Flyers’ Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier Trying to Return; Draft Update

Injured forwards Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier are trying to work their way back into the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup.

Both skated together at the Flyers Training Center Monday morning, under the watchful eye of Angelo Ricci, team’s skills coach.

Ricci put them through numerous drills. They skated freely, took shots, and did passing drills.

There is no timetable for they return — that is, if they return. But both seem to be headed in the right direction.

“It’s encouraging for everybody to see around the locker room, the organization, the fans. Everybody,” said defenseman Tony DeAngelo, hinting that Couturier was ahead of Konecny in his recovery.  “They’re the most important guys. Good to see them getting back to health.”

Couturier is coming off two back surgeries and hasn’t played this season. Konecny has missed the last eight games with an unspecified upper-body injury.

Despite missing so much time, Konecny still leads the Philadelphia Flyers with 27 goals. Owen Tippett (18) and Kevin Hayes (17) are next.

Coots (right) and TK (left) do passing drills with #Flyers skills coach ⁦@AngeloRicci16⁩ this morning. Both hope to play again at some point in the last month. pic.twitter.com/53B8xPDWag

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) March 13, 2023

Coach John Tortorella had no update on their availability.

Draft-position update

The Philadelphia Flyers (24-31-11) have 16 games remaining, starting with Tuesday’s matchup with visiting Vegas (41-20-6). They currently have the league’s seventh-worst points percentage.

The lower you finish, the better your chances in the draft lottery.

Realistically, the Flyers (.447, 59 points) could drop as low as the fourth-worst record, though Anaheim (.403, 54 points) would need to start winning, and the Flyers would need to continue losing. Philly could drop below Arizona (.440, 59 points) and Montreal (.439, 58 points). The Flyers could also climb ahead of Vancouver (.469, 61 points) and St. Louis (.477, 63 points).

This is considered a deep draft. Center Connor Bedard is the prize selection and a generational player, but the first four prospects (Bedard, center Adam Fantilli, center/left winger Leo Carlsson; right winger Matvei Michkov, center Will Smith) are also considered to be future stars.

Breakaways

The Flyers start a seven-game homestand Tuesday, one in which they face Vegas, Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, Detroit, and Montreal. … Injured right winger Wade Allison (day to day) again missed practice. … Tony DeAngelo, whose two-game suspension for spearing Corey Perry has ended, and Brendan Lemieux (unspecified injury) were at practice. “I was looking to give him a shot, but I wasn’t looking to hurt anybody or jam anybody in the part I hit him,” DeAngelo said of the groin spear. “It’s something that’s never happened before in my career, and I don’t plan on it (happening) ever again. … I try to play the game nasty but clean, if that makes any sense.”

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