Patrick Marleau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Centre |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) |
| NHL Team | San Jose Sharks |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | September 15, 1979, Aneroid, SK, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 2nd overall, 1997 San Jose Sharks |
| Pro Career | 1997 – present |
Patrick Marleau (born September 15, 1979, in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a Canadian professional hockey center in the NHL who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks.
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[edit] Playing career
Marleau was drafted in the 1st Round, 2nd overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft behind current teammate Joe Thornton. Although he struggled early on in his career, Marleau learned to combine his excellent offensive talents with defensive prowess from former Sharks head coach Darryl Sutter.
Marleau has played all six of his NHL seasons in San Jose since been drafted by the Sharks 2nd overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft behind future Sharks teammate Joe Thornton. He served as the Sharks captain in the entire second half of the 2003-04 season, following a rotating captaincy. When coach Ron Wilson went to rotate to a new captain, previous captain Alyn McCauley advised him to leave the captaincy with Marleau. The new captain went on to match his career-high of 57 points from the 2002-2003. Still young, Marleau has already surpassed 300 points in his career. On November 26th 2004 against the Chicago Blackhawks, he played in his 500th NHL game.
The 2005-06 season has been a break-out season of sorts for Marleau, as he has already passed his old career high in points. Part of this can be attributed to the midseason acquisition of Joe Thornton. After the Thornton trade, Marleau responded with four consecutive three-point nights.
In a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 19, 2006, Marleau scored 2 goals and acquired his 400th career point, making him the second all time scoring leader for the Sharks.
In 2006, Marleau was one of the nominees for the Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for the most gentlemanly play during a season. He eventually lost out to Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.
Marleau has gotten off to a blazing start in the 2006-07 season. In his first 21 games, he has scored 12 goals and 12 assists, and his 24 points are the most in the entire Western Conference.
A premier first-line centre, Marleau is considered one of the best emerging young forwards in the NHL.
It is noted that Marleau's actual birthplace is Swift Current, Saskatchewan [citation needed] as media guides incorrectly list it is Aneroid, a hamlet 70 km southeast of the city.
[edit] International tournaments
Marleau won the gold medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the silver medal at the 2005 World Championships. He was invited to Team Canada's Development Camp for the 2006 Winter Olympics, but he was omitted from the team, a decision that appears to be very questionable considering Canada's lack of success in the tournament.
[edit] Contract
Marleau decided to bypass free agency by signing a three-year-contract worth US$12.5 million in August 2005 to stay with the San Jose Sharks. As part of the deal, Marleau received a US$400,000 signing bonus.
[edit] Awards
- Gold Medal, 2003 IIHF World Championships
- WHL West First All-Star team (1997)
- NHL All-Star 2003-2004
- 2003-2004 Sharks player of the year
- 2003-2004 Sharks Playstation "Three Stars of the Game"
- 2006 -- Nominated for Lady Byng Trophy
[edit] Personal
Marleau and his wife Christina have one son named Landon Patrick.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- NHL Player Bio
- Sharks bio and in depth look on Marleau
- Marleau's game-by-game totals so far this season
| Preceded by: Alyn McCauley |
San Jose Sharks captains 2004 – present |
Incumbent |
