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Couture set to receive plenty
of grief
SJ's young star taken last in ASG
Draft
How crazy was that NHL All Star Game Draft. Sharks
forward Logan Couture earned the dubious distinction of being drafted last of
the 38 players taken. Unofficially, Couture wasn't really drafted. He was the
fat kid that was left standing out on the school yard who ended up landing on a
team because nobody else wanted him. OK, so it wasn't that bad, but don't think
that Couture hasn't heard the last of his misfortune.
One thing that
is inherent to any NHL locker room is that teammates are ruthless when it comes
to any opportunity to tease you about something. These are the highest paid
people in the world at this profession, but make no mistake, they are also
12-year old boys when it comes to dishing out grief when the opportunity
arises.
And Couture has setup his teammates with a grand opportunity.
There's no doubt that being selected to the All Star Game is a big honor for
any hockey player, but being taken last in the 2nd year format on a pretty big
stage comes with a certain level of humility.
"Jumbo (Sharks captain
Joe Thornton) has been all over me, he loves it," Couture told SJSharks.com in
a post draft interview on Thursday night.
Just think of the things
waiting for him when he gets back to San Jose after Sunday's mid-season
showcase of the league's best. Thornton isn't shy about giving his fellow
Sharks the business whenever possible, but Couture may have to keep an eye on
Ryane Clowe and Dan Boyle, who have been known to play a prank or two in the
locker room.
A private organization founded by former NFL player Paul
Salata created the LowsmanTrophy, awarded to the last man selected in the NHL
Draft. "Mr. Irrelevant" is given a trophy that looks similar to the Heisman
Trophy, except the player depicted in the Lowsman Trophy is fumbling the
football.
Couture's version of the Lowsman has four wheels and gets
pretty good gas mileage. Couture may want to bribe his fellow Sharks by
dangling the brand new Honda Crosstour that he was given to soften the
indignity of being the last guy standing in the draft.
The NHL also
awarded Couture with $20,000, which he can donate to the grassroots hockey
charity of his choice. He may want to think about giving it to the Ottawa 67's
jersey designer. Whoever that guy is, he's in dire need of new glasses or some
updated design software. Couture is a 67's alum, and was forced to endure
humiliation much grander than being taken last in the All Star Game
Draft…he was forced to wear the god awful striped drapes the 67's call a
sweater.
During the NHL Network telecast of the draft on Thursday
night, Couture took it all in stride, saying his phone was "blowing up"! Lots
of heat right out of the gate, as it should be. Let's just hope that Couture
uses the event as motivator.
His stock is already sky high. TSN'd Bob McKenzie
stated the obvious in a post draft wrap up show saying Couture, "was the best
player in San Jose the first half of the season. Better than Joe Thornton,
better than Patty Marleau, better than anyone."
Hopefully Couture
follows Phil Kessel's lead and goes on a scoring binge. Kessel was taken last
in the inaugural All Star Draft a year ago, and since then is one of the top
goal scorers in the league.
Hopefully this inspires Couture's
teammates to help him show the league that's no 19th round draft pick. At the
very least, there will be a few good laughs to be had in the sharks locker
room, which is alwaya a good thing. San Jose can use all the positive vibes
available heading in the home stretch.
Perhaps Thornton and company
will come up with something similar to the Lowsman for their up and coming
superstar. Something for the whole world to see, perched above Couture's
locker. Let it be an incentive for the kid.
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