For the first time in 22 years Patrick Marleau will NOT be in an NHL lineup for the opening of the regular season. The 40 year old veteran is still without a contract for the 2019-20 season after having his contract bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes following a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The day the Hurricanes bought out Marleau’s contract, fans and analysts jumped to the conclusion that he’d re-join the San Jose Sharks on a short-term deal. But… here we are a full three months later and Marleau remains unsigned.
But with Evander Kane earning himself a three game suspension earlier this week after “abusing” an official in a preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights, fans are beginning to wonder whether or not Marleau could re-enter into the Sharks plans.
Not a chance, says Sharks GM Doug Wilson.
Check it out:
”We’re at a different place than we were two or three years ago and one of those (areas) is positional fit. We’re very strong on the left side and we’re very strong down the middle. And I also made promises to our younger players. Not just younger players, but players like Lukas Radil and Marcus Sorensen that signed with us. The commitment is to give those players the opportunity that they deserve.”
“It, in no way, takes away from how we feel about Patrick Marleau. We will honor him and he will always be a Sharks in our minds. The 19 years he gave us were phenomenal, and all the players who played with both him and (former captain Joe Pavelski) reap the benefits of having played with players like that.”
“But it goes forward. We’re excited about where we’re at and where we’re going.”
Sorry, Sharks fans. I think the desperately wanted reunion between Marleau and the Sharks is just not meant to be…
