The San Jose Sharks have no plans to trade Logan Couture this offseason, general manager Mike Grier said Monday.
“And just one more thing I want to clarify for you media guys. There are things out there that I’m looking to trade Logan Couture or something like that. That’s absolutely false,” Grier said. “If you look at us bringing in young players and having a young team, he’s exactly the type of person you want to have around your young players. He’s our captain, he’s our leader. He had a tough year, but we love him.” As a person, the most important thing is that he is still a great hockey player.”
Couture, 35, missed the first 45 games of this season due to a hip/groin injury he suffered during offseason training. He returned on January 20 and had an assist in his season debut, but just 11 days later, he reaggravated the lower-body injury, causing him to miss the rest of the season after playing in only six games.
At the Sharks’ end-of-season media availability on April 20, Couture said he was planning to return to skating in July and reiterated that San Jose was where he wanted to be when training camp began in September.
“I love San Jose. I believe in what they’re doing here,” Couture said. “Obviously it was a terrible, terrible season, but I think we’re at the bottom. I think they’re growing this organization the right way, although you might not see it now with how difficult the season was.
“It’s tough. Losing that point.”
Couture, who has three seasons remaining on an eight-year contract he signed on July 1, 2018, ranks third in Sharks history in goals (323), fifth in assists (378), fourth in points (701) and fifth in games played. (933).
“We’ll see. I’m 35 years old. The clock for me playing in this league is on the back nine,” Couture said. “But yeah, I want to win. I miss playing in the playoffs. You want a definitive answer, but yeah, I’m going to try to play again.”
The Sharks (19-54-9), who finished last in the NHL this season, failed to reach the Stanely Cup Playoffs for the fifth straight season after qualifying in 14 of the previous 15 seasons.
During the rebuild, Couture has seen several mainstays leave the Sharks. Joe Pavelski, whom Couture replaced as captain, signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019. Brent Burns, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in 2017, was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on July 13, 2022. Erik Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy three times, including with San Jose in 2023 after scoring 101 points, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 6, 2023. This season, Tomas Hertl was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 8.
“Obviously, I see guys that were here the last two years and some are in the playoffs and some are not,” Couture said.
The Sharks’ new young core includes forwards William Eklund, 21, and Fabian Zetterlund, 24. Eklund, who was selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, was second in San Jose with 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 80 games this season. Zetterlund, acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on February 26, 2023, was third on the team with 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games.
They could be joined next season by Will Smith, who was selected with the fourth pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward signed an initial contract with the Sharks on May 28 after leading the NCAA in scoring with 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) in 41 games as a freshman at Boston College.
The Sharks, who own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, are also expected to add center Macklin Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s hockey player as a 17-year-old. with Boston University. this season. He was second in the NCAA, behind Smith, in scoring with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games.
“There’s reason for Sharks fans to be excited,” Couture said. “I can see it every day. (Eklund), (Zetterlund) younger guys who are going to be good NHL players, and you know, I watched Will Smith play on television like all of you do, and it seems like he’s going to be a good player.”
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