Sharks Logan Couture skates in full gear

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture skated Saturday in full gear for the first time since having surgery to repair a fractured fibula on Oct. 17.

Couture was injured during practice on Oct. 15. The Sharks announced a time frame of 4-6 weeks for his return.

Couture, who skated Thursday in Philadelphia wearing sweatpants, worked out after the Sharks ended the morning skate Saturday prior to playing the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center.

That was the first day of skating pretty good, just doing some conditioning, Couture told CSN. It's cliché, but it's day-by-day. If it reacts well we go a step further. I couldn't tell you what the plan is for tomorrow yet.

Sharks assistant coach Steve Spott, who will help handle coaching duties Saturday with coach Peter DeBoer missing the game because of personal reasons, said Couture's presence had a positive impact.

It's nice to see him back on skates and it's nice to see he's got his gear back on, Spott said. He's taking part in meetings now with the team, and hopefully it's sooner than later. It's definitely a nice shot of adrenaline for us.

Right now he's basically pleasure skating and getting some weight back on it.

DeBoer said Couture wouldn't skate before the end of the Sharks six-game road trip that ends Sunday at the Columbus Blue Jackets, so his presence on the ice was a surprise.

I'm not sure if he said that or not, Couture said. I'm basically going by what our doctors and what [trainer Ray Tufts] feel like I should do. I didn't plan this whole trip in advance. Like I said, it's kind of a day-by-day thing how it reacts and we move forward.