“And now it’s my retirement” – Sharks’ Patrick Marleau retires after 23 years of NHL Career

“And now it’s my retirement” – Sharks’ Patrick Marleau retires after 23 years of NHL Career

Patrick Marleau

San Jose Sharks’ star player Patrick Marleau announced his retirement decision from his 23 years of NHL career on Tuesday in a piece he wrote in the Player’s Tribune. He spent 21 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, while also playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburg Penguins. Till his retirement, the star forward scored 1,197 points in 1,779 games becoming the first on the Sharks’ list in both points and goals. 

Patrick Marleau played his last season in 2020-21 and scored 9 points with 4 goals and five assists in 56 games with the San Jose Sharks. He confessed on Tuesday that it wasn’t until recently that he made up his mind about his retirement. Staying out of the ring was a hard decision for him to make, but it was time he did that. He said, “Probably just a couple of weeks ago”. “I think I knew I was going to retire a long time ago. But I finally built up enough courage to get up here and speak. And now it’s my retirement.”

YouTube video

Also Read| “Just at a place where I’m proud of my accomplishments” – Kings’ Dustin Brown to retire after Stanley Cup Playoffs

‘It was tough to not play this season’ – Patrick Marleau

Patrick Marleau
Patrick Marleau

San Jose Sharks qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 17 of Patrick Marleau’s season with them, while ranking first in post-season games with 68 goals, 128 points in 177 games, and with 52 assists. He noted on Players Tribune, It’s bittersweet for sure, but I have so much to look forward to,” Marleau wrote, “Who knows what the world has in store for me?

“If you would have told that kid on the frozen pond that he would break a games-played record held by none other than Gordie Howe, he would have thought you were crazy.”

“It was never something I aimed for; it was just me loving this game so much that I never, ever wanted to hang up my skates.”

Also Read| WATCH – Veteran NHL star Chris Pronger chugs a beer during his jersey retirement ceremony

Patrick Marleau was one of the greatest players in the NHL after his 1997 draft by the Sharks holding both records for games played, goals, points, shots, and many more. Marleau further quoted, “A lot harder than I thought it was going to be”. 

“I think a lot of people sometimes say, ‘Oh, you know, everything’s OK.’ But it’s been difficult. I mean, I’ve played this game pretty much all my life and I love it. I’m getting whole new-found respect for my wife and my family and all the things that they had to go through when I was gone, just the day-to-day.

“But it’s my new challenge and what I’m looking forward to doing now, so I can’t wait to become the best father and husband I can be.”

Marleau’s teammate, Thornton from San Jose Sharks said, “He was the face of the franchise for so many years and made so many records there,”. “He was a huge, huge part of building hockey in the Bay area. … Just a complete workhorse. Just worked every day, never complained. Just a treat to be around every day.”

As noted on nhl.com, Patrick Marleau confessed that he didn’t know what he would be doing now and whether he will remain in the hockey somehow, “I don’t know what the future will hold”, “but my wife seems to think somewhere down the road I’ll be back in hockey somehow. So we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Also Read| “I signed with the team” – Marian Hossa’s one-day contract with the Blackhawks before his retirement