This isn’t remotely surprising given that Logan Couture represents the cornerstone around which the Sharks plan to build their franchise into the future and that Doug Wilson has a history of signing players (including Couture himself) to contract extensions a year before the expiry of their current deals, but Elliotte Friedman reported on last night’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast that contract talks have begun between the Sharks and Couture. The relevant bit starts about 5:25 into this video:
Couture’s second NHL contract, the 2-year, $5.75 million RFA deal he signed in the summer of 2011 and had kick in prior to this past season, doesn’t expire until July 2014 but the Sharks can officially sign him to an extension as soon as July 5, 2013. Some possible contract comparables include Tyler Seguin’s 6-year, $34.5 million deal with the Bruins, Jamie Benn’s 5-year, $26.25 million deal with the Stars, Jeff Skinner’s 6-year, $34.4 million deal with the Hurricanes and Jordan Eberle’s 6-year, $36 million deal with the Oilers. Ultimately, it’s likely to be either a 5- or 6-year contract that carries a cap hit in the $5.5 to $6 million range.
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