San Jose Sharks’ captain Logan Couture has officially ended his career. During an emotional press conference on April 15, Couture told a crowd filled with current and former Sharks players as well as members of the Sharks organization that, because of his injury, he was unable to continue playing hockey.
“My career of playing hockey has come to an end. I’m not physically able to play anymore. It’s tough. It sucks, but it is what it is,” said Couture in his own candid way that Sharks fans have come to know.
Couture, who paused a few times during his speech to collect himself, was grateful for everything he’s experienced so far.
“I loved and cherished every single moment I got to play in this league. The NHL is everything that I thought it would be when I was a kid,” Couture told the crowd gathered. “You know, I dreamed of playing in the NHL. I think three years old was the first time that I got on the ice. Remember watching TSN certain games; it was all I wanted to do.”
Couture thanked many of the coaches and general managers he met on his path to the NHL and in the league. He made a point to thank team owner Hasso Plattner for always giving the team a shot at winning. He thanked former General Manager Doug Wilson for drafting him. He thanked Mike Ricci for teaching him how to tip pucks, and he thanked his coaches, including Bob Boughner, David Quinn and Todd McLellan, who helped him develop his game in the NHL.
“I was also fortunate that first year, Todd pulled me into his office, this is something for guys on the team now to maybe do this is he told me, few weeks, a few months in my first season,” recalled Couture. “He said, ‘I have something for you to do. These five players, you’re going to watch them for the next three, four months, and you’re going to find the thing that they all do the best, and when you find that thing, that’s what you’re going to work on in practice. You’re going to watch the during games, and you’re going to watch them. You’re going to watch the clips of them doing it in games.’
“And that was Jumbo, Patty, Pavs, Boyler [Dan Boyle] and Ryan Clowe,” continued Couture. “Patty was easy because he did everything, but for him, it was shooting stride. Jumbo, same thing, just sticking handling with his head up not looking at the puck. Clowey protected the puck so well, I’m not as big as Clowey is, but I try to take that into my game. Pavs, tipping pucks and Boyler, heart. The guy played with the biggest chip on his shoulder you’ll ever find. His passion, his drive. I was fortunate for that conversation, because that’s what I tried to do, and I feel like that made me such a better player.”
While Couture didn’t get a chance to achieve the ultimate prize in hockey, the Stanley Cup, he did cherish every memory with the Sharks.
“We didn’t win it all, but we came really close. We had years. We were eight, seven, six and two wins away from it all. We had some really good runs, and I’m just proud of those teams that we had,” said Couture. I’m also extremely fortunate that I was able to spend my entire career here in San Jose with the Sharks. I’m honored to have been a Shark for this long.”
Couture made sure to thank everyone who helped him along his NHL journey, from his teammates to management, to the staff, and the fans.
“The other thing about those teams I have played on, that we were so good, is just how much fun it was. That’s a testament to the leadership we had on the teams, to the coaching staffs, to the management. You guys just made fun for us, and, you know, Jumbo, Patty, Pavs, Burns, etc., the list goes on,” continued Couture. “We have so many great people. I’ll always remember those days fondly. There’s just so many great people in this organization, players, staff, front office. I’m always going to be a Sharks fan. I want the Sharks to win so badly and I hope it’s soon because all you people here deserve to win. This franchise deserves it and the fans as well.”
While Couture talked a lot about the memories he made on the ice, he also made sure to mention that San Jose will hold a special place in his heart because he started and grew his family in the South Bay. He thanked his wife, Brielle, for supporting him as a hockey player and pointed out his two kids, who were both born in San Jose.
Couture also thanked the fans for their passion and told them how he hoped he would be remembered as a player.
“I just hope that I’m remembered as a player that worked extremely hard. Someone that would do anything to win whether that was scoring, blocking shots, really anything,” said Couture.
