The timing of naming him captain and then the next day (literally) playing him his lowest TOI of the season was always fishy. Especially when Tortorella approached Briere out of nowhere saying he wanted him captain.
Couturier has been rotting with Deslauriers, he’s been benched for a 3rd period, now healthy scratched. For a Selke player who never slacks in effort or detail, that’s a slap in the face — in a playoff push yet. Laughton had a stretch no less brutal, without the injury fatigue factor (which the coach caused by his exorbitant Pyrrhic victory early usage), but of course a scratch would never happen.
Remember too: Couturier had a January injury which caused him to miss games. While playing through that, and not publicly making excuses, the coach questions your effort? Woof.