Thank you, hockey. That’s how Patrick Marleau titled his retirement post with the Players’ Tribune, announcing that he is finally stepping away from the game for good. The NHL’s all-time games played leader didn’t play this season, and will finally hang up the skates officially at the age of 42.
It was all too fitting that a kid from Aneroid, Saskatchewan would be the one to pass Gordie Howe’s record, as Marleau did last season. With 1,779, no one has appeared more in the regular season than the 1997 second-overall pick. The first pick that season? None other than long-time teammate Joe Thornton, who shared so many memories with the San Jose Sharks. Despite spending a few years with the Toronto Maple Leafs and a handful of games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s San Jose where Marleau will be irrevocably linked.
Though he won no individual awards and the Sharks never hoisted the Stanley Cup, Marleau’s career was far from disappointing. He twice pulled an Olympic gold medal over his head with Team Canada, a key part of both the 2010 and 2014 Games. Add two World Championship medals and nearly 200 playoff contests, and it’s easy to see why Marleau lasted just as long as he did.
Perhaps most impressive was his durability. In none of the 82-game seasons he played in did he suit up fewer than 74 times (which happened as a rookie) and for more than a decade at the end of his career, he was on the ice every night. Remember, this was still while suiting up in the playoffs nearly every year, as Marleau appeared in the postseason in 20 different campaigns.
The ultimate accumulator, Marleau will finish with 1,197 career regular season points, good enough for 50th all-time. While some may argue with his Hall of Fame credentials, he seems a good bet to eventually get in because of just how long he played at the highest level, and how consistent he was during those years.
I never quite understood why players always wait a year to announce their retirement. It’s not like it wasn’t obvious he was done with the game. What gives?
waiting to see if SJS would make him an offer mid-season, Justin Williams style?
Uh, he wasn’t necessarily done. Stayed in shape hoping that he might get a call. Simple stuff. Players don’t do this stuff do confuse you – that is just a bonus.
If Marleau gets in but Brind’Amour doesnt it would be a joke.
Yeah. Marleau will get in, of course, but his career was far short of Hall of Fame quality. He never won anything, was never named an All-Star, the closest he ever came to a trophy was being third in the Byng voting one season (and that was the only year he finished as much as in the top twenty scorers). Without the all-time games played record, no one but hardcore Sharks fans might ever imagine he was Hall-worthy.
@Nha Trang – Marleau did play in three All-Star Games–2004, 2007 and 2009, with 2009 being the year he was a replacement for Pavel Datsyuk, who was injured and couldn’t play. Why HockeyReference doesn’t make this clear is a bit strange. It’s on Patrick’s Wiki page, though.
Marleau should get in for costing the Leafs Seth Jarvis!
Mac, tons of guys play in All-Star Games, and there are a lot of guys in the Norm Barnes/Chris Nilan/John Scott ilk who’d have trouble getting into the HHOF if they bought a ticket. I mean a *season-ending* NHL All-Star. Marleau’s best season, he got into the top five in voting for his position.
One of Bill James’ benchmarks for baseball HHOF candidates was “Was he ever considered the best in the game at his position?” Obviously Marleau’s nowhere close. Let’s take some of his contemporaries at center. Joe Thornton has a Ross, a Hart, been named a league All-Star four times, and has 300 more points in a season’s fewer games.
Joe Sakic won a Hart, a Smythe, a Byng, was named an All-Star three times, was a trophy finalist four times, and owns two Cup rings.
Mats Sundin was a two-time All-Star, with a hundred more points in 400 fewer games.
Sidney Crosby’s right up there with the all-time greats: an eight-time All-Star, multiple Rosses, multiple Harts, multiple Smythes, etc.
Geno Malkin is a three-time All-Star with two Rosses, a Calder, a Hart, and has nearly as many points as Marleau in HALF the games.
Henrik Sedin? Steven Stamkos? Patrice Bergeron? Lots of guys who have been better.
@Nha Trang – Believe it, or not, I’m not disagreeing with any of your points. Selection for an All-Star Game isn’t what it used to be, and it’s annoying when data sources are inconsistent about documenting things like that. Marleau’s HoF possible candidacy is contested by many right now, but at least it’s not *yet* hotly contested.
With some of the guys the hof has put in the last few years, Marleau should definitely be elected. How they haven’t elected Keith Tkachuck and Jeremy Roenick yet is beyond me. They could do it all and still check and fight. Long overdue for them
Roenick was rated 99 in NHL 2000
That alone is worthy of the hall
Well … let’s take Roenick. Never won a trophy. Never was an All-Star. Never won a Cup. And he had a small plateau: elite for only four seasons, just another good player by 25, a middle-sixer by 33. Played in an era where a thousand points isn’t anything almighty any more.
Tkachuk’s sorta in the same boat. No trophies, no Cups. He was an All-Star twice, scored well in All-Star voting in a number of seasons. Better resume, and one of those guys who’ll get pick by a Veterans’ Committee someday, but is he one of the best players to ever play the game?
Borderline forgot that he was a Pen for a week.
Was a load to handle during his prime years. Had all the tools.