Philadelphia Flyers players Sean Couturier, Jamie Drysdale, and Rasmus Ristolainen all dealt with their share of injuries last season, but after undergoing surgery and focusing on rehabbing during the summer, all three say that they're feeling good and ready for the upcoming season.
Flyers GM Danny Briere confirmed that all of the NHL roster players are healthy and ready to participate fully in the team's preseason schedule.
Flyers GM Danny Briere confirmed that all of the NHL roster players are healthy and ready to participate fully in the team's preseason schedule.
Sean Couturier, who was named captain of the Flyers back in February, said that he was "over the hump" when it came to the back issues that were bothering him last season, and that he's feeling better after having sports hernia surgery over the summer.
"It's pretty common," he said of the procedure. "It's my second time having that surgery in my career; I had it, like, 10 years ago. [The symptoms of the injury] were bugging me last year a little bit."
He said that his recovery went well, and that "it's one of those injuries that you can rehab it depending on how symptomatic you are. I just want to get it done with. I did feel good. I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted to as the summer went on. It's a six-to-eight week recovery but honestly, after two weeks, I felt great."
Jamie Drysdale, who joined the Flyers back in January, also battled through upper body injuries last season, and revealed that he had core surgery this summer as he hopes to have a full healthy season.
He highlighted that the core issues negatively impacted his skating abilities, which are a central part of his game.
"It's not great, kind of knowing that you can't do what you want to do and know that you can do," he said. "From not being able to warm up properly to just being restricted, you just do everything you can to make it feel decent going into games... Everyone has to through things during the year; it's not just me... It is what it is."
Drysdale cited staying in the Philadelphia helped his recovery, and credited the Flyers' trainers with putting in the time and effort to help him get back to full strength over the summer.
"I think I had the procedure on April 29th or May 1st, something like that, so I've been in Philly since April 28th," he said. "Just working with these guys, I can't thank them enough for the amount of work that the staff here has put in with me. It was incredible, to be honest. The fact that it kind of turned into a full-year job for them, every single day, hours on end, so big thanks to them for making me feel the way I feel now, which is good."
Fellow defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was limited to just 31 games last season after getting two separate injuries, but said that he "feel[s] good" that he's been cleared to participate in full contact practice sessions.
He admitted that dealing with the injuries was "annoying," but "stuff happens and you can't control it. I'm extremely excited and have big plans to stay healthy."
Flyers GM Danny Briere confirmed that all of the NHL roster players are healthy and ready to participate fully in the team's preseason schedule.
