Logan Couture was selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 NHL draft. He broke the record for most goals by a rookie in a single season in the Sharks organization at 32, which he still holds. Throughout Couture's career, he stayed with the Sharks, scoring 701 points in 933 games. He is third overall for the most goals by a single player in Sharks franchise history.
Couture last played on January 31, 2024, he hadn't played at the start of the 2023-2024 season and returned for six games before re-aggravating an injury. He then announced that he had been dealing with osteitis pubis, a condition that causes inflammation in the pubic bones.
His injury was always up in the air, with no given timeline on when he would return. Couture was still the current captain of the Sharks, a position he's held since the 2019 season. Many people wondered when he would return to the team he was leading. Yet, as the season progressed this year and still no word on his timeline, Sharks fans were quick to point out that he was even missing from the team photo this season.
On Monday, word broke that on April 15, the San Jose Sharks would be holding a press conference to officially announce that Couture will not return and would be going to retire after being sidelined with his injury for over a year.
During the press conference , Couture confirmed he would indeed be retiring. He opened up his announcement, saying "My career of playing hockey has come to an end. I'm not physically able to play anymore, it's tough, sucks, but, it is what it is. I've loved and cherished every moment I've played in this league, the NHL is everything I thought it would be when I was a kid."
He reflected on his career, saying he hopes he will be remembered "as a player that worked extremely hard, and someone that would do anything to win." During questions from the press on how he ended up deciding to retire, he said "I never got close to getting back onto the ice since that last game." Even though he continued rehab and training into the summer of 2024.
Current players have been taking to social media to congratulate Couture, including Sharks 2024 first round pick, Macklin Celebrini, who never personally got to play alongside Couture. Brent Burns, a former Shark player (now Hurricane). Mario Ferraro , who is alternate captain for the Sharks.
Couture has had an amazing career and will forever be remembered by Sharks fans and their organization. Best of luck to Couture in his retirement.