Patrick Marleau

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size = 180px
position = Centre
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 220
team = San Jose Sharks
league = NHL
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1979|9|15|mf=y
birth_place = Swift Current, SK, CAN
career_start = 1997
draft = 2nd overall
draft_year = 1997
draft_team = San Jose Sharks

Patrick Denis Marleau (born September 15 1979, in Swift Current, Saskatchewan).Cite web|url=http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=6404|title=NHLPA PLAYER BIO: Patrick Marleau|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=The National Hockey League Players' Association] is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and team captain of San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. Marleau was named the San Jose Sharks captain in the 03-04 season, and is the all-time Sharks leader in points.

Early years

Patrick grew up on his family farm near Aneroid, Saskatchewan. Most media guides incorrectly list his birthplace as Aneroid instead of Swift Current. Aneroid does not have a hospital.

Playing career

Patrick Marleau's Junior Hockey career took him to the Seattle Thunderbirds where he played two seasons. In his rookie campaign (1995-96) Marleau exploded onto the scene in Seattle tallying 32 goals and 74 points and leading his team to a playoff loss to a talented Kamloops Blazers team featuring future NHL star Jarome Iginla, the series ended 4-1 but Seattle took 3 of the losses to overtime before the veteran Blazers won.

During the 1996-97 season Marleau was named captain of the Thunderbirds and led them to a second place finish (behind Portland) in the Western Hockey League's Western Conference during the regular season Marleau tallied 51 Goals and 125 Points finishing in the WHL's Top-3 in both categories. In the playoffs Marleau led the T-Birds to a Western Conference Championship (Seattle's only) before the team bowed out in the WHL Finals to eventual Memorial Cup Champion Lethbridge Hurricanes 4 games to zero. Marleau finished second in the WHL's Player of the Year voting losing to Peter Schaefer of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

He 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 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 ten of his NHL seasons in San Jose. He reached the 500 point mark for his career against the Phoenix Coyotes on November 14, 2007.

2003-2004

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 2002-03.

2005-Present

The 2005-06 season was a breakout season for Marleau, as he passed his old career high in points. Part of this can be attributed to the mid-season acquisition of Joe Thornton. The 2005-2006 NHL rule changes that emphasized speed, such the removal of the red line for two-line pass purposes, may have also enabled him to use better utilize his speed. Marleau finished the season with 34 goals and 52 assists, for a total of 86 points, all career-highs.

In a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 19, 2006, Marleau scored 2 goals and acquired his 400th career point, making him the Sharks' second all-time scoring leader.

In 2006, Marleau was one of three finalists 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 finished the 2006-2007 season with 32 goals and 46 assists, for a total of 78 points, ranking 2nd on the team in each category.

In January 2007, Marleau played in his second NHL All-Star Game and scored a goal.

Marleau became the first NHL player since Brett Hull in 2002 to score shorthanded goals on consecutive days in the playoffs when he scored one playoff goal in game three of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Dallas Stars and another in game four.

International tournaments

Marleau won a gold medal at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships. He was invited to Team Canada's Development Camp for the 2006 Winter Olympics, but was omitted from the team.

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. He signed a two-year contract extension worth $12.6 million in August 2007 that will make him remain with the Sharks until the end of the 2009-2010 season. The contract includes a No-trade clause.

Awards

*Gold Medal, 2003 IIHF World Championships
*WHL West First All-Star team (1997)
*NHL All-Star 2003-2004, 2006-2007
*2003-2004 Sharks player of the year
*2004 World Cup of Hockey Championship with Team Canada
*2006-2007 Lady Byng Trophy Finalist
*2006 San Jose Mercury News South Bay Sportsperson of the Year

Career statistics

ee also

*Captain (hockey)
*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons

References

External links

*nhlprofile|8466139
*hockeydb|23724
*TSN-NHL-profile|1044