Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Logan Couture and Sharks agree to two-year extension

San Jose Sharks v Vancouver Canucks - Game Two

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MAY 18: Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks skates across through the neutral zone in pursuit of the puck in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals against the Vancouver Canucks during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena on May 18, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Canucks defeated the Sharks 7-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The San Jose Sharks have been one of the busiest teams of the offseason. Just because it’s the middle of August, it doesn’t look like Sharks GM Doug Wilson is showing any signs of slowing down. Ray Ratto of CSN Bay Area is reporting that the Sharks will announce a two-year extension with Logan Couture that will keep him in San Jose through the 2013-14 season.

Couture was the Calder Trophy runner-up last season, as he finished second in rookie goal scoring (32) and second in rookie points (56). But just as impressive as the statistics the talented center put up; his ability to grow into a responsible two-way player as a 21-year-old really turned heads. Since turning 22, he continued to grow as he showed that he can produce in the playoffs as well. His 7 goals and 14 points in 18 games were both second in rookie playoff scoring.

After being named to the 2010-11 NHL All-Rookie team and proving to be a valuable part of the Sharks organization, it was no secret that San Jose would want to re-sign Couture. But to sign him 10 months before he became a restricted free agent comes as a bit of a surprise. Then again, this is the same front office that was able to lock-up newly acquired defensemen Brent Burns almost a full year before he hit the open market. Say what you want about GM Doug Wilson’s moves—at least the man is proactive.

The big question about Couture’s extension will be the salary he collects for two seasons. His entry-level deal carries a $1.24 million cap hit—the extension will undoubtedly bring a healthy raise. With Couture’s extension, the Sharks now have five natural centers locked up for the next two seasons in Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, and Michal Handzus. With Marleau playing on the wing over the last couple of seasons, and word that Andrew Desjardins will get every opportunity to lock-down the 4th line center role, the Sharks have no shortage of centers. No wonder the Sharks were able to part with a guy like Charlie Coyle in the Brent Burns trade.

We’ll keep our eye on the story as more details emerge from San Jose.

Update, 11:37 a.m.: CSNBayArea’s Brodie Brazil says Couture’s deal is worth $5.75 million for the two years on his extension.