SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier emphasized Monday that he’s not interested in trading his captain, Logan Couture, who he feels will be a major part of the team’s rebuild as it enters its next critical phase.
“(If) stuff’s out there that I’m looking at trading Logan Couture or anything like that, that is absolutely false,” Grier said at the end of Ryan Warsofsky’s introductory press conference. “If you look at us bringing in young players here and having a young team, he is exactly the type of person you want to have around the young players.
“He’s our captain, he’s our leader, he had a tough year. But we love him as a person, most importantly. He’s still a heck of a hockey player, so you guys can put any of those thoughts about me looking to trade our captain, you can put to bed.”
The Sharks could have a handful of rookies on their roster next season, including recently signed forward Will Smith and soon-to-be No. 1 overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini. Having the 35-year-old Couture, who was drafted by the Sharks in 2007 and is entering his 16th NHL season, around to be an example for those first-year pros is vital in Grier’s eyes.
But trading Couture right now, even if Grier wanted to, might be next to impossible.
Couture still has three years left on his eight-year, $64 million contract, which carries a cap hit of $8 million, a figure likely too large for most contending NHL teams to swallow whole. The Sharks do not have any salary retention spots left for the upcoming season, having used all three in the Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, and Tomas Hertl trades.
Couture is also coming off a season in which he played just six of 82 games as he dealt with an often painful and debilitating condition called osteitis pubis, described as inflammation in the joint between a person’s left and right pubic bones.
“I’m realistic. I’m not sure who’s going to trade for a guy who’s 35, makes $8 million, and plays six games in a season,” Couture said in March after close friend Tomas Hertl was traded by the Sharks to the Vegas Golden Knights. “You’re not going to find any takers out there.
“I’m trying to get healthy. I’m trying to live a normal life away from hockey, and then once I start to feel better and get back to playing the game, we’ll go from there.”
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky has spoken to Couture “a few times” since he was hired last week but said the health topic did not come up.
“Really good conversations, nothing hockey,” Warsofsky said. “Just checking in to see how his family’s doing, see how he’s doing. He’s been great, and like Mike said, he is a great, great captain, and first and foremost, he’s a great person. He’s a big part of this franchise.”
When he met with reporters in April, Couture said he wanted to begin skating in July and was optimistic that he could start training camp in September as a full participant.
“That’s my plan right now,” Couture said. “I met with the doctor just 20 minutes ago, and that’s their belief. That’s what I’m hoping for. I miss playing hockey so much, so I hope so.”
Aside from Couture’s valued leadership, the Sharks were 4-1-1 this past season when he was in the lineup.
Couture, in his NHL career, has 701 points in 933 games, including 67 points in 82 games during the 2022-2023 season.
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Playing in all situations and usually matching up against the opposing teams’ top line, Couture has averaged 18:18 in ice time per game for his career. He has received votes for the Selke Trophy, given to the NHL’s top two-way forward, six times.
“I grew up in Boston watching Patrice Bergeron. (Couture) is Patrice Bergeron on the West Coast,” Warsofsky said, as Bergeron was a six-time Selke winner. “The way he plays, the way prepares, the way he leads this group. He’s an addition to the coaching staff in ways and he sees the game really, really (well).
“I told him when he’s done playing, I’d love to see him be on the bench coaching. I don’t know if he’ll do it, but he has a great mind for the game, and I’m happy he’s with us.”