We wrote earlier this week how San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau gave a pretty big non-answer when asked if he could envision a scenario where he would waive his no-trade clause. He brushed off the rumors, but recent reports suggest he would accept a trade to three certain teams.
“The New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings would all be locations that the Sharks’ all-time leading scorer would deem acceptable,” writes Kevin Kurz of Comcast Sportsnet, who says he got the insight from an NHL source.
“It’s unclear at this time whether Marleau, who has a no-trade clause, is pushing for the move, or whether the team initiated it. Marleau, who is in the second of a three-year, $20 million contract, does not have an agent.”
As Kurz notes in his report, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Hockey Night in Canada Marleau’s name is out there, yet it’s unclear whether the veteran asked for a trade, or the team is shopping him around.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/664285661969711104
It would be pretty shocking to see Marleau traded. Drafted by the Sharks second overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, he’s played his entire career with the team. Making his debut way back in 1997-98, Marleau has amassed 1,344 games in the NHL and is the all-time franchise leader in goals (460) and points (997).
The teams interested in him, the Rangers, Ducks and Kings, are all expected to be Cup contenders, and you’d think the Sharks would prefer to send him out East and not within their own division – but that’s just my own speculation. But, as Friedman mentions, the decision is ultimately Marleau’s as he can waive his no-trade clause and decide where he’d like to play if it’s not in San Jose.
