One of the biggest and most surprising offseason free agent signings was Patrick Marleau leaving the San Jose Sharks after 19 seasons in California.
The Toronto Maple Leafs inked the 37-year-old to a three-year, $18.75 million contract back on July 2nd.
It’s hard to even picture Marleau in a Leafs uniform considering he was one of the staples of the Sharks franchise after being selected second overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
With the dust settled after the signing, Marleau reflected over his time in San Jose, thanking the city and their fans in a full-page ad inside the the sports section of the San Jose Mercury Times and East Bay Times.
Marleau is returning the love, as the Sharks honoured their former captain on July 16th with an add from themselves.
Now wearing the Maple Leafs' signature blue and white colours, the two-time Olympic gold medalist will face his former teal teammates when the Leafs travel west to the shark tank on October 30th in what will surely be an emotional night for the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (1,493), goals (508), points (1,082), game-winning goals (98), and power-play goals (160).
(h/t to the San Jose)
