San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture has a broken right fibula and will be out four to six weeks, general manager Doug Wilson announced on Friday morning. Couture will return to San Jose for surgery, which is expected to take place on Saturday according to ESPN’S Britt McHenry, who first reported the story.
Couture was injured in a 5v5 drill in the Sharks’ practice yesterday according to CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz, and the San Jose Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka reported seeing Couture leave the Prudential Center with a boot on his right foot.
#Sharks Logan Couture has a broken leg (fibula). Will have surgery on Saturday. #NHL
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) October 16, 2015
Official statement coming soon but #SJSharks Logan Couture has a broken right fibula. Surgery Saturday. (First to report was @BrittMcHenry)
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) October 16, 2015
This is obviously a huge loss for the Sharks, as the alternate captain and second line center has been one of the Sharks’ best possession players since joining the team during the 2009-10 season. This season, Couture has found strong chemistry with linemates Patrick Marleau and Joel Ward, as the three have posted the strongest possession numbers relative to the rest of the team through three games this season, according to NHL.com’s enhanced stats database.
Logan Couture's line has the best possession numbers relative to the rest of the Sharks.
In the meantime, the Sharks have called up 2013 first round pick Nikolay Goldobin in Couture’s absence. Look for him or Ben Smith, who’s been with the team all season but is yet to make his season debut, to draw into the lineup in Couture’s absence.
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