Couture suggests he wants Thornton, Marleau back: 'I love those guys'

Logan Couture had nothing but praise to heap on the San Jose Sharks' two elder statesmen after the season-ending loss that brought their respective futures to the forefront.

"You're asking a guy who's played with those guys for eight years," Couture told reporters, according to The Mercury News' Paul Gackle, after a 3-1 defeat to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of their first-round series sent the Sharks packing.

"I love those guys," Couture added. "They play hard. If you guys only knew what they play through. The respect level that I have for those two guys is just through the roof."

Thornton and Marleau will both be unrestricted free agents this summer if unsigned by July 1.

Both players are 37 years old, but they each proved this season that they have plenty left in the tank.

Thornton ranked second on the club with 43 assists, and only captain Joe Pavelski averaged more ice time than the bearded one among Sharks forwards in the regular season.

Marleau finished two goals behind Pavelski and Brent Burns for the team lead with 27, and scored three times in the six postseason contests.

He wasn't ready to discuss his plans when asked postgame.

"I'm not even really thinking about that right now, just need to reflect on all that," Marleau said. "I'm just sad about losing tonight."

Understandably, Thornton was equally noncommittal in the immediate aftermath.

"I just loved being their teammates, it was a real pleasure," he said.

Marleau is the Sharks' all-time leader in games played, goals, and points, and he ranks second behind Thornton on San Jose's all-time assist list. He's spent all 19 seasons of his NHL career with the Sharks.

Thornton ranks in the franchise's top three in all of those categories, and he's been in teal since being acquired from the Boston Bruins in 2005. He's said in the past that he could see himself retiring as a Shark, and has also quipped that he hopes to play as long as Jaromir Jagr.

Both players were on the books for just under $7 million this season.