Penguins acquire veteran Patrick Marleau from Sharks
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Marleau will get another shot at winning a Stanley Cup after being traded by the San Jose Sharks to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday for a conditional draft pick.
The struggling Sharks will get a 2021 third-round pick from the Penguins for Marleau that becomes a second-rounder if Pittsburgh wins the title this year.
Marleau provides a needed depth forward with scoring ability as the Penguins look to make a playoff run. They started the day in second place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind Washington.
The 40-year-old Marleau returned to the Sharks earlier this season after spending the first 19 seasons of his career in San Jose. He has 10 goals and 10 assists in 58 games and still has the speed that made him one of the league’s most consistent scorers the past two decades.
He spent the previous two seasons in Toronto, recording 43 goals and 41 assists, but was traded to Carolina last offseason in a move to shed salary and then bought out by the Hurricanes when he didn’t want to play there.
Marleau has been one of the most durable players with his 846 consecutive games played ranking fifth all-time. He has played 1,715 games in his career since being drafted second overall in 1997. He ranks fifth all-time in that category and trails record-holder Gordie Howe by just 52 for the most ever.
“Patrick is one of the most iconic players to ever wear the Sharks uniform,” San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said. “Although we have had a disappointing season in San Jose, he deserves every opportunity to have a chance at winning a Stanley Cup, and we’re happy to help accommodate that. We wish him the best of luck.”
Marleau has 561 goals and 625 assists in his career to go along with 68 goals and 52 assists in 177 playoff games. With the Sharks mired in 13th place in the Western Conference, this deal gives Marleau another chance at the postseason as he seeks his first Stanley Cup championship of his career.
Marleau won’t have to wait long for a reunion in San Jose as the Penguins visit the Sharks on Saturday night.
