SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture has not skated in close to eight months and as the team’s training camp got underway Thursday, still had no clear idea of when he might resume.
“Not even at that point, really,” Couture said Thursday. “I mean, I haven’t skated since January 31. So, there’s no immediate plan to get onto the ice.”
For the second straight year, Couture remained in workout gear as his teammates, including Macklin Celebrini, went through various up-tempo drills led by new coach Ryan Warsofsky.
Couture missed 76 of 82 games in 2023-24 with osteitis pubis, or inflammation in the joint between the left and right pubic bones. After missing all of training camp and the Sharks’ first 45 games, Couture returned and played in six straight games from Jan. 20-31 before being shelved again.
Couture would sit out the rest of the season and said in April that he hoped to resume skating sometime in July. However, general manager Mike Grier noted late last month that Couture had yet to get on the ice.
With no clear idea when Couture might be able to skate again, it would be a complete surprise to see him available for the start of the regular season when the Sharks host the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 10.
“I’ve played hockey for 30-plus years, and when it just ends abruptly, it’s difficult, especially when you don’t really have a choice. The body just breaks down,” Couture said. “But that’s the way professional sports, or sports in general, normally work, not always injuries, sometimes other reasons. But that’s the situation I’m in.”
Is Couture concerned that he might not play another game?
“Honestly, day by day is how I’m taking it,” Couture said. “Like I said, there’s been different ups and downs, mentally, physically, throughout this entire thing. I’ve had tough days. I’ve had good days. So that’s really not in my mind. It’s come to the rink, try and get through as much rehab stuff as I can, see how I feel. Go home, see my family.”
Couture, 35, is entering his 16th NHL season and sixth as the team’s captain. He is fifth on the Sharks’ all-time list with 933 career games and is fourth all-time with 701 points.
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