Couture is a pure goal-scorer with a natural touch around the net who can play center or wing and is sound defensively.

Selected by the San Jose Sharks with the No. 9 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Couture was a four-time 20-goal scorer for Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. He played for Canada in the World Under-18 Championship.

After turning pro, Couture had 20 goals in 42 American Hockey League games with Worcester in 2009-10. He earned his first call-up to the Sharks early that season and made his NHL debut Oct. 25, 2009, against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored his first NHL goal Nov. 5, 2009, against the Detroit Red Wings.

Couture had five goals and nine points in 25 NHL games and scored four goals in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2009-10. He became the third Sharks player, after Sandis Ozolinsh and Marco Sturm, to score his first two postseason goals in the same game, which came in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

Still eligible as a rookie in 2010-11, Couture was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team after scoring 32 goals and finished second to the Carolina Hurricanes' Jeff Skinner in Calder Trophy balloting. In 2011-12, Couture was selected to play in his first NHL All-Star Game and named Sharks Player of the Year after tying for the team lead with 31 goals. He also posted an eight-game point streak from Jan. 21-Feb. 10, 2012.

Couture again led the Sharks in goals with 21 in 2012-13 and finished second among NHL forwards with 51 blocked shots. He was second on the team with 37 points and tied for first with a plus-seven rating.

In 2013-14 Couture was among the leaders in blocked shots by NHL forwards with 68, and in 2014-15 he had 27 goals, marking his fifth straight 20-goal season.

During the 2015-16 playoffs he led all players with 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 24 games as the Sharks reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their history. He had his first playoff hat trick on April 30, 2019, scoring three goals in a 4-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round.

In 2017-18 Couture scored an NHL career-high 34 goals, his third 30-goal season, and was named Sharks Player of the Year. And in 2018-19 he had an NHL career-best 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists). He was named Sharks captain on Sept. 12, 2019.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• AHL All-Rookie Team (2010)
• NHL All-Rookie Team (2011)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2012)
• Signed as a free agent by Geneve (Swiss), September 18, 2012.