SAN JOSE, Calif. — From the age of three, Logan Couture harbored a dream of playing in the NHL, a stick constantly in his hands.
After an impressive 15 seasons, encompassing over 1,000 regular season and playoff games, Couture`s hockey journey is cut short by a persistent injury, sidelining him for nearly 15 months.
“My playing days in hockey are over,” Couture announced on Tuesday. “I am no longer physically capable of playing. It`s a difficult reality, and it`s disappointing. Yet, it is what it is. I deeply value every moment I had in this league. The NHL has been everything I envisioned as a child.”
Couture`s distinguished career, spent entirely with the San Jose Sharks, ends prematurely as he hasn`t been able to skate since January 2024. This led to his decision to officially retire, hoping to improve his physical condition enough to enjoy activities with his young children.
The 36-year-old Couture has been absent for the majority of games since the 2023-24 season`s commencement, suffering from osteitis pubis, a condition causing inflammation in the joint of the pubic bones.
Couture`s last NHL game was on January 31, 2024, and he expressed that he never came close to rejoining his team on the ice.
“The mental aspect is challenging,” he admitted. “It`s akin to the aftermath of a playoff loss, hitting a wall as the season ends, leaving you uncertain of what`s next. This situation carries a different weight because it`s physical. At its worst, the soreness can be intense, limiting daily activities. Thoughts about my two young kids often crossed my mind. … However, I`ve reached a point of acceptance, knowing we explored all avenues, and it didn`t yield the desired outcome.”
His career was marked by significant highlights, with Couture renowned for his clutch performances, particularly in the playoffs, where he nearly led the Sharks to a coveted Stanley Cup.
General Manager Mike Grier hailed Couture as “one of the greatest players” in Sharks history. His unwavering determination and competitive spirit earned him the Sharks captaincy for five seasons and widespread admiration from teammates, many of whom attended his announcement or sent video tributes.
“Clutch goals, clutch plays,” remarked longtime teammate Patrick Marleau. “Thinking of Logan, I see a complete player. In the game`s final moments, regardless of the faceoff location, he’s on the ice. Whether it`s in the defensive, offensive, or neutral zone, he`s the go-to guy, someone you trust to compete and get the job done.”
Couture had two years remaining on his eight-year, $64 million contract from July 2018, with $13 million in salary still due. He will continue to be paid without officially retiring, counting $8 million against San Jose’s salary cap for the next two seasons.
Couture initially missed 45 games last season due to the injury, briefly returning for six games in January, which exacerbated the condition. He has been sidelined since, unable to play or practice with the team.
A cornerstone of the San Jose team, Couture was among the last links to their successful era of the 2010s. He was appointed team captain at the start of the 2019-20 season.
His NHL record includes 323 goals and 378 assists over 933 games, with a standout playoff record of 48 goals and 53 assists in 116 games. He topped the 2019 postseason with 14 goals and in 2016, led with 20 assists and 30 points.
He cited his best memories as scoring the empty-net goal against St. Louis to secure the Western Conference Final at home, sending the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Final, and the dramatic comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Vegas in Game 7 of the 2019 first round.
“Imagine being in a nightclub next to a speaker for hours, then stepping outside, ears ringing, unable to hear anyone,” Couture recalled of the Vegas game`s atmosphere. “That’s what it was like between the third period and overtime.”
Tristan Blackwood