Report: Couture approached by European teams

With the possibility of an NHL lockout growing increasingly moredaunting, players are among those left in limbo, waiting to see when and if aseason will begin.That state of limbo could send the Sharks Logan Couture to Europe.According to The Fourth Period, the San Jose center has been approached by teams from the German Ice HockeyLeague and SwitzerlandsNational League A.Couture is not expected to make a decision with his Europeansuitors for a while as he will presumably wait to see how negotiations betweenthe NHL and the Players Association work out, The Fourth Period reported.Couture has become one of the Sharks biggest stars in justtwo full seasons. The 23-year-old had 65 points last season, second on the team,and was selected to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.Coutures 31 goals tied for the team lead with Joe Pavelski. He had fourpoints in the Sharks five playoff games in 2012.Couture is certainly not the only NHL player receivinginterest from overseas, though he is the first Shark to be linked withinternational interest. Dustin Brown, Pavel Datsyuk, Patrick Kane, IlyaKovalchuck, Evgeni Malkin, Teemu Selanne and Jonathan Toews are among the NHLstars that have reportedly been contacted by European teams about playingoverseas if the NHL reaches a lockout.During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, which caused thecancellation of an entire season, 388 NHL players found new homes with Europeanteams, mostly in Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland and Switzerland.If the NHL suffers a lasting lockout this year, would yourather see Sharks players keep in shape playing in Europe or are you worriedabout them getting injured playing with other teams? Comment below!