Ahead of the trade deadline this season, Logan Couture, like so many others from the San Jose Sharks, was mentioned in trade rumors. While players like Thomas Hertl, Anthony Duclair, Kaapo Kahkonen, Radim Simek, and Nikita Okhotuik were all dealt, Couture remained for a few reasons.
Couture is nearly 35 years old and has had a great career. Amidst a very poor season by the Sharks in which they are clearly rebuilding, everyone who wasn't a top prospect was available. Some players were able to be traded while others that should have been moved stayed put. As Couture still has three more years left on his deal, he didn't have to be traded, but there were discussions.
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Sharks were willing to listen to offers and Couture even expanded his list of teams he could be traded to. Injuries ended up shutting down the chances of him moving this season, but the Nashville Predators were one of three teams with reported interest because of their weakness down the middle.
The Predators had more than enough cap room to use ahead of the deadline, and ended up doing so by acquiring Jason Zucker and Anthony Beauvillier for a combined $9.45 million. Couture isn't so easy to move or be acquired mid-season, but if one team had the space, need, and reason to do so before a playoff push, it was the Predators.
After the trade deadline had passed, Couture was asked about the possibility of being traded at the deadline and said, "I'm realistic. I'm not sure who's going to trade for a guy who's 35, makes $8 million, and plays six games in a season." While this is all true, Couture scored 27 goals and recorded 67 points in 82 games last season. This is the first season he's even missed over 20 games since the 2015-16 season.
When healthy, even at his age, Couture would have still been a big add for the Predators given he was healthy. The problem the Sharks face with moving him now is that they are using all three retention spots through next season. The Predators may be the only competitive team that can even think about acquiring him at full salary, but then why did they buy out Matt Duchene who had the same cap hit? Am I going to rule out the Predators acquiring Couture? No. But I also think it's very unlikely after the events of the trade deadline and with the reasoning Couture gave.
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