While most people know that Couturier was a key return in the blockbuster Jeff Carter trade, there is a much more to it than that. Carter was a product of the star-studded 2003 NHL draft, where the Flyers also took Mike Richards. Richards was the Flyers own pick in that draft whereas the pick used to select Cater originally belonged to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Here is the full breakdown of the history of pick used to select Sean Couturier.
MIKE SILLINGER-
Scott McCrory was drafted 250th by Washington in 1986.
McCrory was traded to Buffalo on 6/1/89 for Mark Ferner.
Ferner was traded to Toronto from Washington for cash considerations on February 27, 1992.
Ferner was taken 21st overall by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks during the 1993 expansion draft.
Ferner was traded on April 4, 1995 to Detroit along with Stu Grimson, and a 1996 6th round pick (Magnus Nilsson) for Mike Sillinger and Jason York.
Sillinger was traded from Anaheim to Vancouver on 3/15/96 for Roman Oksiuta.
Sillinger was traded to Philadelphia on February 5, 1998 for a 1998 fifth round draft pick (Garrett Provofsky).
CHRIS GRATTON-
Gratton was drafted 3rd overall by Tampa Bay in 1993.
He later signed as free agent in Philly on August 14, 1997.
Sillinger and Gratton were traded to Tampa Bay for Daymond Langkow and Mikael Renberg on December 12, 1998.
Langkow was traded to Phoenix for a 2002 2nd round pick (Dan Spang) and a 2003 1st round pick (Jeff Carter) on July 1, 2001.
Jeff Carter was drafted 11th overall in 2003 by the Flyers.
Carter was traded to Columbus on June 23, 2011 for Jake Voracek, a 2011 1st round pick (Sean Couturier), and a 2011 3rd round pick (Nick Cousins).
Flyers drafted Couturier 8th overall in 2011.
Sean Couturier has blossomed into one of the top centers in the league over the past few years. Finally grabbing the top line center role during the 2017-18 season, Couturier is entering his prime and is only getting better.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: sports.yahoo.com
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