NHL Free Agency: Toronto Maple Leafs sign Patrick Marleau
After spending his entire career with the San Jose Sharks, Patrick Marleau is going north of the border to likely finish his career.
Coming off a playoff season in 2016-17, the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the right track led by a mix of young players (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander) with some veterans like James van Riemsdyk sprinkled in. They are clearly looking to add more veteran leadership in free agency though, signing defenseman Ron Hainsey on Saturday and agreeing to a deal with winger Patrick Marleau on Sunday.
Marleau was drafted second overall in 1997 by the San Jose Sharks, making his NHL debut as an 18-year old the following season and spending his first 19 seasons with the franchise. He is fifth among active players in points (1,082), with 508 goals (fifth among active players) and 574 assists (10th among active players). Not surprisingly, he is also fourth among active players in power play goals with 160.
Marleau’s three-year deal with Toronto has an average annual value and cap hit of $6.25 million, and Darren Dreger of TSN has the breakdown.
Marleau: year 1) $8.5M 2) $6 mil. 3) $4.25
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 2, 2017
Marleau will be 38 years old by the time next season starts, and he will turn 40 before the final year of his new deal. Playing effective hockey as an NHL forward is rare at that age, especially this side of Jaromir Jagr, but Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is clearly not concerned.
Asked about Marleau's age (38 on Sept. 15) and the term (three years), Babcock said: "Have you seen him skate?"
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) July 2, 2017
Mike Babcock on Patrick Marleau coming to Toronto: "I think it’s going to be the fountain of youth for him."
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) July 2, 2017
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Durability becomes a concern as any player ages, but Marleau has not missed a game since the 2008-2009 season. That’s seven straight campaigns playing all 82 games, and playing all 48 regular season games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. He has never missed more than eight games in a single season during his career, and that high mark came in his 1997-98 rookie season. Marleau has played at least 80 games 13 times, with years of steady ice time in the 18-21 minute per game range before he averaged just over 17 minutes per game last season.