SAN JOSE >> San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture — arguably the organization’s top all-time playoff performer — was expected to announce Tuesday he cannot continue his playing career due to a groin injury he has had for almost two years, a source confirmed.

Dealing with an often painful injury called osteitis pubis, Couture, 36, has not played an NHL game this season and has been out of the Sharks’ lineup since Jan. 31, 2024.

After playing just six games and missing the final three-plus months of the 2023-24 season, Couture had hoped to resume skating last summer and come back this season. But while still around the team for at least the first half of this season, Couture has been unable to resume on-ice training.

The Cleveland Clinic describes osteitis pubis as “inflammation in the joint between the left and right pubic bones.” The condition can be debilitating at times, and Couture has previously said that there were days early last season when he struggled to get out of bed.

Couture was not expected to announce his retirement during Tuesday’s press conference, which took place after the Herald’s press time, only that he cannot continue playing. Couture is in the sixth year of an eight-year, $64 million contract he signed with the Sharks in July 2018, and is still owed $13 million in salary over the next two seasons.

By not retiring, Couture’s $8 million salary cap hit will remain on the Sharks’ books in each of the next two years, but the team also avoids a costly cap recapture penalty from the NHL. For the next two seasons, the Sharks can list Couture on either injured reserve or long-term injured reserve.

Couture, who signed his contract a year before he was slated to become an unrestricted free agent, is owed $7 million next season and $6 million in 2026-27, when his deal expires.

Couture was drafted ninth overall by the Sharks in 2007, started his NHL career in 2009, and has played in 933 games in the NHL, all with San Jose. On the Sharks’ all-time list, Couture is fifth in games played, fourth in points (701), third in goals (323), and fifth in assists (378).

In his rookie season in 2010-2011, Couture had 32 goals and 56 points in 79 games and finished second in Calder Trophy voting.