Can Flyers' Couturier be another Bergeron?

Flyers center Sean Couturier says he has been labeled as a defensive specialist.

He doesn't like it.

Couturier says he wants to be known as a two-way player, not someone whose main responsibility is to shut down an opponent's top scorer.

"I want to take a step forward offensively and be one of the go-to guys when we're down a goal and need a goal or need some offense," said Couturier, 22, after he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers in Voorhees on Monday.

That goal is fine with coach Craig Berube, who says Couturier (15 goals, 37 points, plus-4) has the potential to be like Boston's Patrice Bergeron, a shutdown defender who had 23 goals, 55 points and a plus-2 rating this season.

Couturier had a career-high in goals this season, but since he frequently starts his shifts in the defensive zone, some of suggested it has prevented him from scoring more often.

Berube doesn't buy it.

"We're trying to make a bit of an excuse here that I use him too much in the defensive zone," Berube said. "He's got a job to do. That's what we need him to do for the team. For him to develop as a better offensive player, he has to learn to produce, starting from that [defensive] position."

Couturier started 51 per cent of his shifts in the defensive zone this season, compared to 52 percent for Bergeron.

Berube thinks Couturier can make a solid second-line center. To do that, he needs to pick up his production next season, his fifth in the NHL.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.