San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture made a big step on Saturday in his recovery from a fractured fibula.
The 26-year-old skated in full gear for the first time, since suffering the injury in practice on Oct. 15.
“That was the first day of skating pretty good, just doing some conditioning,” Couture told CSN. “It’s cliché, but it’s day-by-day. [If] it reacts well we go a step further. I couldn’t tell you what the plan is for tomorrow yet.”
The Sharks had originally announced a time frame of 4-6 weeks before Couture would return to the lineup.
Back on the ice. pic.twitter.com/S5wSPyCt3a
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) November 21, 2015
The Sharks play the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night, and though Couture won’t be in the playing, assistant coach Steve Spott is glad to have Couture around the team again.
Spott is the de facto head coach with Peter DeBoer missing tonight’s game for personal reasons.
“It’s nice to see him back on skates and it’s nice to see he’s got his gear back on,” said Spott. “He’s taking part in meetings now with the team, and hopefully it’s sooner than later. It’s definitely a nice shot of adrenaline for us.
“Right now he’s basically pleasure skating and getting some weight back on it.”
Spott had originally said Couture wouldn’t skate until the Sharks were finished with a road trip that ends Sunday in Columbus.
“I’m not sure if he said that or not,” Couture said. “I’m basically going by what our doctors and what [trainer Ray Tufts] feel like I should do. I didn’t plan this whole trip in advance.
“Like I said, it’s kind of a day-by-day thing how it reacts and we move forward.”
