Many have already written off Logan Couture when predicting their lineup for the Sharks in the course of the 2024-25 season. Whereas he did make a number of appearances in the course of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, he didn’t appear to be himself and it was a short-lived experiment as he recovered from harm. In April, he stated he hoped to be prepared for coaching camp however 4 months later there hasn’t been a lot data obtainable concerning the Sharks’ captain. Whereas his present standing stays unknown, whether or not he’s wholesome or not can have main implications for the staff this season. 

Veteran Management

With a younger roster consisting of rookies like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith alongside gamers with barely extra expertise like William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund, having some further management who can mentor them into turning into star gamers can be massively useful. In fact, Mikael Granlund is presently on the roster and he can fill that function as effectively, however because the commerce deadline approaches there can be no ensures that he’ll stay on the staff for the second half of the season. Couture is coming into his fifth season as captain of an NHL franchise, which is the kind of expertise not many gamers can present. He was introduced up in a locker room stuffed with leaders like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and the just lately retired Joe Pavelski. Even when he’s not the participant he was on the ice, which stays to be seen, he would carry a kind of management that not many others can present.

There’ll undoubtedly be questions round Couture’s skill contemplating the truth that he missed the vast majority of the 2023-24 season and when he did play, he was underwhelming at finest and he’s already 35 years previous. With that being stated, relating to the Sharks group, Couture is irreplaceable no matter his efficiency on the ice. They’ve Marc-Edouard Vlasic taking the veteran function on the blue line, so it is sensible that Couture would take that spot for the forwards if wholesome. 

Roster Implications

The Sharks have a little bit of a logjam on the backside of their roster, particularly with forwards as they intention to have a aggressive coaching camp surroundings this season and begin shifting towards the top of their rebuild. Prospects like Filip Bystedt, Daniil Gushchin, and even Thomas Bordeleau are doubtless going to wrestle to make it onto the opening night time roster because it stands if Couture is unavailable. If he’s obtainable, it’ll undoubtedly push a number of gamers who have been on the roster final season like Collin Graf and Justin Bailey again to the American Hockey League with the San Jose Barracuda. If Couture is wholesome, the Sharks actually get an excellent participant, nonetheless, it’ll have some unfavorable results for these on the perimeter. 

Heading into coaching camp, issues are removed from assured for anybody on the Sharks. Even together with his standing, the identical can be true for Couture. With the present roster development, he wouldn’t be assured the first-line middle function shifting ahead. He’d doubtless begin on both the second and even third line, and if he performs on the stage he has previously, he’ll transfer up the lineup. As Celebrini and Smith proceed to enhance, Couture’s function will proceed to decrease. With three years left on his contract although, he’ll actually be of their plans till both it expires or he’s unable to play once more.

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Though there’s a number of uncertainty round Couture for the upcoming season, one factor is undoubtedly clear. He’s not going to be a commerce piece for the Sharks, both he fits up for the staff in teal or he stays out with an harm shifting ahead.