The Flyers' No. 1 center has missed nearly two years of action due to a pair of back surgeries.

It's been a long time coming for Sean Couturier.

After nearly two years without playing a single second of competitive NHL hockey, the Philadelphia Flyers' No. 1 center is set to make his long-awaited return to the lineup Monday night when his club takes on the New Jersey Devils for a preseason tilt in Newark.

Preseason games may not always mean much for veteran players. But for Couturier, he's had this date circled on his calendar for a long time.

"It's been a year and a half. I've been waiting for this moment for a while. All summer I've been thinking about it. And now I'm here," Couturier told the media Monday morning.

"I'm just excited to get the warmups going and the first shift out of the way and just play hockey. I think that's what I've missed most."

Couturier's last appearance in an NHL game came all the way back on December 18, 2021 before being placed on injured reserve with an "upper-body injury." Two months later, he was recovering from season-ending back surgery.

Couturier was hopeful he'd be well enough to return to the Flyers in time for the start of the 2022-23 campaign, but was forced to undergo a second back surgery in October of 2022 after his injury flared up on him while increasing his training. The Flyers initially gave Couturier a recovery time of 3-4 months, but he ultimately was held out for the entirety of the 2022-23 season despite making enough progress to take the ice for morning skate toward the end of the campaign.

It's been a long, difficult recovery, but now all systems are go for Couturier. He has practiced with the Flyers in full with no restraints since the start of camp and will finally be back on the bench with his teammates Monday night in North Jersey.

Still, there will surely be some rust to knock off after being sidelined for nearly two years.

"Physically and my skating and stuff like that, I feel pretty good. It's more my execution, my hands around the net, the finish isn't quite there yet, but I feel every day it's gotten better and better," said Couturier. "I'm just taking it day by day and trying to get better every day and get ready for the season."

Couturier isn't the only Flyer returning to the lineup after a long absence. Cam Atkinson, who also missed the entire 2022-23 season, will be suiting up against the Devils as well.

However, Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere, who will be behind the Flyers bench Monday night, made it clear Couturier and Atkinson won't be overly exerted Monday night. He even hinted their ice time could be reduced if the Flyers take a big lead late in the game.

"I won't play those guys 25 minutes, but they'll play rigorous shifts, special teams," said Laperriere.

Before his two back surgeries, Couturier was an annual candidate to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in hockey. Monday night, even if it's just a preseason game, Couturier will finally have the opportunity to prove he's still capable of being the shutdown center from his pre-injury form.

"I'm trying to approach it like any other game, but it's been a while," said Couturier. "Obviously there are some things where I'm still trying to adjust, adapt with my timing and everything.

"Looking forward to it just to see how it goes. Finally in a real game and go from there."

Puck drops between the Flyers and Devils Monday night at 7 p.m. ET.