San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture spoke with Frank Seravalli about the end of his career.
In the most recent Frankly Speaking podcast, Couture told Seravalli that he’s taking time away from the rink before deciding what he wants to do.
“Probably stick around in hockey in some capacity. [Mike] Grier told me that if I ever had an interest, there would be an opportunity here in San Jose,” Couture said. “Right now, I am taking some time away. When you’re injured and can’t play, at least for me, you start to lose the love a little bit just because of what your body is going through.”
Despite saying he’s lost some love for the game of hockey, Couture said he can’t ever not be around it. The Sharks captain told Seravalli he’s watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs every night.
During his press conference announcing his retirement, Couture shared small details of daily life. With Seravalli, he was able to expand on his day-to-day life.
“My body just couldn’t feel normal. Continuously sore. Groin pain all the time. It affected me when I left the rink,” Couture explained. “I’d come home, and it’d be tough to get off the couch. I had a tough time being a parent and my wife had to help me into bed some nights.”
While the Sharks forward still feels sore daily, the pain isn’t nearly as bad. The captain said he’s able to play golf once every ten days.
Was surgery ever an option?
Throughout the process, Couture said the San Jose Sharks were incredibly patient with him and provided him with everything he needed.
Couture and the Sharks explored many ideas to help him overcome Osteoitis Pubis. The closest he came to overcoming the injury was finding a physical therapist in San Francisco. That treatment plan allowed him to play six games during the 23-24 season.
“I got very excited when I was getting back to feeling okay on the ice. I thought I was going to be past it,” Couture said. “Before the game, it was our last one before the [All-Star] break, I was extremely sore.”
Couture revealed to Seravalli that there was a possible surgery, but the side effects and success rate weren’t high enough for the 36-year-old.
“There’s a possible [surgery], but it’s not guaranteed,” Couture said. There’s a therapy that has been done in people, but the percentage wasn’t close to 100. It is hard on the body. Hip joints [and] back joints. Where I am at in my career and life, we just didn’t know if that would be the right thing to do.”
Couture is still technically under contract with the Sharks through the 26-27 season. The former ninth-overall pick says he is staying in the San Jose area for the foreseeable future.
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