SHARKSPAGE

San Jose center Logan Couture earned dual Sharks Foundation Player of the Month and NHL Rookie of the Month honors for December

NHL, SHARKS SINGLE OUT LOGAN COUTURE FOR DECEMBER HONORS

It is going to be a little harder for San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture to fly under the radar for the remainder of the season. The Calder Trophy contender was named the Sharks “Player of the Month” on Monday, and he received “Rookie of the Month” honors from the NHL on Wednesday. In addition to registering 10 goals and 4 assists in 15 December games, he has also provided a significant contribution on the penalty kill as well as leadership in the locker room.

“It is an honor to win an award like that, especially this year with the rookies that are in this league producing and being parts of their team,” Couture told radio play-by-play host Dan Rusanowsky. “It is an honor, but as I have heard before December is over so we start January now.”

From the San Jose Sharks: “Couture led the team in goals with 10 and was second in points (14) in 15 games. Amongst League rookies this season, he is first in goals, shots (122), game-winning goals and power play goals (5), second in points (18-9=27) and faceoff percentage (52.5%) and tied for fifth in plus/minus (+7).” From the NHL: “Couture edged Colorado Avalanche defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (1-7–8 in 14 games), Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell (6-5–11 in 12 games) and goaltender Corey Crawford (5-2-1, 2.22 GAA in eight games), Nashville Predators goaltender Anders Lindback (6-2-1, 2.08 GAA in nine games) and Edmonton Oilers left wing Taylor Hall (6-4–10 in 13 games).”

Logan Couture is the second consecutive member of the FCC line (Ferriero-Couture-Clowe) to earn Sharks Player of the Month honors after Clowe earned a SPOTM nomination in November. The 21-year old rookie from Ontario, Canada is the first Shark to earn NHL Rookie of the Month honors since Clowe duplicated that feat in January 2007. Couture is the 6th Shark to earn NHL Rookie of the Month honors alltime behind Ryane Clowe, Rob Gaudreau, Marco Sturm and Evgeni Nabokov (twice).

Couture has hit a rough patch after his torrid 10-goals-in-11-game pace to start December. He has not scored in 6 straight games, but he has registered a pair of assists and 16 shots on goal in that time including a game high 7 against Vancouver. “The last thing we want to do is tinker with Logan Couture,” Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said in a morning press conference. “If I see his body language diminish, then I’ll pull up the chances he’s created and that he’s been involved in and that will perk him up quickly. He hit the post the other night. Things are going well for him, they’re just not going in.”

The expected return of Torrey Mitchell tonight against Buffalo will add two-way depth for San Jose, and eat valuable minutes on special teams. Goaltender Antero Niittymaki is expected to earn his first start in 4 contests against Buffalo.