NHL Rumors: Flyers Forward Done for the Season

Just when the Philadelphia Flyers were expecting some good news on the injury front, turns out the polar opposite has taken place as reports have surfaced that Flyers forward Sean Couturier has a herniated disc in his back and is likely going to miss the entire 2022-23 season.

I've been told that @NHLFlyers center Sean Couturier has a herniated disc in his back that could cost him several months, if not the whole season. I have a story coming very shortly. @NHL.
— Anthony SanFilippo (@AntSanPhilly) September 19, 2022

The injury bug continues to hit the Flyers hard if this report is confirmed. Joel Farabee, Bobby Brink, Ryan Ellis, and now Sean Couturier in the offseason alone https://t.co/Z0m0UcUHxL
— Colin Newby (@ToNewbyginnings) September 19, 2022

The Flyers won't be starting training camp healthy and new head coach John Tortorella is going to have his hands full to get the team back on track. Considering how many headlines the team is making and we haven't even played a preseason game yet, it's going to be an entertaining year following the Flyers for all the wrong reasons.

As for Couturier, it was expected he would be entering training camp healthy this season, so the news is very surprising. SanFilippo went on to report the following:

According to multiple team sources, Crossing Broad has learned that star center Sean Couturier will miss significant time to start the season after suffering a herniated disc in his back during strength and conditioning drills last week. Couturier, 29, missed most of last season with a back injury that eventually required surgery in February. He was slated to come back and center the Flyers’ top line this season, but then suffered this injury during off-ice workouts with the Flyers’ new strength and conditioning team.

According to sources, while Couturier is being re-evaluated, it’s not looking good and that the belief is he will miss at least 12 weeks. That, however, could be on the optimistic end. There is a thought it could be longer and extend well into the second half of the season, if not the entire season.

Torts meet Connor Bedard, he's new here.

Photo credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports