Patrick Marleau, the longest-tenured and highest-scoring player in franchise history, will not play for the San Jose Sharks this season after he signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. The 37-year-old thanked the Sharks and their fans in a noted posted on his wife Christina Marleau’s Twitter page.
Sharks fans will not have to wait long for the chance to return the favor. Marleau’s Maple Leafs will play the Sharks at SAP Center on October 30 in his first trip to San Jose as an opponent.
Drafted second overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Marleau played 1493 regular season games and another 177 in the postseason.