Couture to miss several weeks with fractured ankle

The San Jose Sharks are in the midst of one of their worst seasons in recent memory and have now received a devastating blow on the injury front.

Forward Logan Couture will miss several weeks with a fracture in his left ankle, the team announced Thursday.

Couture was injured in Tuesday's game versus the St. Louis Blues after getting hit awkwardly into the boards.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that Couture's absence was likely to extend at least six weeks.

Couture has 14 goals and 22 assists for a team-leading 36 points in 45 games this season. The 30-year-old is in his first campaign as Sharks captain after the offseason departure of Joe Pavelski.

San Jose currently sits in sixth place in the Pacific Division and 26th in the league with a 19-22-4 record.

To make matters worse, San Jose's first-round pick belongs to the Ottawa Senators this season as part of the package it sent to acquire defenseman Erik Karlsson.