Logan Couture trade rumors have made the rounds in recent weeks. Reports have indicated that the San Jose Sharks may be looking to move on from their veteran captain. It's certainly understandable why they'd look to move him. Couture is a great player, but as general manager Mike Grier works through a rebuild, he may bring more value through a trade.
However, it does not appear at this time that Couture is leaving the Sharks. Grier spoke with the media on Monday to introduce the new head coach of his franchise. And he addressed what he says are “false” trade rumors surrounding his captain.
“Stuff is out there that I'm looking to trade Logan Couture or anything like that. That is absolutely false,” Grier said, via NHL.com. “If you look at us bringing in young players and having a young team, he is 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 most importantly, and he's still a heck of a hockey player.”
Logan Couture had a rough 2023-24 season
At the beginning of the year, the Sharks knew they'd be without Couture for some time. He suffered a lower-body injuring during offseason training and workouts. As a result, he missed the first 45 games of the year. By the time the 35-year-old forward came back, San Jose's season was effectively already over.
But Couture still laced his skates and took to the ice. Unfortunately, he didn't make much of an impact. He scored no goals and just one assist in the six games he played. 11 days after his return, Couture reaggravated his previous injury. The Sharks captain did not play for the rest of the 2023-24 season as San Jose finished dead last in the NHL.
It was an unfortunate, and somewhat sudden, turn of events for Couture. He had been rather healthy over the last two seasons. In fact, he missed four total games between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. And all four of those games came in the 2022-23 year. Now, he certainly looks forward to getting back on track in 2024-25.
Veteran captain commits to Sharks
One thing Logan Couture is certain about is where he wants to play. This past year was absolutely rough. Both for him and for the Sharks. However, the 35-year-old is not ready to go to another team just yet. He made his desire to remain in San Jose known during the team's exit interviews in April.
“I love San Jose. I believe in what they're doing here,” the Sharks captain said, via NHL.com. “Obviously a terrible, terrible season, but I think this is rock bottom. I think they're growing this organization in the proper way even though you may not see it right now with how tough the season was. It's tough. Losing [stinks]. … I was fortunate to be here through many, many great years. … I hope that we can get back there, I hope I'm around this team when we get back to that point.”
Couture definitely had great seasons with the Sharks. The 35-year-old has spent his entire career with the Southern California franchise to this point. He is the fourth-highest scorer in franchise history and the highest team scorer among active NHL players. He also ranks fifth in assists and third in goals among Sharks skaters. In 2016, he helped the team make their first Stanley Cup Final, though it was a losing effort.
Couture has experienced a lot of ups and downs in his career. But as things stand, he has no desire to leave San Jose. And it appears as if Mike Grier has no desire to ship his veteran captain out of town.
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