NHL Trade Talk: Source Tells NHN Logan Couture Could Bring Big Return (+)

Logan Couture reminded the hockey world that he has plenty of game left with a career-high five-point night in the San Jose Sharks’ 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. The NHL trade buzz began.

The 33-year-old pivot has scored four points four times – on April 18, 2013, against the Minnesota Wild, Feb. 11, 2016, versus the Calgary Flames, Oct. 17, 2017, against the Montreal Canadiens, and Nov. 7, 2019, versus the Wild, all at home – but never five points. Couture scored both the game-winner and the empty-netter, which sealed the win over the Penguins and added three assists.

There’s been a lot of recent discourse, as Timo Meier and Erik Karlsson trade rumors swirl around the 15-25-11 Sharks about trading the captain. And who would want Couture and the four years with an $8 million AAV left on his contract after this season?

I can tell you, and I’ve had this same conversation with multiple NHL hockey ops people from outside the San Jose Sharks organization this season: Couture’s contract is indeed too rich, and his age as the deal advances is also nerve-wracking. But everybody also says that right now, he would be a perfect second-line center for any Cup contender in need.