Ellis' career likely over; Couturier, Atkinson expected ready for camp

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ryan Ellis isn't expected to continue his NHL playing career due to a torn psoas muscle, president of hockey operations Keith Jones said Wednesday.

"We all wish for Ryan just as a human being because I've been through that at the end of my career when there's uncertainty about whether you would come back or not and then dealing with the reality of not coming back," Jones said, per NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "It's a tough time. It's a very, really difficult time. I'm very sympathetic to what he's gone through."

Ellis hasn't played since November 2021. He only suited up in four games for the Flyers since being acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators in July 2021. The 32-year-old has four seasons remaining on his contract with a $6.25-million cap hit.

Ellis was a stellar two-way blue-liner during his prime years. From 2016-21, he averaged 49 points per 82 games and 23:47 per contest. He tallied 275 points in 566 career regular-season games, plus seven goals and 31 assists in 74 playoff contests.

The Flyers did receive good news on Wednesday, though, as Jones announced that forwards Sean Couturier and Cam Atkinson are expected to be ready for training camp.

"The end of last season, they were ready to come back then," Jones said. "So now they're getting a full offseason of training and getting ready to prepare for the rigors of a long regular season. All indications are that they are full-go, and we're really excited about that."

Couturier underwent two back surgeries in less than a year, having procedures in February and October of 2022. The 2020 Selke Trophy winner missed all of last season and was limited to just 29 games in 2021-22, notching six goals and 11 assists.

Atkinson missed all of 2022-23 due to a neck injury, which required surgery in December. The speedy winger produced 23 goals and 27 assists in 73 games in 2021-22.