Center Sean Couturier signed a multiyear contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Terms were not released, but Sportsnet reported it's for six years and $26 million, an average annual value of $4.33 million.
Couturier, the eighth pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, could have become a restricted free agent after this season.
"It's a great organization, they believe in me," Couturier told CSNPhilly.com. "I'm really happy to be there for the next six years. I love the organization, the city. I think the future is bright in Philly. Hopefully we can do some good things during those six years."
The 22-year-old scored an NHL career-high 15 goals and had 37 points last season. He had 13 goals and a career-high 39 points in 2013-14, and has played all 82 regular-season games each of the past two seasons.
"I'm really looking forward to come in camp and try to take another step forward," Couturier said. "I'm not going to change as a player, as a person. I'm going to be the same type of player, just definitely try to produce a little bit more offensively."
Couturier is a valuable penalty killer for the Flyers and led their forwards last season by averaging 2:19 of shorthanded ice time per game. He has 45 goals and 118 points in 287 regular-season games, and three goals and four points in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"I've been playing 18 minutes a game the last two years," Couturier said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'll do my best at the role they give me, and what they want and what they expect from me. Whatever I can do to help the team win."
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