Sean Couturier returns in preseason opener; Cam Atkinson a late scratch with lower-body injury

NEWARK, N.J. — Sean Couturier said he wanted to play in as many preseason games as possible. Cam Atkinson said he wanted to get his debut out of the way and play in Monday’s preseason opener.

Both veteran Flyers forwards initially got their wish, appearing on the Flyers’ game-day roster for Monday’s game.

But as the Flyers took the ice for warmups Monday night, Atkinson was missing. The Flyers said Atkinson, who missed all of last season with a neck injury, was “a little sore” with a lower-body injury. “Nothing related to his last year injury,” the Flyers said.

Wade Allison, a forward seemingly on the roster bubble, took his spot on the roster.

Couturier, whose two back surgeries have kept him out of NHL action since Dec. 18, 2021, was set to play Monday night, when the Flyers opened their six-game preseason schedule against the New Jersey Devils.

The duo being rostered Monday made a lot of sense, given their desire to get back on the ice in a game situation. But it’s also the easiest of the three preseason road games as far as travel days go. The Flyers held a morning skate Monday in Voorhees and then bused up to Newark. For Wednesday’s road game vs. the Islanders, morning skate in Voorhees is followed by a longer bus ride. The Flyers then play Friday in Boston.

Don’t expect Couturier and Atkinson to be on the roster for either of the next two games. It also remains unclear how long Atkinson will be out, if at all. Expect at least Couturier to return to game action when the Flyers host the first of three home preseason games Saturday vs. the Devils.

As was the case last season, Flyers coach John Tortorella was not behind the bench Monday night as Phantoms coach Ian Laperrière handled game-day coaching duties.

Couturier skated on a line with Bobby Brink and Joel Farabee.

“It’s been a year and a half and I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while,” Couturier said Monday morning. “All summer I’ve been thinking about it and now I’m here. I’m just excited to get warmups going and first shift out of the way and just play hockey.”

» READ MORE: Marc Staal will mentor the Flyers’ young defensemen, sometimes as more of a coach

Timing is rarely good when a professional athlete gets the call that he was traded, but for new Flyers defenseman Sean Walker, who was shipped to Philadelphia in the Ivan Provorov trade, it couldn’t have been much worse. Walker said Sunday that he had just arrived back in his hometown north of Toronto from California when he got the call. The trade forced him back to California to do some packing and to rent out his house.

Now, he’s on the east coast and trying to solidify his spot with the Flyers, who likely have him slated in a third pairing, though the team wants a few young prospects to push veterans like Walker, 28.

“It was a little bit of a whirlwind and a busy summer,” Walker said of the trade and move, “but it is what it is and you just deal with it and roll with the punches.”

» READ MORE: Cam York making the most of his opportunities early in Flyers training camp

What’s he looking to show early in camp?

“That I have the ability to defend against the other team’s top-end players,” he said. “I want to be a guy that’s playing those top minutes and top-four ice time. I think people know that I can contribute offensively.

“Torts has said no ice time is guaranteed for anybody, so you have to go out there every day and earn it.”

Walker was set to make his Flyers debut Monday night.

Tortorella said he called Kings coach Todd McLellan after the trade to get the scoop on Walker.

“The thing I like, everybody said how competitive he is,” Tortorella said.

“He’s a guy that we just have to get familiar with,” Tortorella said. “I’m comfortable with a lot of players here because I’m much more familiar. I’ve got to spend some time and figure him out as we go through the exhibition season.”

» READ MORE: Tyson Foerster looks to be in a good spot as Flyers show forward lines for the first time at training camp

Flyers forward Travis Konecny did not participate in his training camp group’s scrimmage or practice sessions Sunday and was not on the ice during practice sessions Monday morning. Tortorella would not say Sunday whether Konecny was dealing with an upper- or lower-body injury.

The injury, Tortorella said, is not considered serious.

The Flyers are off Tuesday before returning to preseason game action Wednesday vs. the Islanders. The non-game group Wednesday will practice in Voorhees.