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NHL Team Captain Forced to Announce Sudden Retirement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 10:33 AM ET

According to a report by Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the NHL will lose one of its team captains to retirement sooner than expected.

Servalli broke the news first on Monday that San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture will announce the end of his playing career Tuesday after a long battle with injury,

“#sjsharks and captain Logan Couture are scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday to announce that Couture is unable to continue his playing career as a result of injury," Seravalli reported. "This is a tough way to end an incredible career.

"Couture led playoffs (in separate years) in goals, assists and points.”

While Couture will remain on long-term injured reserve, his days on the ice are over, and he's not expected to suit up anymore. Couture is about to complete the sixth season of the eight-year, $64 million contract he signed in July 2018.

#sjsharks and captain Logan Couture are scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday to announce that Couture is unable to continue his playing career as a result of injury.

Tough way to end an incredible career. Couture led playoffs (in separate years) in goals, assists and…
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 14, 2025

Couture hasn’t played since Jan. 31, 2024, due to osteitis pubis—an inflammation between the pubic bones. The Sharks captain appeared in only six games last season and never returned to the lineup in 2024–25.

The 36-year-old is expected to address the media alongside general manager Mike Grier at Tuesday’s press conference.

An NHL source confirmed to ESPN that while Couture will not formally retire, the announcement marks the effective end of a career that spanned 15 seasons and 933 games—all with the Sharks.

The Sharks drafted Couture with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft, and the forward has since racked up 323 goals and 701 points.

Couture ranks third in goals and fourth in points in franchise history. He wore the “C” since 2019 and led the Sharks through both playoff runs and rebuilds. Couture was particularly dominant in the postseason, appearing in 116 playoff games, recording 48 goals and 101 points, including a league-best 30 points during San Jose’s run to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

Although he won’t return to the ice, Couture is owed $13 million over the next two seasons and carries an $8 million cap hit.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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