OTTAWAThe word shy might best describe Flyers rookie Sean Couturier.
The word versatile might best describe fellow rookie teammate, Matt Read.
Both of these young players will participate in the SuperSkills competition on Saturday at the All-Star Game for Team Alfredsson.
Neither has the vaguest idea of what theyll be doing or what they would prefer to do. Theyre both a tad nervous.
Yet as bashful as Couturier comes off, the 19-year-old is pretty outspoken on who he would like to meet here this weekend.
Evgeni Malkin, Couturier said.
Malkin comes into All-Star weekend as the leagues leading scorer with 58 points. Couturier is ranked in five rookie categories, and is ninth in rookie scoring with 19 points and second in plusminus at plus-13.
NHL
I really liked Evgeni Malkin when I was growing up, said the American-born Couturier, who plays internationally for Canada.
I kind of thought of myself in minor hockey that I was a little like him. Putting up points, a flashy guy. We have kind of the same size, too. I kind of grew up thinking of him as a favorite player. It would be fun to meet him.
Question is, how will Couturier meet Malkin? He admits hes too timid to go right up to the Russian superstar and shake his hand.
Id probably get someone around him to introduce me to him, Couturier said. Maybe Kimmo Timonen.
Timonen is playing for Team Chara.
Now, Matt Read is 25. This, too, is just his first year in the NHL, yet hes less shy than Couturier.
That might have something to do with his personality and the fact that, as a kid, he was what you call a military bratmoving around and living in different places because his dad was in the Canadian Army.
He hopped all over Canada and the U.S. from as far west as British Columbia to as far east as Ontario. He says it helped him grow up sooner.
So Read, who played college hockey at Bemidji State, has no inhibitions when it comes to meeting someone he wants to meet.
He went to high school in Ilderton, Ont., which is near Detroit. He followed the Red Wings. One in particular.
Theres a lot them Id like to me but just like Claude Giroux said, itd be Pavel Datsyuk, Read said.
I grew up watching him and you get a lot of Detroit games where I was. He was special. He was a great overall player.
It might be easier to mingle with Datsyuk if he were in the same dressing room, but hes not. Hes on Team Chara.
Datsyuk is fourth in the league with 53 points. Read is among the leading Calder Trophy candidates with 31 points (third among rookies). Hes first in goals (15) and fourth in plusminus (pus-12).
Im pretty excited, but I am also nervous to be around all these top players in the NHL, Read said. Ill just be the young guy there trying to take it all in.
Its going to be a great experience just to know the guys a little bit off the ice. It should be fun.
Couturier, who admitted he tried to envision what it would be like sitting in the same dressing room as some of these players.
Its funny because Im kind of young and just a couple of year ago, I was watching them all play in an All-Star Game, he said.
Theyre all pretty special players and theyre guys I admired growing up. Now, Im going to be in that same locker room and its different. Its going to be impressive but you cant be intimidated, right?
Probably not, but it would be normal if such a thing did happen.
Both of these guy wonder about the skill competition and what theyll be doing.
They have so many new skill competitions, Read suggested, he dont know what he would be good at. Target shooting intrigues him.
I did that in junior, Read said. I had five shots and hit four targets. I hit the post. Then I hit the next one. That might be the easiest thing for me, who knows?
Couturier, who lit up the QMJHL at Drummondville, gets a worried look on his face when you mention target shooting.
The last time I did that was at the NHL Prospects thing, Couturier said. I went 0 for 8. So, it would be embarrassing to get another 0 for 8. Anything they give me I will try my best.
During training camp, TSNs Bob McKenzie predicted that Read would win the Calder. At the time, Read completely dismissed the compliment as pure fantasy.
Yet hes a worthy choice to consider at the All-Star break along with Edmontons Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, among others. Still think its a fantasy?
Its still surreal, Read replied. When Bob McKenzie said that in pre-season, I thought, come on. I am just focusing on upcoming games and not worried about that stuff. Those kind of distractions can cost you.
Youll be a second late on a play, or something like that. Im not worried about any of that stuff right now. Its great to get the honor and be among the top five rookie scorers. But its the same thing every day. Show up to play and do what is best for this team to help us win.
Which is something both he and Couturier have been doing with the Flyers all season.
People notice. Its why they were chosen for the All-Star weekend.
It should be a fun time with the best in the league, best in the world, Couturier said.
Read pointed to Couturier in the far end of the dressing room.
Ive got to give credit to Coots, he said. When I was 19, or even 20, theres no way I could play with half the brains and talent that he has.
They both have what it takes.
Thats why theyre here.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net