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San Jose Sharks legend Patrick Marleau is officially calling it a career after spending 23 seasons in the NHL. Via the Players' Tribune, Marleau penned an emotional retirement announcement, officially putting an end to his professional career. In his emotional farewell, Marleau detailed his entire journey through hockey, starting from when he was just a child all the way through his tenure with the Sharks.
“Playing in San Jose was the stuff of fairy tales. It was a new team, a beautiful city in California (where the weather was just a smidge nicer than the cold, bitter Canadian air I was used to). I got to play in one of the newest rinks in the league, with loud, passionate fans cheering us on. The horn that goes off when a home-team goal is scored in SAP Center is music to my ears. Our teams were gritty, hardworking, and never stopped fighting until the final buzzer. Building those first years of history for the Sharks was a responsibility I didn’t take lightly, or for granted. I hope the city, the organization and the fans can be proud of what we accomplished then.”
Marleau spent the first 20 years of his NHL career with the Sharks. He featured for the team since he was an 18-year-old kid up until he was 37. During his tenure in San Jose, Marleau recorded 1,082 points in 1,493 games. He then joined the Toronto Maple Leafs for two seasons, before returning to the Sharks. He had a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins before winding up back in San Jose once again in 2020.
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Marleau didn't feature in a game this season for the Sharks, but still holds the record for most games played in the NHL in league history with 1,779, ahead of legendary skaters such as Red Wings' Gordie Howe, and iconic right winger Jaromir Jagr.
The 42-year-old is the Sharks' franchise record holder for goals scored (522), points (1,111), and shots (3,953), among other categories. He never did win the Stanley Cup, but he made a finals appearance in 2016 with the Sharks.
