Hockey History
EMERGENCY PODCAST: Tribute to Couture, Who’s Sharks’ Next Captain?
The San Jose Hockey Now Podcast is sponsored by Bring Hockey Back!
Logan Couture’s playing career is over.
Sheng and Keegan discuss Couture’s legacy in an emergency podcast!
We touch briefly on the San Jose Sharks’ cap situation and why Couture is not officially retiring.
Sheng shares some anecdotes from Couture’s farewell press conference and elsewhere, including telling insights from Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe. (4:20)
Keegan has a fan’s perspective of Couture, and how happy he was to see the San Jose Sharks captain smile again in his good-bye presser — it’s been a long time! (16:14)
Who does Keegan think will be the next captain of the Sharks? (18:50)
Couture’s legacy as a Shark is probably being an all-time great playoff performer. (21:20)
Who does Sheng think will be the next captain of the Sharks? (27:28)
Sheng talks about Couture’s last game and post-game media session as a Shark in Jan. 2024, it was in Anaheim and he was there. (35:10)
What about Couture missing the playoffs in the last five years of his career? (42:21)
Sheng shares his thoughts about the media breaking the news of Couture stepping away, instead of letting Couture do it. (43:35)
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I think all the talk about not breaking a hockey related story out of respect for the player is ridiculous, if it’s hockey related, absolutely out of bounds to even comment on a guys family, but hockey? The reporter has to put his family and financial responsibility first and foremost and break the story. If it has anything to do with the sport he or she is being paid to cover. I see where sheng is coming from though because he’s one of two beat writers and he would be ostracized if he lost the trust of the players that… Read more »
It’s totally ridiculous. Like, it was some kind of spoiler? Oh yeah, if Seravelli hadn’t said anything I would have thought that a Couture press conference was arranged so he could tell us what he had for lunch.
Fully agree with you both. I also definitely see Sheng’s point. I would argue that Logan broke the story when he purged his Instagram feed of Sharks related content. Sheng and Keagan mentioned the supremely odd timing of this announcement, the day before Game 82 of a last place season. They’re right, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. I’ve been in PR and corporate communications for most of my career; reading between the lines I’d guess this is what happened: Logan made his decision. The team asked him not to make the decision public. Attempting to honor that request while… Read more »
On the topic of the C, I think I’m torn between Celebrini and Toffoli. My personal opinion is that it will depend on where the team sees themselves in the rebuild. If this offseason is pedal to the metal time, Celebrini should be the choice. If they take it slower, which I am not in favor of but wouldn’t hold it against Toffoli if they did, then it should be the veteran. With Toffoli on the roster, there should be no universe where it goes to Goodrow. I think he’s been a good presence on the team and I’m trying… Read more »
I’m not torn. It should be the Stanley cup champion. Let Celly grow into himself a little more. He can be captain in 2 seasons when the team is a contender.
It’s defensible, but I’m of the go big or go home mindset on all things with this rebuild. Celebrini (and also Smith, for that matter) is ridiculously mature for his age. He can handle it just fine. He’s been the face of the franchise this year as it is. If you watched McDavid shit himself in the Amazon documentary about last year’s playoffs, you already know Macklin would be 10 times the captain McDavid is. Crosby is the gold standard on that front, and obviously Landeskog did ok too. But I believe in Macklin. Having said all that, if it’s… Read more »
Yeah that make work in skateboarding but not building a cup champion. 😉 the risk to backfire giving a 19 year old the captaincy is very risky. Grier has typically been risk averse. Its not impossible and if there was a 19 year old I would give it to it’s him, but since you have Toffoli there long term he would be the more prudent choice. i view Toffoli as captain in 4 years similar to when Andrychuck captained the Lightning to their first cup. Old, could barely move, just sat in front of the net on the PP and… Read more »
110% think that the players should vote on who they all believe is the leader of the locker room and who leads by example and has the cajones speak up during tough times
Doesn’t always work that way. GM and coaches have the most say typically. Coaches and GM made Pavs the captain. Wasn’t the players.
He’s only got 3 years left on his contract though, I am assuming that’s all he will get
For some reason I was thinking he signed a 6 year deal. Duh. I’m the dum dum. point still stands though.
Landeskog and Crosby both won cups in a similar situation in the last decade. I’m not disagreeing that it isn’t the safest play.
But I actually think it’s much more like skateboarding in that the conservative play will fall short consistently
Keep in mind that Crosby and Landeskog were both named captains of very young teams very early in their rebuilds. The Sharks are about to add some significant veteran voices and experience to the room this offseason. It can be especially difficult for a young captain to establish himself in a room full of veterans that don’t know him. Toffoli as interim is a no brainer. Why rush Celebrini when there is such a good option in house? It won’t help them win any faster. It’s a move with almost no upside and significant potential downside. Hard pass on Goodrow.… Read more »
That’s a good point about how little upside their would be to making Celebrini captain right now. On the podcast, they float the idea that Macklin might get an A on his jersey. What do you think?
For sure, he’s a no brainer for an “A”.
I hope you’re right about the veteran upgrades. Celebrini getting a C is window dressing compared to the real talent upgrades that have to happen and the roster holes that need to be filled.
I’m sure it won’t be hard to sell Macklin on the idea of being captain in waiting and taking the C at age 22 if he gets to be on a much better team until then. Not hard to sell me on it either.
I think the additions almost have to happen, I suppose they could take on a bunch of bad contracts to hit the cap floor but I don’t see that as being the mode they’re in anymore.
Pescadito, I like the idea of making Macklin an official part of the leadership group this year or next. Especially if they decide to run four alternates (two road, two home) next season. He’s going to be asked to lead on the ice no matter what. Might as well make it official and help him get comfortable with the role.
Why would they have to sell him on it? He’s too smart and grounded to think he deserves captain at this point.
100%
It’s just not. Way more examples of young captains failing from the pressure than excelling and winning championships. Still, like I said, if there was one who I would bet on succeeding, it’s him. It’s like he was made in a lab.
Ummm McDavid had 42 points in the playoffs last season, what are you talk about shitting himself? Like he shit out production at an unprecedented rate?
Somebody didn’t watch Faceoff. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
When he screamed “dig the fuck in!!” ? That shit gave me goosebumps, I loved it, I just watched it and It gave me chills, and made my loins burn for the playoffs.
His teammates stared quietly into the abyss and then they went out and lost. It’s not leadership. Sorry to break it to you.
I’ll take your word for it, is that a consensus? It made me want to run though a wall I love emotion
Personally, I am a traditionalist and think the C should go to a veteran. There is the school of thought that the C should just go to your franchise superstar, but I think splitting some of the media duties will help even in a chill market like the Bay Area. Also, hockey culture takes the C seriously, and a veteran might handle the responsibilities better. It’s not like people don’t know that Celebrini is important. I don’t think you need to just keep blasting the spotlight on him. Toffoli is a good choice. I think Ferraro has carried a lot… Read more »
Ya know, sometimes teams read their captains, so I wonder if there’s a chance that Ferraro gets the C and still gets traded at the deadline, and we finish the season with just A’s
Meant to say TRADE* their captains
It certainly happens. Rangers did just this season. But I think that would be less than optimal. I mean, why give somebody a C for less than a season? One big reason for naming a captain is to provide a bit of stability.
Rather than naming Ferraro knowing you might trade him in less than a season, it might be better to just defer naming a captain. You can rotate three As, maybe giving Celebrini a chance to wear one.
On an earlier SJHN podcast, the guest described Toffoli as sui generis. First off, how do hockey people know what sui generis is? But if he’s really that (in a category by himself), he can wear the ‘C’ just fine.
He didn’t say sui generis. He said “so generous.” Like he let Smith and Celebrini have the queen beds and he took the rollaway. A lot of people were confused by that. Toffoli has almost certainly been the de facto captain all year. Nobody has changed my opinion today, but as I’ve said, it was never that strong. My opinion is very strong that I want to see some major signings this offseason or blockbuster trades or both. I don’t want to hear any SF Giants style nonsense about finishing 2nd for the guys we want. I want to win… Read more »
Not to diminish Toffoli, who I think is definitely a leader, but I haven’t seen him doing any of the on-ice work of a captain this year. It’s been Goodrow and yes, Celebrini. Some Ferraro. In terms of talking to officials and that sort of on-ice administrative captain work.
You might have just missed it. I’ve seen him over at the boxes talking to the refs all the time. Seems like he’s the main guy Wario sends over.
Love the podcast! It’s awesome to have a Sharks podcast to listen to for a few hours during work.