The End of an Era -- Mr. Shark Leaves Team Teal
Patrick Denis Marleau was born on September 15, 1979 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. After showcasing his immense talent as a member of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, Marleau was selected by the San Jose Sharks as the second overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft.
From the moment he first donned a teal sweater, it became evident that Marleau was bound to leave both a prominent and lasting legacy in San Jose. Over the course of nineteen hard-fought seasons as a Shark, he amassed a plethora of impressive records, posting notable performances seemingly every night he took to the ice.
Upon the conclusion of the 2016-2017 NHL Regular Season, Patrick Marleau was viewed as someone who had unmistakably revolutionized the Sharks' organization. Tallying 508 goals and 574 assists in 1,493 games with the Sharks, Marleau's time under contract with San Jose officially spanned more than two decades.
On July 2, 2017, Patrick Marleau shocked the hockey world by signing a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With this move, Marleau chose to leave behind an organization that he had represented for twenty years -- one that he had propelled to the postseason seventeen times, whilst repeatedly failing to bring home the highly-coveted Stanley Cup.
While the announcement of Patrick Marleau's departure from the Bay Area has certainly left many dedicated Sharks' fans in a state of bewildered disappointment, the impact of this truly special player on both his team and city will never be forgotten. Though Marleau has chosen to shift his career to Eastern Canada, he remains San Jose's all-time leader in goals (even-strength goals, power-play goals, short-handed goals, game-winning goals), points, shots, games played, and much, much more.
Although facing the prospects of a new season without "Mr. Shark" serving as a steady offensive contributor may seem a bit daunting, it is in the best interest of everyone involved to appreciate the immeasurable impact that Marleau had on the Sharks' organization as a whole, and to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors in Toronto.
If the Sharks and Maple Leafs were to somehow collide in the Stanley Cup Finals over the course of the next three seasons, however, the headlines may read a bit differently . . .
From the moment he first donned a teal sweater, it became evident that Marleau was bound to leave both a prominent and lasting legacy in San Jose. Over the course of nineteen hard-fought seasons as a Shark, he amassed a plethora of impressive records, posting notable performances seemingly every night he took to the ice.
Upon the conclusion of the 2016-2017 NHL Regular Season, Patrick Marleau was viewed as someone who had unmistakably revolutionized the Sharks' organization. Tallying 508 goals and 574 assists in 1,493 games with the Sharks, Marleau's time under contract with San Jose officially spanned more than two decades.
On July 2, 2017, Patrick Marleau shocked the hockey world by signing a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With this move, Marleau chose to leave behind an organization that he had represented for twenty years -- one that he had propelled to the postseason seventeen times, whilst repeatedly failing to bring home the highly-coveted Stanley Cup.
While the announcement of Patrick Marleau's departure from the Bay Area has certainly left many dedicated Sharks' fans in a state of bewildered disappointment, the impact of this truly special player on both his team and city will never be forgotten. Though Marleau has chosen to shift his career to Eastern Canada, he remains San Jose's all-time leader in goals (even-strength goals, power-play goals, short-handed goals, game-winning goals), points, shots, games played, and much, much more.
Although facing the prospects of a new season without "Mr. Shark" serving as a steady offensive contributor may seem a bit daunting, it is in the best interest of everyone involved to appreciate the immeasurable impact that Marleau had on the Sharks' organization as a whole, and to wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors in Toronto.
If the Sharks and Maple Leafs were to somehow collide in the Stanley Cup Finals over the course of the next three seasons, however, the headlines may read a bit differently . . .
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