Marleau back with Sharks yet again
Fan favorite, 41, set for 3rd stint with San Jose
Patrick Marleau’s harshest critics live under the same roof these days.
San Jose’s second overall pick in 1997 came to his first training camp as a wideeyed 17yearold. Twentythree years later, the future Hall of Famer signed a oneyear deal Tuesday to make his re-re-return to the Sharks, now the father of four boys who all play organized hockey.
“There’s some critics there when I get home,” Marleau said of his boys who range in age from 5 to 13. “They let me know what’s going on or ask why things didn’t go this way or that way.”
Marleau was joined by another exShark — Matt Nieto — as the latest free agents to sign with San Jose for the 202021 NHL season, which doesn’t yet have a start date because of the coronavirus pandemic. Marleau, 41, and Nieto, 27, both signed oneyear deals for the league-minimum $ 700,000.
“I still love playing. I still love the competition,” Marleau said. “I’m still going after my dream of winning a Stanley Cup.”
“I want to come into training camp in good shape, have a really positive camp and wherever I fall in the lineup is because of training camp,” Nieto said. “I’m really excited to be part of the turnaround.”
Marleau is chasing a milestone: He is fifth on the NHL’s career gamesplayed list ( 1,723), 44 games shy of Gordie Howe’s alltime record.
“If he’s going to set that record, which is an incredible, incredible record, it should be in a Sharks jersey,” San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said.
“You never know what can happen, but if it does, that would be something pretty special,” Marleau said. “Gordie being from Saskatchewan, too, my home province, it would be kind of cool to have that connection with him.”
Marleau returned to the Sharks early last season after having played two seasons in Toronto. He was dealt by San Jose to Pittsburgh for a run at the Stanley Cup at the trade deadline; the Sharks received a thirdround pick they used last week to acquire forward Ryan Donato from Minnesota.
Marleau is San Jose’s franchise leader in points ( 1,102), goals ( 518), powerplay goals ( 161), gamewinning goals ( 101), games played ( 1,551) and ranks second in team history in assists ( 584).
“It’s not just about this record. Patty is a competitor. He wants to compete,” Wilson said. “He may not say a lot but he says an awful lot with his actions. I think it’s important to bring him back into the room.”
Nieto recorded 21 points ( eight goals, 13 assists), a careerhigh plus7 rating, six penalty minutes, and three gamewinning goals in 70 games with the Colorado Avalanche in 201920. A secondround draft pick in 2011 by the Sharks, Nieto has 472 career NHL games with San Jose and Colorado. Nieto has registered 151 points ( 62 goals, 89 assists) and 82 penalty minutes.
The uncertain start to the season gives Marleau time to continue to work with son Caleb, who turns 6 next month and is the last of the Marleau bunch to start playing.
“They’re a huge reason I’m still playing,” Marleau said of his family. “I couldn’t play without their support. They all want me to continue to play and have fun.
“I don’t know if they want to watch me play or see some of the star players play. Or maybe come into the locker room and grab some gum and Gatorade.”