The San Jose Sharks have brought back Canadian Olympic gold medalist Patrick Marleau of Swift Current, Saskatchewan for the second time in his career on Tuesday according to nhl.com. Marleau played his first 19 National Hockey League seasons with the Sharks from 1997 to 2017. He was then a free agent, and signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 2, 2017.
Marleau only played two seasons with the Maple Leafs before being traded to Carolina, who bought out his contract on June 27, 2019. Marleau subsequently re-signed with the Sharks on October 9, 2019 before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline. Marleau’s time with the Penguins was brief, as he played only 12 games with the Pens before joining the Sharks for the third time in his career. He signed a one year contract worth $700,000.
Marleau won a gold medal for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He also won the gold medal for Canada at the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Championships in Finland and the World Cup for Canada in Toronto in 2004.
However the one thing that has eluded Marleau in his career has been the Stanley Cup. Marleau also is reportedly hoping to pass Gordie Howe’s record for the most NHL games all-time. Currently, Howe of Floral, Saskatchewan has the NHL all-time games played record with 1767. Marleau is currently fifth with 1723 games. Mark Messier of Edmonton, Alberta is second with 1756 games, Jaromir Jagr is third with 1733 games and Ron Francis of Sault Ste. Marie is fourth with 1731 games.
Last season in playing with the Sharks and Penguins, Marleau played 66 games and had 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points. He was a -5 with 14 penalty minutes, one power play point, three game winning goals, 117 shots on goal, 36 faceoff wins, 24 blocked shots, 57 hits, 29 takeaways and 15 giveaways.
