Former San Jose Sharks staple and current Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Patrick Marleau is expected to be traded soon... to where? Isn't that the million-dollar question.

Marleau rumors have been rolling in hot and heavy over the last several days with news that the Los Angeles Kings were his likely destination. I wasn't even going to write anything about it because mentioning the Kings in a Sharks blog never goes well, BUT I saw Eklund's teaser up top and I had to do some digging.

It appears Marleau asked for a trade and is already in the process of moving his family BACK to SAN JOSE with the intentions of being traded somewhere close to his family.

Marleau will turn 40 in September and still has a year left on that three-year, $18.75 million contract he signed with the Leafs. I'm not surprised he won't be playing out the entirety of that deal in Toronto; I am surprised that he didn't just take that two-year deal tabled by the Sharks back in 2017. Especially, if this is where he and his family wanted to be all along.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos indicated teams rumored to be interested in Marleau's services include the Kings, Arizona, and Colorado. So where do the Sharks fit it? Simple answer: They don't.

@Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reports that Patrick Marleau & the #Leafs are set to part ways & that his family is moving back to N. California. On top of LA, which was reported by @PierreVLeBrun on Friday, Arizona & Colorado are said to be other trade options.

— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) June 2, 2019

I have to believe the thought of a reunion in San Jose is solely based on his family's desire to move back to that area. When the former Mr. Sharkwalked away from the Sharks - it was for good. I don't expect to see him back in a teal sweater until the night his number 12 is raised to the SAP rafters.

Marleau is a workhorse, even at his advanced age. He's played all 82 games in nine of the last ten seasons. All teams value durability and productivity in a player. Marleau's scored at least 20 goals in 15 of his 21 seasons. Somebody is going to love having him on their roster in October.

What say you? Would you welcome a return on the franchise's all-time scoring leader, or did that ship sale when he pulled that blue leaf over his head?

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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