San Jose Sharks: Bringing back Patrick Marleau is a good idea
It’s official. The San Jose Sharks are welcoming back an old friend in Patrick Marleau.
The San Jose Sharks suffered quite a few losses this summer. They never properly replaced Joe Pavelski, Gustav Nyquist, or Joonas Donskoi, all of whom left in free agency. The Sharks were counting on their younger players to step up, but so far, none of them had.
A reunion with Patrick Marleau has long been rumored, but the Sharks kept on denying them. An 0-3-0 start must have done something, as the Sharks have announced they will be signing Marleau.
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This won’t be his first time in San Jose. The Sharks originally drafted him with the second overall pick of the 1997 draft. Marleau spent the first 19 seasons of his career with them before signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs following the 2016-17 season.
The Leafs, however, traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes this summer. Carolina bought out his deal, making Marleau a free agent. The 40-year-old forward didn’t have any enticing offers in free agency, so he decided to wait for a good offer. One from the Sharks came, and you have to imagine Marleau jumped at it.
In 1,657 regular-season games, he has scored 551 goals with 615 assists for 1,166 points. With the Sharks, Marleau has 508 goals, 574 assists, and 1,082 points. He is the Sharks career leader in games played, goals, even strength goals, power play goals, shorthanded goals, game-winning goals, and shot on goal.
According to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the deal will be for one year. The financial terms are not official, but Chris Johnston is reporting the deal is for $700,000. Marleau should give the Sharks more forward depth. Expect him to be somewhere in San Jose’s group of top-nine forwards. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Marleau reunited with Joe Thornton on the third line.
The Sharks have many issues. Obviously, goaltending is the largest one. But the departure of Pavelski has left the Sharks lacking in leaders both on and off the ice. Marleau should give the Sharks some stability and perhaps help them get out of the hole they are currently in.
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Whether he helps them do so or not, it’s great to see him back in San Jose. At the very least, getting Marleau back should boost morale in the Sharks locker room. If this is his last season, it’s very appropriate he’ll be spending it in San Jose, where he has spent all but two years of his career.