the healthy scratch.

But when you factor in the context, it paints a different story.

Though Couturier’s play was not where it needed to be, was removing him from the lineup one that made the team better? Especially considering the team’s lack of depth and overall strength down the middle?

Then you factor in Couturier missing nearly two years due to back surgeries and being (arguably) overplayed in the first half of the season. Lastly, of course, there’s Couturier being less than two months into his tenure as the team’s new captain – the first they’ve had since March 2022.

So, when you apply context, the scratch of Couturier justifiably raised more eyebrows than any other typical roster decision. Which brings us to last week, when it was reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli that Couturier had “changed” agents, bringing in Pat Brisson as his new representation.

But what’s important to note is that Couturier did not “change” agents; he did not have formal representation before hiring Brisson last week.

While Eric Lupien was previously listed as Couturier’s agent, he did not formally represent the player. Lupien’s father, Gilles, was Couturier’s agent when he signed his eight-year contract extension in 2021. Since then, Couturier has not had formal representation, though the younger Lupien was listed as such for NHLPA purposes. Lupien did speak out on Couturier’s behalf following the scratch, something I don’t believe sat particularly well with the 2011 seventh-overall pick.

Considering this, the move is all that more intriguing.

Speaking with those within the Flyers organization, the consistent message I’ve gotten is that this was entirely Couturier’s decision and was made to help have better access to resources and have “an ear” to consult with. I also imagine better communication with the front office would be a positive byproduct, as Brisson was Briere’s agent during the latter’s time as a player.

Though that is what I’ve heard from the Flyers, I got very different responses when asking sources across the league about the development.

Brisson is arguably the hardest hitting agent in hockey, so much so that he has turned down several opportunities to be a GM; the Vancouver Canucks were one of the latest teams that had serious interest in him at one point. As one league executive said to me, “you don’t bring in Pat out of nowhere” unless something bigger is at play.

Brisson casts a wide net across the NHL in terms of contacts, so bringing him in as representation after not having any has many across the league asking questions. More than one person said to me they expect Brisson to explore “options” with Couturier, trying to solicit which teams may or may not have interest. It’s important to note this is not to say the Flyers are shopping by any stretch and Couturier holds all the cards anyway with a No Movement Clause.

Couturier has six years remaining on his contract with a $7.75 million AAV; it’s locked and loaded with the aforementioned full NMC. Moving a 31-year-old coming off of a mediocre season after missing 23 months due to back injuries will be a tough sell, you’d think. While it wouldn’t be “easy” by any stretch, I’m led to believe there would be options.

More than one person said to me that moving off of Couturier will likely take 50% (or close to it) in salary retention. At least one Western Conference team expressed to me some interest in Couturier at less than $4 million – cost to acquire depending, of course. Another league source said that any team acquiring Couturier would need to believe that Couturier could be a viable “3C for at least three years” to justify the back end of his remaining term.

While unloading Couturier would likely come with significant retention, that may not be the only path to unloading him.

Speaking to several league executives, a “hockey trade” involving Couturier and another player with a less than ideal contract. One player that was brought up as a hypothetical option is Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau.

Huberdeau, who will turn 31 next month, was drafted in 2011 – the same year as Couturier. He was traded to the Flames after a career year with the Florida Panthers following the 2021-22 season; to say that his stint in Calgary has not gone as planned would be a massive understatement. After recording 115 points two years ago in Sunrise, Huberdeau has compiled just 107 points combined in his two seasons with the Flames. He has seven years remaining on his contract with a $10.5 million AAV and a NMC until 2029-30, when it will change to a modified No Trade Clause.

I don’t get the sense the Flames have ever entertained moving on from Huberdeau, likely because moving the contract has seemed next to impossible after his less than stellar play since arriving in Southern Alberta. But while in discussion with someone close to the situation in Calgary, I was told that, despite the team looking for ways to support Huberdeau to this point, a swap for Couturier “makes total sense” on the surface. Checking in with someone with the Flyers, I do think there’s at least an appetite to explore it – though it’ll come at a cost.

From a Flyers’ standpoint, they’d be taking on $27 million in additional salary by swapping Couturier for Huberdeau. The Montreal Canadiens were paid a first-round pick by the Flames to take on Sean Monahan and the remaining two years of his contract with an AAV of $6.375 million; I get the sense the Flyers would use that to gauge appropriate compensation from the Flames in this hypothetical deal.

From Calgary’s standpoint, shedding $2.75 million AAV and additional year would be their motive for the potential swap. From a “real” dollars perspective, the tens of millions they’d save may be enticing to team owner Murray Edwards.

All of this is very premature, and nothing is even remotely close to the finish line, but there are certainly discussions as to what Couturier’s future will hold with the Flyers.

I wouldn’t be shocked in the least if Couturier remains with the Flyers, but there is a belief across the league that options are at least being explored in light of the Brisson hire. And based on conversations I’ve had, it sounds like there may be more options than originally thought.

TAP-INS

• Travis Konecny is eligible for a contract extension this summer and it will be a focal point of the Flyers’ focus in the coming weeks and months. The Flyers believe Konecny’s AAV should fall in the $8M-8.5M range, while those I speak to across the league feel like the Timo Meier deal ($8.8 million AAV) is likely the ballpark. But if the Flyers let Konecny play out the year and he replicates his production from this year, his camp may push for closer to $10 million more with the rising cap and him right in his prime, one person said to me.

• While it isn’t a top priority, I fully expect the Flyers to be on the lookout for a left hand shooting partner for defenceman Jamie Drysdale. They’ve been tied to Ottawa Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun, though the cost to acquire and extend the player looms. The Flyers want to keep enough money available long term to extend Drysdale and Cam York in several years’ time. I do think a defenceman similar to Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson (age, style and contractual wise) is what the Flyers want.

• Joel Farabee’s name is one that was mentioned by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and has continually been brought up to me in recent weeks. I’m of the belief that the Flyers would entertain moving Farabee in a “hockey” trade (preferably for a young centre), though numerous people have stressed to me the Flyers are not shopping him. The 24-year-old is coming off of a career year of 22 goals and 50 points; with four years remaining on his contract at a $5 million AAV, I’d imagine the Flyers view Farabee’s cost certainty as attractive to other teams.

• The Flyers have made it no secret they are looking to bolster their centre ice position and nothing has changed on that front. We’ve heard names like Trevor Zegras out there; I’d expect the Flyers to look at other centres in that age range.

• It sounds like Ryan Johansen’s career may be over. After not missing any time with the Colorado Avalanche prior to being acquired by the Flyers, his camp has let the team know that Johansen is far from game ready. It appears he will be sidelined for the remainder of his contract.

• While he isn’t being actively shopped, the Minnesota Wild will listen on centreman Marco Rossi. Rossi, a first-round selection in 2020, recorded 21 goals and 40 points this season. Any deal involving Rossi would be a “hockey” trade if the Wild move him.

• The Utah hockey team is looking to make improvements ahead of next season, and General Manager Bill Armstrong is looking for defencemen. Utah currently has no defencemen under contract for next season, though I expect RFAs Sean Durzi and J.J. Moser to get done eventually. In goal and wing Utah appear to be set, though I think they could stand for an upgrade at centre.

• I do think the Flyers are open to getting creative with their late-first round selection they previously acquired from Florida. It wouldn’t shock me to see them explore ways to move up and target another pick in the top-12. Could they package Florida’s pick with a player to entice a team to make the switch? I wonder about Buffalo, who showed interest in Scott Laughton this past season and is looking to bolster its bottom-six.