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SAN JOSE, Calif. — No. 1 general draft decide Macklin Celebrini‘s first official follow with the San Jose Sharks supplied a wanted little bit of optimism for a franchise that has had little success in recent times.
The absence of captain Logan Couture was a purpose for concern, as he has no timeline to return to the ice from a groin damage that sidelined him for all however six video games final season.
Celebrini delivered on the excessive expectations that got here along with his lofty draft standing, trying proper at residence in his first scrimmage of coaching camp by scoring a aim and creating scoring possibilities.
“On the finish of the day it is the identical recreation I’ve performed ever since I used to be a child,” Celebrini stated. “It is simply having enjoyable and having fun with it.”
Celebrini performed on a line with newly acquired veteran Tyler Toffoli, who stated enjoying with Celebrini was a giant purpose why he signed with San Jose this offseason although the Sharks have not made the playoffs since 2019 and had the worst report within the NHL final season.
Toffoli stated enjoying with Celebrini was easy, with the first aim being to get him the puck.
“In the present day was clearly one thing particular,” he stated. “It was the primary day of camp and he was flying on the market, probably the greatest gamers on the ice, for certain. I believe the aim for him is he needs to be one of the best participant on the ice each day. Thus far, he achieved that at this time.”
The targets for Couture are a lot easier. He’s simply making an attempt to get wholesome and have the ability to skate once more.
Couture, 35, missed all of coaching camp and the primary 45 video games final season due to a probably debilitating situation referred to as osteitis pubis, or irritation within the joint between the left and proper pubic bones.
He managed to return to play six video games in January earlier than the situation received worse and he was shut down for the remainder of the season after a Jan. 31 recreation in Anaheim.
“It has been powerful,” Couture stated. “There’s been totally different levels of the place mentally I have been at within the final 15, 16 months. Loads of ups and downs, highs and lows. I am unable to say it has been simple for certain, however I’ve form of realized easy methods to correctly take care of it.”
Couture stated the primary few weeks have been the worst when it was painful even to do on a regular basis issues round the home like play along with his son. His situation has improved significantly however to not the purpose the place he even has a timeline for when he can skate once more.
“We’re not even at that time actually,” he stated. “I have never skated since Jan. 31, or no matter it was that recreation in Anaheim. There is not any rapid plan to get again on the ice.”
Couture has been a stalwart in San Jose and is likely one of the few remaining ties to the workforce’s profitable runs within the 2010s. He has 323 targets and 378 assists in 933 profession video games and has been a postseason star. He has 48 targets and 53 assists in 116 playoff video games and led all gamers in postseason targets in 2019 with 14 and in postseason assists (20) and factors (30) in 2016.
He has three years remaining on his contract with wage cap hits of $8 million per yr and nonetheless has hope that he’ll have the ability to play once more this season.
Common supervisor Mike Grier stated Couture will begin the season on injured reserve however will nonetheless contribute as a frontrunner and captain.
“It is simply not a scenario or an damage that we are able to form of rush or put a timeline on,” Grier stated. “When his physique tells him he is able to play, then he’ll get again on the market. He is doing all he can to get again and assist the group.”
