Marleau returns to his ‘roots’

Penguins fan as child in Canada

LOS ANGELES — Patrick Marleau, still chasing his first Stanley Cup at 40, likely would have settled for a trade to any contender. But to him, there is something special about joining the Penguins, and his wife has photos to prove it.

After the Penguins acquired Marleau from the San Jose Sharks Monday, his wife, Christina, tweeted out two of his school photos, presumably from the 1990s. In both, Marleau wore a crooked grin, poofy hair and a Penguins shirt.

Asked about how a kid from Saskatchewan, Canada, fell in love with the Penguins back in the day, his answer might be the same as a boy from Butler.

“I was just a big Mario fan and a big Penguins fan,” he explained after practice Tuesday. “They were winning Cups back then, and, hopefully, we win one this year.”

Marleau has not publicly declared that this is his last NHL season. But one would think that he won’t get a better chance to win a Cup the rest of his career. And what a story that would be, one of this era’s most accomplished players — maybe even a Hall of Famer — finally winning one with Mario Lemieux’s team.

The Penguins did not acquire him for that narrative. And while his leadership won’t hurt, that’s not why he’s here, either. They believe he can still skate.

“He’s very well-respected around the league and certainly well-respected by the Penguins’ players and coaches,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s accomplished almost everything in the game, with the exception of the ultimate prize. Our hope is he’s going to help us achieve our common goal.

We’re thrilled to have Patrick.”

Marleau, now on his fourth team in the past year, had just 10 goals and 10 assists in 58 games with the struggling Sharks before the trade Monday. But they think he can still skate, rattle opponents on the forecheck and create scoring chances.

And as practice Tuesday suggested, they won’t heap too much onto his plate.

Marleau skated on what would be considered the third or fourth line. He was on the left wing and teamed with fellow newcomer Evan Rodrigues and Dominik Simon. Marleau also was on the second power-play unit. But Sullivan downplayed the significance of those lines, which likely will hold for the Wednesday night game against the Los Angeles Kings. He said there will be tinkering. Marleau also expects that there will be an adjustment period as he familiarizes himself with his new teammates, Sullivan’s system and Pittsburgh.

“We’ve been going over some stuff, doing some talking. I’m just getting used to the guys right now,” he said. “Practice was a huge help, getting the system and all that. But I imagine it will be the same — play hard and play the right way.”

Marleau spent his first 19 seasons with the Sharks, the team that selected him second overall at the 1997 draft that was held at the old Civic Arena, before he signed with Toronto in 2017. He put up decent numbers his first season there but became a salary-cap casualty after his second.

Last summer, the Maple Leafs sent a first-round pick to Carolina so the Hurricanes would take his salary off their books. Five days later, the Hurricanes bought out his contract, freeing Marleau to rejoin the Sharks on a cheap, oneyear deal. The Sharks have been one of the NHL’s most disappointing teams this season. Knowing he is running out of chances, he welcomed a trade to a contender.

“There’s no shortage of new and exciting things, that’s for sure,” the soft-spoken forward said. “One thing about this game, there’s always opportunities and there’s always challenges. I’m grateful.”

Marleau has had chances to win it all with San Jose. He was a key player for the Sharks when the Penguins beat them in the 2016 final. But he is still looking to add a Cup to a resume that is incredible otherwise.

He ranks fifth in NHL history in games played and trails Gordie Howe by 52 for the all-time record. He has 15 seasons with 20 or more goals, including in 2009-10, when he buried a careerhigh 44. And he won Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 while playing alongside Sidney Crosby on the Canadian squad.

“Obviously, he’s got a ton of experience. He’s played in a lot of games, a lot of big games, over his career,” the Penguins captain said, adding: “He’s still a great skater. And with the way we play, I think he’ll really enjoy playing for us.”