• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
San Jose Sharks

Pavelski vs Couture: Who Will Captain the Sharks Next?

By Kenneth Laws March 22nd, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

For the past few seasons, the player who will captain the Sharks of the future has never been questioned. Logan Couture is the future and everyone and their mother knows it. But what if we have all been giving away the captaincy too easily? What if there is another who is just as deserving to take over the “C” from Joe Thornton? Namely, Joe Pavelski.

captain the sharks

Joe Pavelski is having his best season ever (BridgetDS/Flickr)

The Case for Joe Pavelski

By the Numbers

That picture is not lying. By every stretch of the imagination, Joe Pavelski is having the campaign of his life. 67 points, including two hat tricks, is a season-high and he has 11 games to go. Pavelski has also been a leader in terms of his stamina and durability. In a sporting world that sees superstars miss large amounts of time, Little Joe has been a crutch the Sharks have been able to rely on. He has played every game for the Sharks in the last three seasons. His faceoff numbers have consistently been among league leaders in the last three seasons. Currently, he sits at ninth in the league with a 56.4% win ratio.

The Intangibles

Joe Pavelski is a proven leader and would be more than capable to captain the Sharks. He has become an automatic member of Team USA in the last two Olympics and centers the best third line in the NHL. Pavelski can produce no matter who is around him. The carousel that revolves around him doesn’t affect his performance adversely. And even better, he makes those around him better. Teammates of Pavelski see their Corsi For percentages drop when they are on the ice and Little Joe is not. Only Matt Nieto, Andrew Desjardins, Tyler Kennedy, and Scott Hannan have higher CF% when playing separate from him.

The Case for Logan Couture

captain the sharks

The future of the franchise (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports)

By the Numbers

When healthy, Logan Couture is one dangerous player. He has the subtle and quick release that makes a simple wrist shot near impossible to track. His ability to find teammates for open looks is one of the most underrated parts of his game. While his goal numbers have suffered in this injury-riddled season, the assists have risen. More of his highlights this season have come from feeding teammates with amazing passes for wide-open looks. Overall, however, his most impressive stat is his plus/minus: +18 this year playing against the toughest competition in the NHL. Couture ranks tenth in quality of competition among eligible players. His ability to play against the best proves his capability to captain the Sharks.

The Intangibles

With sixteen less games than Pavelski, Logan has 57 blocked shots (to Pavelski’s 58). Couture has a keen sense of defending no matter the situation. He is a favorite of Todd McLellan’s when it comes to killing penalties. Couture also is deployed in his own defensive end the most often among Sharks forwards (55.6% of the time at even strength). All of these factors show his coach already treats him as a leader. With every game, he builds his resume as he battles against the league’s elite.

The Best Case for the Sharks

The Sharks can’t go wrong with either of these forwards as their next captain. But with Joe Thornton under contract for three more years, the letter on the sweater will not be available for a while. In those three years, it is entirely possible that these numbers will all change. But the number that will remain constant is both men’s age. Pavelski is already 29 years old, while Logan is 24. At 27, Couture will be experienced and with a few healthy seasons perhaps become one of the most complete forwards in the game.

Couture is still the future of the franchise, but the race for the “C” is much closer than it once was. Maybe Joe Pavelski can have an “A” that’s two or three font sizes bigger than normal.

  • Tags
  • Joe Pavelski
  • Logan Couture
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 15th 1:29 PM
Archives

Fuhr Suspension Helped Pave Way for NHL Drug Policy

Jan 15th 1:15 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Matthews Calls for Consistency on Cross-Checking Calls (Video)

Jan 15th 1:09 PM
Archives

The 8 Best Defensive Forwards in Hockey History

Jan 15th 12:50 PM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Youth (and Rust) on Display in Season Opener

Jan 15th 12:25 PM
Boston Bruins

NHL Rumors: Canadiens, Blackhawks, Bruins, Oilers, Panthers, More

Jan 15th 12:15 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Pick Up Where They Left Off in 4-0 Debut

Jan 15th 11:59 AM
Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets’ Home-Opener History

Jan 15th 11:52 AM
Archives

Remembering an Old Friend: Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium

Jan 15th 10:25 AM
Los Angeles Kings

Kings Will Benefit From Doughty & Maatta Pairing

Jan 15th 10:15 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Revisiting the Golden Knights’ Trade for Max Pacioretty

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information