Sports Desk
Florida: Patrick Marleau is rejoining the Sharks for his 23rd NHL season, his 21st with San Jose.
The team signed the 41-year-old free agent center Tuesday to a one-year deal for 2020-21 worth a reported $700,000.
“Patrick is one of the most iconic players in San Jose Sharks history, as well as being one of the most respected veterans in the National Hockey League,” general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “The leadership he brings on and off the ice has been well documented over his fantastic NHL career and his competitive fire to win is still burning strong. Patrick’s lead-by-example demeanor is inspiring and continues to resonate with our group of younger players.”
Marleau is the Sharks’ all-time leader in points (1,102), goals (518), power-play goals (161), game-winning goals (101) and games (1,551) and ranks second in assists (584).
San Jose made the playoffs in 17 of his 20 seasons with the club (1997-98 through 2016-17, 2019-20). He also owns franchise postseason records for games (177), goals (68), points (120), power-play goals (23) and game-winning goals (16). He served as the Sharks’ captain from 2003 through 2009.
Marleau played the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs before rejoining the Sharks for the 2019-20 campaign. After tallying 10 goals and 10 assists in 58 games, he was traded from San Jose to Pittsburgh for a third-round pick in 2021. He played in eight games for the Penguins, collecting one goal and one assist.
He enters 2020-21 ranked fifth all-time in games played (1,723), just 44 shy of Gordie Howe’s NHL record of 1,767.
