Erik Lupien, Gilles’ son, has just lost the only regular NHL player he counted among his clients.
(via @Puckpedia) https://t.co/CS5EOCupWC– Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) April 30, 2024
And even if it’s by force of circumstance.
According to Frank Seravalli, Flyers captain Sean Couturier has changed agents. He has left Erik Lupien, Gilles’ son, to join Pat Brisson’s team.
If you check out Cap Friendly, Couturier has six years left on his contract at $7.75 million. So it’s probably not to negotiate a better contract any time soon that he’s changed agents.
Unless…
What if the Flyers wanted to buy him out? That said, I’d be more than a little surprised to see the Flyers buy Couturier when you consider the impact he’d have on the Flyers’ bottom line for another 12 years.
Until 2030, it would be intense, as can be seen in the “cap hit” column of the following table:
However, aside from the salary footprint of a potential buyout, I don’t believe the Flyers would have named him captain in order to buy him out this summer or next, under similar conditions.
I get the impression that everyone knows he’s not tradeable due to his contract and injuries, and that the chances of him joining Carey Price and Shea Weber on Robidas Island (or finishing his career on the long-term injured list) are good.
The feeling I get is that Couturier has taken on an influential agent to earn his respect. Whether it’s from John Tortorella, who passed on him last year, or whether it’s to negotiate certain aspects of the end of his career with Daniel Brière, I believe Brisson is there for the job.
But maybe the change of agent means something else, whether it’s a squabble with his former agent, an upcoming coup d’éclat or something else along those lines.
In brief
– #AustonGate
Auston Matthews jumped on the ice for about two minutes for the optional practice session.
He unleashed 2-3 shots, deflected a few pucks in front of the net, then retreated to the dressing room.
Very brief. Stay tuned for his presence tonight.
– Patrick Friolet (@PFrioletRDS) April 30, 2024
– To be continued in Toronto.
Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are on the ice for the optional practice session.
Joseph Woll is not on the ice, which tells us he should be the starter tonight #Leafs #Bruins
– Patrick Friolet (@PFrioletRDS) April 30, 2024
– Logical.
Brad Marchand takes part in @NHLBruins morning practice @TVASports
– Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 30, 2024
– Who do you think will win?
2024 Calder Trophy finalists, as voted by @ThePHWA: Connor Bedard (CHI), Brock Faber (MIN) and Luke Hughes (NJD). pic.twitter.com/2M89gx5mWc
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 30, 2024
– News from the QMJHL.
Jean-François Grégoire of #Drakkar is crowned #QMJHL GM of the Year.
Those who have won both trophies (head coach and GM of the year) in recent years:
Stéphane Julien 2023
Jim Hulton 2021
Mario Pouliot 2019
Gilles Bouchard 2016– Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) April 30, 2024