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Flyers center Sean Couturier, walking with crutches, had ankle surgery last week after having an abdominal procedure earlier in June.

(Randy Miller)

VOORHEES – Flyers center Sean Couturier showed up to Skate Zone for rehab on Wednesday morning walking with crutches.

His left foot was completely wrapped.

The Flyers announced that Couturier had "successful abdominal surgery" five days after the fact on June 11, but never mentioned anything about a foot issue.

“I had to get something removed … a bump on my ankle that was just bothering me,” Couturier told NJ.com. “It’s been a week. I can start walking again. It’s just from the stiches they don’t want me to put pressure so it opens up again, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s nothing serious.”

As for his abdominal issue, Couturier is expected to be fully recovered within three weeks.

“It’s going good,” he said. “It’s only been 2-3 weeks and I feel pretty good. I don’t look good, but I feel pretty good.”

Couturier, who had a chance Wednesday to say goodbye to recently traded teammate Scott Hartnell, didn't miss a game and scored a career-best 39 points this season, but he didn't look himself going scoreless with a minus-1 in seven playoff games against the Rangers.

Asked if his injury hampered his play, Couturier said, “I don’t know. It was bothering me for a couple months. I was starting to get used to it, but obviously I probably wasn’t playing 100 percent.”

In addition to struggling in the playoffs, Couturier finished the regular season with just five points in his final 16 games after logging 11 in his previous 13.

He'll be healthy long before training camp begins in September, though, and depending on what moves the Flyers make from now until then, it's possible he'll either begin next season again centering the third line or perhaps being bumped up to the second line.

For much of his first three NHL seasons, Couturier has been a shutdown center who has had a lot of success matching up against some of the top scorers in the league, most notably Pittsburgh Penguins two-time scoring champion Evgeni Malkin.

Couturier has embraced his role, but anxiously awaits being counted on to do more scoring. He probably won't ever put up 96 points like he did over his last two junior seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL, but 20 goals and 60 points eventually seems very obtainable.

“I think if I get put in offensive opportunities, I can maybe take advantage of that and produce more,” Couturier said.”In the role I’ve been in, I just try to play my game. It’s not easy every night going against top lines. You know you’re not going to get as many chances as you do playing against third or fourth lines, but it’s a great challenge.

“Eventually for sure in the future I don’t only want to shut down those first lines, but maybe also outscore them. That’s the goal in the next few years.”

His focus this week, besides continuing his rehab, is on the NHL Draft, which will be held this weekend at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers pick 17th overall in Friday’s first round.

“Yeah, I do follow it,” Couturier said. “It’s always fun to see the young guys coming up and who’s in the plans for the future of the team.”

Three years ago, Couturier was picked eighth overall by the Flyers, then as an 18-year-old he immediately became part of the present by making their roster out of training camp.

Now he’s a very interested veteran in the draft.

“These guys that are going to be drafted are part of the future, so it's important to follow and get to know them,” Couturier said.