Sean-Couturier-PHI-32-in-32-fantasy

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Philadelphia Flyers. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice" podcast.

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NOTES:These fantasy projections (for an 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Anna Dua and independent correspondent James Harding, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com's top 250 rank.
Flyers 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Sean Couturier, C --Limited to 29 games because of a back injury that required surgery on Feb. 11, he was productive when healthy with 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) and 79 shots on goal (2.7 per game). Couturier was tied for 30th in the NHL in points (252 in 276 games) and plus/minus (plus-53) from 2017-18 to 2020-21. He's a bounce-back candidate considering he had nearly a point per game in 2020-21 (41 in 45 games) and is also a two-time 76-point producer but is dealing with another back injury and week to week.
NHL.com point projection for Couturier: 53
Tony DeAngelo, D --Among NHL defensemen leaders in points per game (0.80; 11th) and power-play points (20; tied for 14th) last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, he was traded to the Flyers on July 8 and signed a two-year contract. He should improve Philadelphia's power play, which ranked last in the NHL (12.6 percent) last season. He is a fringe top 30 defenseman and potential fantasy bargain, especially in points-only leagues.
NHL.com point projection for DeAngelo: 43
Carter Hart, G -- He was efficient over his first two NHL seasons (40-26-4, .915 save percentage in 74 games) but has declined in the two seasons since (22-35-12, .895 save percentage in 72 games). That said, Hart is a fantasy bounce-back candidate and potential beneficiary of the Flyers hiring coach John Tortorella, who should implement a more defensive system. There should be more structure in front of Hart compared to last season, when the Flyers allowed the sixth most goals per game (3.59) and fourth most shots per game (34.0).
NHL.com win projection for Hart: 20
Video: Top 10 Carter Hart Saves from the 2021-22 Season
Cam Atkinson, RW --He was second on the Flyers in goals (23), assists (27), points (50 in 73 games) and shots on goal (215) last season and led them in points per game (0.68). Atkinson had his best season playing for Tortorella with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018-19 (NHL career-high 41 goals, 69 points). With exposure to Couturier on the top line and DeAngelo on the first power play, Atkinson can challenge his best power-play goals (10) and power-play points (21) totals from 2016-17, and has the ceiling of leading the Flyers in goals and shots on goal.
NHL.com point projection for Atkinson: 57
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Other PHI players to consider in fantasy: Kevin Hayes, C; Travis Konecny, RW; James van Riemsdyk, LW/RW; Ivan Provorov, D; Owen Tippett, RW; Bobby Brink, RW
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