After falling to 0-4-0, the San Jose Sharks announced Wednesday that they have signed the franchise's all-time leading point-getter and goal scorer Patrick Marleau to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
Marleau was traded in the offseason from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Carolina Hurricanes and later bought out, which made him an unrestricted free agent. He was always hoping for a homecoming with the Sharks, but it took until the first week of the regular season for both sides to feel comfortable about a reunion.
Marleau, who turned 40 in September, practiced with the Sharks at Fifth Third Arena in Chicago on Wednesday and skated on the first line with Logan Couture and Timo Meier. He's expected to make his season debut on Thursday against the Blackhawks.
Even though the Sharks revealed on Tuesday that Marleau would return to San Jose, the seven-time 30-goal scorer didn’t officially sign his contract until Wednesday, meaning his Iron Man streak will continue.
Marleau has appeared in 788 consecutive games, which ranks sixth in NHL history and third among active players. Only Keith Yandle (800), Andrew Cogliano (830), Steve Larmer (884), Garry Unger (914) and Doug Jarvis (964) are ahead of him.
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