Couturier's hometown of Bathurst, New Brunswick, is so proud of his NHL achievements that it named a street after him. Fittingly, Sean Couturier Avenue leads to the public hockey rink where Couturier began his minor hockey career.

The son of former Los Angeles Kings center Sylvain Couturier made his NHL debut with the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 6, 2011 against the Boston Bruins after the Flyers selected him No. 8 in the 2011 NHL Draft. Though Couturier was a big scorer in junior hockey, he quickly established himself as one of the NHL's best defensive centers, earning votes in his rookie season for the Selke Trophy, given to the League's top defensive forward. Couturier also was ninth in voting for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top rookie.

Couturier finished in the top 10 twice (ninth in 2013-14, eighth in 2015-16) in voting for the Selke Trophy during his first five seasons in the NHL. He was second to Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18, was sixth in 2018-19, then won the award for the first time in 2019-20.

Through his first six NHL seasons, Couturier was most often entrusted with shutting down the opposition's top scorers and killing penalties. He saw little power-play time, scoring just three man-advantage goals.

But that all changed in 2017-18. Given a chance by coach Dave Hakstol to center a more offense-minded line, Couturier broke out with 76 points (31 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games, helping the Flyers qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though Philadelphia lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference First Round, Couturier had nine points (five goals, four assists) in five games, including a five-point performance (three goals, two assists) in Game 6. He scored 76 points (33 goals, 43 assists) in 2018-19 and 59 points (22 goals, 37 assists) in 2019-20, and was named winner of the Selke Trophy.

Couturier signed an eight-year contract with the Flyers on Aug. 26, 2022. He returned for the 2023-24 season after missing 22 months while recovering from back surgery to repair a herniated disk, which he had to repeat after eight months of continued pain, numbness and migraine headaches from leaking spinal fluid. The Flyers named him the 20th captain in team history Feb. 14, 2024, their first since Claude Giroux (2012-22) was traded to the Florida Panthers on March 19, 2022.

"He's a crusty, old pro,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said of Couturier after he scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory against the Seattle Kraken on Feb 10, 2024. “He's a huge part of this. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, how he's handled this year after taking two years off."

Couturier had an NHL career-high five points (three goals, two assists), including his 500th in the NHL, in a 7-5 victory against the Minnesota Wild at Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 26, 2024.

Couturier was born in Phoenix while his father was playing in the International Hockey League, then moved with his family to Bathurst when his father took a coaching job there. In 2008, Couturier joined Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and as a rookie helped the club win the league title in 2008-09.

He won the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the QMJHL's leading scorer (96 points) in 2009-10. At 18 he was the youngest and only draft-eligible player to earn a spot on Canada's roster for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship.

In 2010-11, Couturier was named MVP of the QMJHL and won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the league's best professional prospect following his second straight 96-point season.