Logan Couture will make his season debut for the San Jose Sharks when they host the Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; BSSD, BSSC, NBCSCA).
Couture has been out all season with a lower-body injury he sustained during offseason training. He said Saturday it was a hip/groin issue.
"When I was driving to the rink this morning, I was thinking about how the last four months had gone," Couture said. "I was dealing with osteitis pubis, that's what I had. Some days were terrible. Some days I couldn't get out of bed. Thinking of those days to where I am right now, it's been a long, long journey. So I'm just excited to get back to playing here."
Couture will center the second line with William Eklund and Alexander Barabanov on Saturday.
"A lot of excitement," Sharks coach David Quinn said. "Our team is really excited to have him back in the lineup, for obvious reasons. He's our captain. He's an elite player in this league still, at his age. He plays 200 feet. He's got skill, he's got grit. And those players are few and far between."
Couture played all 82 games last season, getting 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists), his highest total since 2018-19 (70 points; 27 goals, 43 assists). A first-round pick (No. 9) by San Jose at the 2007 NHL Draft, the 34-year-old has 700 points (323 goals, 377 assists) in 927 regular-season games and 101 points (48 goals, 53 assists) in 116 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"It means a lot for us," Quinn said of Couture returning. "He has so much respect in our locker room, from the players to the coaching staff. It really means a lot to have him back."
Nico Sturm, who has missed the past 17 games with an upper-body injury, will also return. He is expected to center the third line with Luke Kunin and Mike Hoffman.
Sturm has four points (two goals) in 26 games this season.
The Sharks (10-31-4) are eighth in the Pacific Division.
"It was tough, seeing the guys lose and knowing there was nothing I could do to help," Couture said. "I was kind of on my own. I'm on my own, basically trying to get back out there. I think the losing wears on these guys so much. There's not much you can say to cheer guys when you're on a 10-11 game losing streak. But I see the fight and competitiveness and the will in this room. So I hope that we have a good end to the year."
NHL.com independent correspondent Chelena Goldman contributed to this report
