Couture Talks Kane Situation, Impending UFA Hertl

Logan Couture hopes Tomas Hertl stays with the San Jose Sharks for a long time. Hertl’s future is up in the air after, reportedly, an entire summer came and went without contract negotiations between the impending UFA and the team.

“I love Tommy. He’s one of my best friends that I’ve met in this game. I want what’s best for him,” Couture told San Jose Sharks media after the opening on-the-ice session of training camp. “He loves San Jose. He tells me that all the time, he would love to be here for his entire career. I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but we would love to have him.

“Unfortunately, in this game, there’s the business side of sports and you can’t get everything you want all the time.

“I know he’s not going to let it affect him. He’s a world-class player. He’s going to go out and he’s gonna have a very good year for us.”

It’s not as clear, however, if the captain would be as enthused with Evander Kane’s continued presence on the San Jose Sharks.

Kane is currently being investigated for sexual assault and domestic violence against his estranged wife Anna Kane.

“I don’t have any comment on that,” Couture said. “Any open investigation, I’m not going to comment on.”

Couture was also asked to confirm if there were indeed hockey-related, off-the-ice issues with Kane’s behavior last season. Reportedly, Kane was late to practices and games, and almost got into a fight with now-departed associate coach Rocky Thompson. On top of that, players went to GM Doug Wilson throughout the season to express their displeasure with their teammate and leading goal scorer.

Given a chance to push back against the narrative, Couture pleaded the Fifth: “My opinion is what happens in the dressing room stays in the room and I’m not going to comment.”

One thing Couture was happy to talk about — his optimism for the San Jose Sharks this season. It’s been two years out of the playoffs, and the club is trying to avoid missing the post-season for three straight campaigns, which would be a franchise first.

“This year, it’s a fresh start, we’re at home, excitement, we got some good young players. Everyone’s got a chip on their shoulder, we got something to prove,” Couture said. “There’s a lot of people that write us off and have written us off. It’s up to us to go out and prove them wrong.”