Flyers center Sean Couturier (back) avoids surgery

Dec 6, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) against the Colorado Avalanche at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier will not require back surgery and remains week-to-week, Sportsnet reported Wednesday.

The decision comes after seeking a second opinion.

Couturier, 29, reaggravated a back injury during strength and conditioning training last week. He reportedly suffered a herniated disc. Couturier previously had surgery on his back in February.

Couturier has spent his entire NHL career with the Flyers after they made him the eighth overall selection in the 2011 draft. He has tallied 460 points (180 goals, 280 assists) over 721 career games but has not played at least 80 games in a season since 2018-19.

Limited to 29 game last season, Couturier had six goals and 11 assists.

The Flyers signed Couturier to an eight-year contract extension in August 2021 that carried an average annual value of $7.75 million. That extension kicked in for 2022-23 and is slated to last till 2029-30.

Couturier won the Selke Trophy in 2020 for “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.” He has received Selke votes in nine of his 11 NHL seasons.

–Field Level Media

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