Less than six weeks before the NHL trade deadline, speculation about Patrick Marleau’s future with the San Jose Sharks is back in full swing.
According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, Marleau’s agent, Pat Brisson, “continues to quietly explore the market; San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson gave him permission to do so earlier this season. Things should heat up closer to the Feb. 29 trade deadline, although there’s certainly no guarantee of a deal. Wilson will only trade Marleau if it’s a deal that makes sense for San Jose. Which means there’s just as good a chance that it’s an offseason move.”
Earlier this season, CSNCalifornia.com learned that Marleau would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to either the New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks or Los Angeles Kings, although it was thought that the list could potentially grow at some point.
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Multiple reports suggested that Marleau was the one who approached Wilson about potentially leaving the only team that he has ever played for since he was drafted second overall in the 1997 draft. That he retained an agent in training camp after not having one in his previous round of contract negotiations suggests as much.
According to a source, Marleau was unhappy that he did not get a letter from new coach Pete DeBoer, who chose Joe Pavelski as the new team captain and Joe Thornton and Logan Couture as alternates.
When asked on Nov. 12 if he wanted to stay in San Jose, Marleau, the Sharks’ all-time leader in just about every offensive category, was non-committal and did not deny the original three-team report.
“I’ve been here forever and it’s been a great place to play,” he said. “I’m not going to get into specifics or anything like that. There’s always been rumors in my career. I don’t really want to feed into it anymore or comment on it. I don’t want it to become a distraction or anything.”
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Appearing at the Sharks' 25th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, the 36-year-old Marleau was asked if he wants to finish his career in San Jose.
"It would be nice honestly," he said. "I think I have a lot of really good years in me, so we’ll see what happens."
Marleau is in the second year of a three-year, $20 million contract. In 44 games this season, he has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points and a minus-11 rating.