Patrick Marleau is a Toronto Maple Leaf. Let that soak in for a second... For the first time in his 19 year career, the San Jose Sharks all-time leader leader in points (1,082), goals (508), games played (1,493), power play goals (160) and game-winning goals (98) will wear the sweater of another NHL franchise.
Marleau mulled the Sharks offer of a two-years and nearly $9 million deal, but in the end it was the Leafs that won the bidding war for the 37-year-old. Toronto gave Marleau a three-year contract worth $18.75 million.
That crucial third year was the big sticking point. San Jose had ponied up big dollars and longer terms form Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Martin Jones at the start of free agency, and that appears to have hampered their ability to go beyond two years.
I felt very strongly that Marleau would follow his buddy Joe Thornton back to the friendly confines of the Shark Tank. Nope. I imagine the call to play in his home country was just too strong to resist.
Losing Marleau is going to feel like a gut punch to Sharks fans, but it will prove to be what's best for the team moving forward. Truthfully, it is probably better to have it end like this - on good terms - rather than an ugly buy out etc.
Toronto fans will embrace Marleau's professionalism and ability to score big goals in big moments. Feels like the Leafs believe they are closing in on a crack at the Stanley Cup. Perhaps Marleau gets them over the hump?
The signing also opens up a glaring hole in the Sharks roster. Who is going to replace the 25+ goals a season Marleau provided? Will the Sharks look to swing a trade or sign an available vet to fill the void until a younger player can step in? Glad it's Doug Wilson's job to figure this out and not mine.
Marleau returns to the SAP Center as the enemy for the first time on October 30th. Seems fitting that it's so close to Halloween because it's probably a Sharks fans biggest nightmare.
Thanks for reading, Steve