Patrick Marleau called San Jose home for more than 19 seasons before signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs this past summer for 3 years $18.75 million. He may have changed uniforms and zip codes but #12 will always be regarded as the one and only "Mr. Shark."
Tonight he returns to the city that loved him as much as any city has ever loved a player. With the Sharks, Marleau did just about everything except win the Stanley Cup - something that still bothers him. That's what he will be trying to a accomplish with that offensive juggernaut in Toronto.
The Leafs may not have the best defense or goaltending, but they sure can score goals. Marleau is even getting in on the action with four goals and seven points off his own this season.
The Sharks return home to roll out the teal carpet for their old friend fresh off having earned six of a possible eight points on the road. The 5-5-0 Sharks are starting to find themselves in the post-Marleau era.
Led by an inspired Logan Couture, the Sharks are starting to put the pieces of a winning puzzle back together. At 28 years old, he is entering his prime. Couture has plethora of big game and big moment experience under his belt already. Remember his 30 point explosion during the Cup run? Just 10 games into the season he's already putting his stamp on the Sharks. Couture saved the road trip with a huge GWG in Buffalo, was the NHL's third star two weeks ago and it feels like he is just getting started.
The past couple of seasons have been tough for Couture as far as injuries go, but when he's healthy, he is one of the leagues best two-way players and somebody his Sharks teammates can rally around. Almost like a "Mr. Shark 2.0."
He was the catalyst for the successful road trip and the stats back it up. He had a hat trick, six points in five games and the game winner to close out the trip.
With 11 points (8g, 3a) in 10 games he is picking up the slack during Marleau's departure
Tonight he has the opportunity to show the home crowd that while Marleau may have been the man during his tenure in teal, that era has come and gone and the Couture era is just kicking off.
Puck Drop: 7:30 PM at SAP Center
Thanks for reading, Steve