Couture pledges loyalty to Sharks: 'I want to turn this thing around'
San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture isn't planning an exit from the Bay Area as the club looks to become competitive again.
"If I thought it was going to be a five-, six-, seven-year rebuild, then obviously things would change," Couture told NHL.com's Jon Lane.
"But I think (general manager) Mike (Grier) has done a good job of retooling (with) some really good (draft) picks. It's tough to predict what happens a couple of years from now, but I'm excited about this season. I want to turn this thing around here in San Jose. I think they have the management group to do it. They have a great coaching staff that's going to get things going."
San Jose finished 29th in the league last season with a 22-44-16 record - its lowest win total in a full campaign since Couture joined the club in 2009-10.
The Sharks have signified their intentions to rebuild in recent months by trading former franchise cornerstones Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson in separate deals. Couture could theoretically be an attractive trade chip as well, but the 34-year-old doesn't intend to trigger the modified no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to submit a list of three teams he'd accept a deal to.
"Change is hard, and if there ever comes a day where it has to happen and I think it's best for myself and my family, then we'll come to that," Couture said. "I'm sure down the road maybe my role diminishes on the ice, but for now I want to do whatever I can to help this team and be the best player that I can be for the Sharks."
Couture is under contract through 2027 at a cap hit of $8 million. He ranked second in Sharks' scoring last season with 67 points in 82 games while logging over 19 minutes per night.
San Jose drafted Couture ninth overall in 2007. He's racked up 700 points in 927 regular-season games and added 101 more in 116 playoff contests.
The Sharks named Couture captain ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.