Logan Couture to play for Canada at World Cup

TORONTO/NEW YORK -- San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture was added to Team Canada's 23-man roster for the World Cup of Hockey 2016, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.
Couture replaces Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn, who had core muscle surgery last month. Benn was expected to need six weeks to recover and should be ready for the start of the NHL season.
Couture, 27, missed nearly two months last season after fracturing his right fibula during practice on Oct. 15, but had 15 goals and 21 assists in 52 regular-season games. He led the NHL in assists (20) and points (30) during the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Sharks reach their first Stanley Cup Final.

"We are excited to add Logan to Team Canada. He has developed into a top player in the NHL, and his versatility will benefit our group of forwards," Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong said. "In making this decision the management group consulted with our coaching staff and determined that Logan was the best fit to help fill the role that Jamie was projected to play on Team Canada.
"We want to thank Jamie for his dedication to an extensive rehab program in an attempt to play for Canada. Unfortunately, Jamie will not be available and we wish him a speedy recovery."
Benn, who had surgery on each hip last offseason, was second in the League with 89 points and third with 41 goals (each was a career high) and finished third in voting for the Hart Trophy. He had two more points than he had in 2014-15, when he won the Art Ross Trophy. Benn had 15 points in 13 playoff games and played 82 games for the second straight season.
At an event on July 30, two weeks after the core muscle surgery, Benn said he was hoping he would be ready for the World Cup.

"I think this is a surgery that I'm able to come back a little quicker [from] than double-hip surgery," Benn said. "That's the main focus I'm training towards being able to make it for World Cup. We'll just see what happens.
"I feel pretty good. I'm making progress. Much like last summer [when I was recovering from double-hip surgery], these things take time. The hardest part is just trying not to do too much too early. We're sticking to the rehab program and working our way forward."
Eight teams -- Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden and Team USA -- will compete at the World Cup from Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 in Toronto. All tournament games will be played at Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
All games will be televised by ESPN in the United States, and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
For more information on the World Cup of Hockey 2016, visit www.wch2016.com. #WCH2016
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
G Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks
G Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
G Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
D Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks
D Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
D Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
D Jake Muzzin, Los Angeles Kings
D Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
D Marc-Edouard Vlasic, San Jose Sharks
D Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens
F Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
F Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
F Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks*
F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
F Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
F Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
F Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
F Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
F John Tavares, New York Islanders
F Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
F Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
* - named to roster Tuesday