Ryan Warsofsky Offers Update on the Health of San Jose Sharks Captain Logan Couture

Logan Couture is a player many neutrals forget is still a San Jose Shark. Couture is a player some Sharks fans forget exists. However, he is still the captain of the Team in Teal and is under contract with the Sharks. He's still supposed to be a leader of this young Sharks team. Today, we got an update from San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky on the state and welfare of the captain and what the future holds for the center.

Couture is not on the ice yet; there is no timetable for his return if he attempts one. He's suffered chronically with these injuries for a long time now, and at some point, the player needs to put his life after hockey ahead of his desperation to play. Many fans would like to see Couture step away from the game and focus on being healthy for the remainder of his life.

However, not being healthy doesn't mean Couture hasn't impacted this roster. Warsofsky relies heavily on him behind the scenes. His input on the roster after games has helped Warsofsky learn how to adjust and get through to some of the players on the roster. This young roster still turns to the experience and leadership of the captain despite his on-ice absence. He's still been a crucial part of the Sharks young core.

Some fans have said Couture needs to surrender the captaincy to someone around the roster more often. While this is a good idea in theory, there's no standout candidate to replace the Guelph, Ontario native. If Couture is still involved in leading this team off the ice while he continues to recover, why not let him remain the captain? Marc-Edouard Vlasic only has two years left, and he's on IR as well, and there's no one else who's been here long enough to justify the captaincy.

If Couture can return to the lineup, this roster will have unbelievable depth down the middle. With Will Smith, Mikael Granlund, Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Nico Sturm, and Alex Wennberg, there's enough there to do whatever the coaching staff wants when combined with Couture, especially if Couture comes back as the player he was. That's a long way away, but seeing a comeback from the Sharks captain would be fantastic.