Couture feared the worst after early-season thigh injury

Logan Couture is having a dream postseason, but his 2016 could have been a nightmare.

The San Jose Sharks forward feared for his life after discovering arterial bleeding in his thigh back in December.

"On the plane back (from a game), I noticed something was wrong. (Former Sharks goaltender) Alex Stalock actually had to take me off the plane on a wheelchair because I couldn't walk," Couture told Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Saturday.

"They had to stop the bleeding somehow. They were able to do that fortunately. It was just continuously filling with blood. It could could have gotten to the point where - you don't know what's going to happen - if you're going to lose your leg or you're going to die."

Couture suffered the injury two games after returning from missing 23 contests due to a broken leg.

"I was in the hospital and I got an MRI. Eight or 10 doctors were staring at my MRI, so I knew something was seriously wrong," he said. "The doctor came and talked to me one-on-one. It was tough. He assured me everything was going to be OK but you never know."

The 27-year-old center gained a new perspective on the game while dealing with the ailment.

"I think at that point when I had that injury," he said. "You just realize it's just a sport and there are bigger things you have to worry about than hockey."

Couture was limited to 52 regular-season games because of his injuries, but upon returning in late December, he helped carry the Sharks into the postseason and eventually, into the Stanley Cup Final.

"Our team was struggling until he came back from his injury," teammate Joe Thornton said. "Once he came back, our team kind of exploded. He's such an important part of this team. He had a great regular season. He's doing the same in the postseason. He shows up game after game. He's a big presence for us."

Couture leads all skaters with 20 assists and 29 points in 23 playoff games.