Couture_SJS

Logan Couture signed an eight-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
Financial terms were not released.

The 29-year-old center is entering the final season of a five-year contract he signed with the Sharks on June 18, 2013. He could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
"I see the players on our team. I see the guys under contract that we have. We have some very good players. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns, Martin Jones, Evander Kane, Joe Pavelski. Very, very good players," Couture said. "Obviously this is a biased opinion, but there's not many teams that can put out that caliber of player on a nightly basis. That is probably one of the main reasons why I'm so comfortable staying there. I want to win. That's my goal as a hockey player. I believe that San Jose has and will continue to have a very, very good chance at winning in the future. That's why my decision was so easy."

The No. 9 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Couture scored an NHL career-high 34 goals and had 61 points in 78 games last season. He has scored at least 31 goals three times in nine NHL seasons and has 437 points (213 goals, 224 assists) in 582 games with the Sharks.
"I think I'm getting better," Couture said. "I think last year I had one of my better years in the League, obviously scoring the most goals I've ever scored in the NHL. I think I can still get better. There's still more with my game that I want to improve on, certain areas with the puck, attacking the net, certain things like that. And that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to work as hard as I can to become a better player. I watch a lot of other players and try to learn. There's still so much to learn about the game. The game's evolving, so I'm going to work as hard as I can to improve."
General manager Doug Wilson praised Couture's skills and leadership.
"Logan is a difference-maker and has the proven ability to elevate his game when his team needs him the most," Wilson said. "His leadership, on and off the ice, combined with his high skill level and hockey sense make him a crucial component to this team's success. We're thrilled that Logan has made this long-term commitment to the team and to the community."