The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday morning, clearing one big hurdle for the Sharks legend to potentially return to the organization he called home for 19 seasons.
Carolina, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, is expected to buy out the final season of the three-year, $18.75 million contract Marleau signed with the Maple Leafs on July 2, 2017. If that is the case, Marleau would then become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any NHL team.
NHL analyst Nick Kypreos mentioned earlier this week on Sportsnet radio in Toronto that Marleau wanted to return to San Jose.