The injury had nothing to do with the benching, at least not directly (he wasn't being "rested"). Tortorella considers citing injury as a reason for a downturn in effective to be an excuse. Couturier missed two games due to what was said to be a groin issue then played through it (as it turned out, for the rest of the season). He didn't make a big deal out of it -- never does -- but the issue wasn't hidden or a mystery.
- bmeltzer

minor groin or core injuries are tough. I pulled a tendon in my lower ab, the Doc said you can play, it won't get better, let it rest and it will heal quicker. It is a nagging issue
but not one to sideline you. You lose push with those injuries, not something Coots can afford. I can see why he played, if they knew it would not get worse and they knew surgery at the end of the season would not be a big deal. I don't have an issue with Coots season, faired well overall, after being out 2 years. If his back is good, he groin is minor, he will probably have a good season coming up.

Now Torts? What the hell is wrong with him? How does he let his ego handle Coots the way he did, guy is an AssO

Could be a good project in the later rounds.

This is where a real GM with leadership skills looks at the big picture. Cups finals or what not sure play.
- hello it's me 2050

It's all easy to say in hindsight.

Nobody is healthy mid-season, everybody's nursing something or other. If the player says he can go and the doctors say he can go then what's a GM going to do?

The blame is more on the coach for riding a guy, who just missed 100-games with back and hip issues, like a rented mule.

Couturier is a warrior and the playoffs were on the line. To be a Flyer means sacrificing mind, body, and soul for the sake of the letters on the sweater. He made his sacrifice and it wasn't even good enough to be honest because his play slipped. The goal is to win, baby.

If he is injured it's because he can't even get out of bed. Better not have lunch with the team either, or its a fake injury. He better not be smiling at all. To be really injured you must really be suffering and wear it on your face at all times, or else you aren't a Flyer either. That's just girly man stuff.
- StepfordSam

He should be made to wear sackcloth and ashes in public.

It's all easy to say in hindsight.

Nobody is healthy mid-season, everybody's nursing something or other. If the player says he can go and the doctors say he can go then what's a GM going to do?

The blame is more on the coach for riding a guy, who just missed 100-games with back and hip issues, like a rented mule.
- Tomahawk

We are talking about ex selke only for this conversaton.

Bases on his history, the flyers "rebuilding, his long term contract, and other factors you get the surgery now.

If they player can't see the rationale behind it and wants to continue to play then I am not sure what the GM can do except then just scratch him. Now did the GM have any of these types of conversations? that is what's important to me.

He should be made to wear sackcloth and ashes in public.
- Minnyhock

[url]

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Couturier, Alumni Pickleball, TIFH
- bmeltzer

Did the player hide the severity of the injury or did he not disclose it at all? I think there is a good chance if Coots reveals his injury, Coots fears this could be the end of his career after sitting so long.

Is Torts going to take blame for his minutes even if he both scratched the player and played him on the fourth line? I remember an uproar of fans being upset that Couturier wasn’t playing with talent or used on the PP.

Did the mental staff know and clear him to play?

It will be real interesting to see what BUF does this offseason. They have several areas of need and have 3 top (young) defensemen.
- cdearth23

buff needs better support players

Did the player hide the severity of the injury or did he not disclose it at all? I think there is a good chance if Coots reveals his injury, Coots fears this could be the end of his career after sitting so long.

Is Torts going to take blame for his minutes even if he both scratched the player and played him on the fourth line? I remember an uproar of fans being upset that Couturier wasn’t playing with talent or used on the PP.

Did the mental staff know and clear him to play?
- roenick97

They knew... DB even said so on the CB podcast. I pasted his quote in yesterday's blog.

Did the player hide the severity of the injury or did he not disclose it at all? I think there is a good chance if Coots reveals his injury, Coots fears this could be the end of his career after sitting so long.
- roenick97

No and no. No he doesn't.

Some of the reactions are hysterical. Guys playing thru abdominal injuries that later need surgeries is nothing new. In 2016 it was Giroux and Ghost. In 2024 it was Drysdale and Couturier.

No and no. No he doesn't.

Some of the reactions are hysterical. Guys playing thru abdominal injuries that later need surgeries is nothing new. In 2016 it was Giroux and Ghost. In 2024 it was Drysdale and Couturier.
- Feanor

do you not see the diff between those 2 playing through it and ex selke playing through it?

He should be made to wear sackcloth and ashes in public.
- Minnyhock

If coots knew he was hurt why would he not understand the reason for the scratch? I don’t think anyone threw him under the bus - in fact, Torts just didn’t want to discuss it at all.

Sounds like they gave Coots the benefit of the doubt to play through it in the first half because he wanted to go and once the on ice results effected the team he was scratched much to his chagrin. And made it seem like he’s being treated unfairly - when the reality seems to be they just couldn’t let him keep going out there hurt. I don’t recall them bad mouthing coots, but the scratching is more of a “enough’s enough - sit it out for a minute and heal” - perhaps letting everyone know their newly appointed captain is injured again already would be a bad look for the team? I don’t know.

If coots knew he was hurt why would he not understand the reason for the scratch? I don’t think anyone threw him under the bus - in fact, Torts just didn’t want to discuss it at all.

Sounds like they gave Coots the benefit of the doubt to play through it in the first half because he wanted to go and once the on ice results effected the team he was scratched much to his chagrin. And made it seem like he’s being treated unfairly - when the reality seems to be they just couldn’t let him keep going out there hurt. I don’t recall them bad mouthing coots, but the scratching is more of a “enough’s enough - sit it out for a minute and heal” - perhaps letting everyone know their newly appointed captain is injured again already would be a bad look for the team? I don’t know.
- anti-lame

which looks worse; injured again or playing so poorly the coach scratches him?

which looks worse; injured again or playing so poorly the coach scratches him?
- Dkos

There was one point Torts did say he needs to be better - but it seems to me everyone jumped to the conclusion that the scratch was due to poor play when in reality they didn’t even want to discuss it. They weren’t willing to say he was playing so bad he needs to be scratched and they weren’t willing to say he was too injured to play. Admittedly, their silence allows for the speculation to run rampant - which it did.

Couturier said that he feels well and will be fine for the start of training camp. Back in mid-January, Couturier missed two games with an undisclosed injury that was described behind the scenes as a groin issue. Coincidentally or not, this also marked the point in time where Couturier's season took a significant downturn and never fully got back on track.
- Bill Meltzer

I told you all around this time that Couts did not look right and I thought he was hurt, and MJL among others told me I didn't know what I was talking about. Chalk another one up to the good guy, Me: 150, MJL: 0!

There was one point Torts did say he needs to be better - but it seems to me everyone jumped to the conclusion that the scratch was due to poor play when in reality they didn’t even want to discuss it. They weren’t willing to say he was playing so bad he needs to be scratched and they weren’t willing to say he was too injured to play. Admittedly, their silence allows for the speculation to run rampant - which it did.
- anti-lame

Exactly ... Torts in hindsight was trying to protect the player.

It's all easy to say in hindsight.

Nobody is healthy mid-season, everybody's nursing something or other. If the player says he can go and the doctors say he can go then what's a GM going to do?

The blame is more on the coach for riding a guy, who just missed 100-games with back and hip issues, like a rented mule.
- Tomahawk

I thought Coots was ready to go before the end of the previous season and out of an abundance of caution, and against Coots’ wished, they decided not to play him. I’m just saying, it’s not like he had just had surgery and they threw him out there. He was really well healed, and had plenty of time to train, by the time last season started.

do you not see the diff between those 2 playing through it and ex selke playing through it?
- hello it's me 2050

It happens all the time all over the league.

Exactly ... Torts in hindsight was trying to protect the player.
- jd250

This is beyond absurd. Torts protected the player by benching him, not talking to him, sending his assistant out to talk to the media, and allowing the player to fester about without closer, eventually leading to him getting a new agent? What kind of abuse have you had in your life that that 💩 looks like protecting him? Torts is a douche. Full stop.

This is exactly why Tortorella has no business coaching this team or any other.
- BiggE

I am sure Tortorella knew what Coots was going through. As did his team mates. I seriously question Torts' judgement when he chose to throw Couturier under the bus. He didn't have to do that. And I guarantee the room didn't think he needed to do that. His dinosaur mentality cost him the room. Or at least sowed the seeds for him to lose the room. Its hard to respect someone like that.

I told you all around this time that Couts did not look right and I thought he was hurt, and MJL among others told me I didn't know what I was talking about. Chalk another one up to the good guy, Me: 150, MJL: 0!
- jd250

What an idiot you are. You were saying that early in the season and in the first half of the season when Couturier was playing well.

Exactly ... Torts in hindsight was trying to protect the player.
- jd250

Another idiotic statement. Where was Tortorella protecting the player in the first half of the season when he was running him into the ground.

Exactly ... Torts in hindsight was trying to protect the player.
- jd250

Didn’t Couts agent say something that the Flyers mishandled the situation through bad communication or something like that?

I am sure Tortorella knew what Coots was going through. As did his team mates. I seriously question Torts' judgement when he chose to throw Couturier under the bus. He didn't have to do that. And I guarantee the room didn't think he needed to do that. His dinosaur mentality cost him the room. Or at least sowed the seeds for him to lose the room. Its hard to respect someone like that.
- MBFlyerfan

Honestly, knowing what we know now. Sounds like Torts didn’t want to play him, he had to.

“What??? You’re scratching our captain you say??? How dare you??? We just gave him the captaincy last week!!”

I don’t think Coots ever scored once with that stupid thing in his chest.,