Logan Couture has a concussion and will not play against the LA Kings on Saturday night. Couture hasn't played since last Friday's game at Rogers Arena having taken a hit from Canucks forward Alex Burmistrov.
Couture, a noted #BillsMafia boss, was forced out game and into the quiet room with a heavy hit from Burmistrov just 5:12 into the third period of play. Burmistrov was given a penalty for interference. Burmistrov appeared to drive his shoulder into Couture’s mouth/chin area. Couture leads the Sharks in scoring with 15 goals and 11 assists in 31 games. After his teammates practiced on Thursday, Couture took a skate. The news was less than promising for the injured forward who told media:
“There’s a lot of stuff that has to happen to come back. You can’t just skate and then say you’re fine,… Couture said.
He added:
“I’m not playing if I don’t feel good. It could be one game, it could be 10 games, it could be the whole season. With head injuries, you don’t know. There’s no timeline. Everyone’s different. Everyone handles it different. Everyone’s brain handles it different. These are usually injuries that are tough to judge.…
OUCH! That does not sound promising at all. I applaud Couture for his open minded approach to his brain injury. Right now, he must continue to listen to team doctors and to his body. The healing process cannot be accelarated nor can shortcuts be taken in highly sensitive matters like concussion recovery.
Logan Couture getting some strides in after #SJSharks practice pic.twitter.com/k81EhGTIla
— Paul Gackle (@GackleReport) December 22, 2017
Couture spent about 10 minutes on the ice. “I’m not playing if I don’t feel good. It could be one game, it could be 10 games, it could be the whole season.… Yikes.
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) December 22, 2017
Couture hasn’t played in a game this week. The Sharks are 1-1 in his absence. They lost to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night and defeated Vancouver in OT on Thursday night. Couture has been ruled out for the LA Kings grudge match on Saturday.
Couture’ concussion has become a huge concern for DeBoer and Sharks GM Doug Wilson. San Jose is not guaranteed a playoff spot in the West. They enter Friday's action in 7th place in the West with 40 points. However, Chicago, Minnesota, and Calgary have 39 points while Anaheim has 38 points. Colorado and Vancouver each have 35 points.
Weeks before the Couture injury, Wilson had been scouting the NHL in search of a scoring top six forward to trade for. The Sharks are currently ranked 29th at even strength scoring. The Sharks have scored 50 even strength goals in 33 games played. Before the Couture injury, Wilson has been holiday shopping for a high-end forward who can skate, create, play the heavy game and pot goals at 5v5 and on the PP. Suffice to say, Couture’s concussion and lack of a timetable for his return to the lineup is a massive concern for Wilson and DeBoer. The one saving grace is the NHL holiday hiatus. There will be no games played league wide on December 24, 25 and 26.
Wilson has been scouting Buffalo Sabres power forward Evander Kane. I expect this scouting process to continue. Since December 3, 2016, Kane has scored 42 goals and 32 assists in 103 games played. Kane has 34 even-strength goals (12/3/16 to present) .
Were the Sharks and Sabres to come together on a trade for Evander Kane, the price is going to be high. Wilson will likely have to part with scoring winger Tomas Hertl (9 goals, 12 assists in 33 games), prospect forward Danny O'Regan and a first round draft choice. Hertl is a pending restricted free agent. O'Regan played with Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues at Boston University.
Kane and Hertl are represented by the same sports agency, which would make it easier to get both players extended to long term contracts moving forward. Hertl, 24, is a gifted goal scorer with a whack of creativity and offensive upside. He is a $3M ASV this season. Hertl has one 20-goal season on his resume. He has scored 68 goals and 77 assists in 282 career NHL games. In 33 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Hertl has scored 8 goals and 10 assists.