Logan Couture (Ezra Shaw/Pool Photo via Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/491d9ea0-9d12-46fa-9eb0-00237d9b6981.jpeg] Logan Couture (Ezra Shaw/Pool Photo via Imagn Images) After 16 seasons and 933 games in the NHL, San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture announced on Wednesday that he’s stepping away from professional hockey. “My career of playing hockey has come to an end – I’m not physically able to play anymore,” Couture said at a Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks] press conference [https://x.com/SanJoseSharks/status/1912239585356038170]. “I loved and cherished every single moment I got to play in this league.” What's your favorite Logan Couture memory during his playing career? The 36-year-old revealed he’s been dealing with symptoms from Osteitis Pubis over the past two seasons. Osteitis Pubis is joint inflammation between both pelvic bones, which causes pain in the lower abdominal and hip and groin area. Couture will remain under contract with the Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks] through the 2026-27 season. He signed an eight-year deal [https://puckpedia.com/player/logan-couture] that became active in 2019, earning $8 million per season. Couture said he had an idea that he was coming to the end of his career after his last game against the Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] on Jan. 31, 2024. “I was in a ton of pain,” he said. “I guess it’s been in my mind that there was a chance that could’ve been it, since that game.” Couture reminisced on all the great hockey memories throughout his NHL career and his time with the Sharks. He recalled the experience of his first NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] on Oct. 25, 2009. “I could’ve (retired) after that one game and been happy,” he said. He highlighted all the deep playoff runs that San Jose had throughout the 2010s. In its heyday, San Jose had several deep playoff campaigns, despite being unable to get its hands on the Stanley Cup. Between 2010 and 2019, the Sharks advanced to the Western Conference finals four times. On one of those occasions, they made it to the Stanley Cup final in 2016 but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] in six games. After discussing the glory days of his career, Couture began to thank those who helped him get to where he is today. “This will be the tough part,” he said. The Guelph, Ont. native went on to thank all the members of the Sharks organization, his teammates along the way, agents and more. He also expressed his gratitude to his family and became visibly emotional talking about his parents. “You guys sacrificed so much for me to live my dream,” Couture said. “I love you guys, and I know I’ll do that for my kids.” After his words, Sharks GM Mike Grier took over the mic, and following that was a video of special messages from old teammates, coaches and more. All the messages had one thing in common: they all commended and remembered how much of a clutch performer he was in the playoffs. “I always admired you from afar,” Grier said while facing Couture at the podium. He received a video message from Doug Wilson, Todd McLellan, Pete DeBoer, Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl. At the end of the press conference, Couture hinted at potentially taking a management position later on. “I do see a future, but not anytime too soon.” Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
