San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture has been one of the best players the franchise has had the pleasure of putting on the ice. He's a leader on and off the ice, a reminder of when times were better for the San Jose Sharks, and a shining light to help bring some of the young kids into the new age of Sharks hockey. Couture has been a core part of this franchise for the better part of a decade and has cemented himself as one of the greats in franchise history.
Couture sits fifth in games played for the Sharks organization with 927. He sits third in goals with 323, fifth in assists with 377, and third in points with 700. Only Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton have more points for the San Jose Sharks organization than Couture does, and both numbers will hang above the ice at the Shark Tank very soon, with Marleau's number already being up there. He sits among giants in the rich tapestry of history this franchise possesses.
But with his ongoing injury concern, should the Sharks be trying to bring Couture back at all? This is not a reflection on Couture by any means, but if he would benefit from a season watching from the sidelines, does it make sense to give him that rest? San Jose have nothing to play for, this season is a lost cause at this point. Is it worth risking more injuries to the almost 35-year-old centerman?
Bringing back a player of this quality would also likely hurt the tank job the San Jose Sharks are attempting to to undergo. We all want to see Macklin Celebrini or one of the other projected high picks in this draft on this roster so this pain isn't for nothing. Having good players on the roster makes it more difficult to get those higher draft picks. It's why we're talking about how half the team is expected to be gone at the trade deadline.
This is all purely theoretical. With the health of players being paramount, the Sharks will certainly be wanting to take their time, but the player association will have problems with the team if they did not brign Couture back specifically for his injury. Now, there's nothing against sitting Logan in the press box as a healthy scratch, but that would likely spark a reaction from Couture. Professional players do not like being scratched.
So, what would you do? If you were in charge of the roster decisions for the San Jose Sharks, how would you let this situation unfold? Would you rather risk annoying Couture and let him ride the pine for the season to protect him and the Sharks tanking interests, or let him return to the ice and jeaprodize the seasons pain for a few more wins and the happiness of the captain? There isn't a right answer, and it is always a fun debate to have.