Flyers' Couturier out for season after undergoing back surgery

Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing back surgery Friday.

Couturier hasn't played since Dec. 18.

The 2019-20 Selke Trophy winner collected six goals and 11 assists over 29 games in this campaign.

Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher said Friday that Couturier's recovery could take approximately three months.

The 29-year-old center is one of the NHL's best two-way players. He's spent his entire 11-year career with the Flyers, who drafted him eighth overall in 2011.

Philadelphia signed Couturier to an eight-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.75 million in August.

The Flyers sit near the bottom of the league standings in 2021-22. The club has also been without defenseman Ryan Ellis for most of the season due to an injury of his own. Ellis hasn't played since suiting up for his fourth game of the campaign on Nov. 13.

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