A day after scoring his first goal in a preseason game for the Flyers, rookie prospect Sean Couturier signed a three-year entry level contract.
Its been a couple of weeks where my agent was looking to get a contract done, said the 18-year-old, who was the Flyers No. 1 draft pick this summer at the No. 8 spot.
Now I can really focus on making the team.
In Tuesdays 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs at Toronto, Couturier was plus-2 with a goal and an assist.
Courturier received the rookie maximum of 925,000 a year. With performance bonuses, that could push his cap hit to 1.375 million for each of the years he plays.
Right now, the Flyers are maxed out at 50 contracts. Couturier can play up to 10 games and then has to go back to junior or stay.
If he plays 11, his contract automatically counts against the 50. To do that, however, the Flyers would have to lose a contract somewhere in their system.
NHL
General manager Paul Holmgren said the team will take its time deciding what to do with Couturier. Its likely he will return for a fourth year of junior. He compiled 96 points in each of his last two years at Drummondville (QMJHL).
Truth is, the Flyers are very crowded at forward and have at least five, natural centermen. There is no hurry to keep Couturier.
Given his age, Couturiers development would stall if he werent playing significant minutes at the NHL level. Because he is not 20, he cant play in the AHL, either. So he has to go back.
Well see how it goes, Holmgren said. I thought he played a solid game for us Tuesday night. Im sure hell play more games for us leading up to when we need to make decisions on our roster. To get him signed now, its just something that we dont have to worry about later.
Holmgren said this was such an easy deal to make, it didnt even take five minutes. His cap hit is rather friendly, too.
It fits in line with other players drafted around that time, Holmgren said.
Couturier said he didnt feel it was pertinent to get a deal done this early, but it fell in place. He said his goal was making an impression on management.
Just focus on the right things, make a good first impression, and make the team, he said. I needed a contract to make the team. Now that its done, I still have to work hard and prove myself and hopefully, I stay around.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com.