San Jose Sharks Have Three Potential Suitors For Patrick Marleau

Well, the rumblings have begun early this season, and it’s to be expected with the way the San Jose Sharks have performed in the early going. According to a report from CSN California’s Kevin Kurz, veteran Sharks forward Patrick Marleau would accept a trade to one of three teams.

The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers are the clubs Marleau would be willing to move to. As the lone team outside of the Pacific Division, the Rangers would likely be the best option for San Jose. They’ve had scouts at the Sharks’ past two games.

More from Sharks News

• Norris Trophy odds show Erik Karlsson a step above the rest
• Red hot Couture provides a much needed boost
• Sharks return to SAP in sight
• Ryan Donato shines in his revenge game
• Tomas Hertl is off to a hot start

Marleau first surfaced in rumors over the weekend when Elliotte Freidman of Sportsnet reported that his name was “out there” in trade talks. It’s unclear which party initiated the process; the Sharks may have asked Marleau to waive his no-movement clause, but it’s entirely possible that Marleau has requested a trade or asked general manager Doug Wilson to explore the possibilities.

Regardless, it’ll be an interesting situation to monitor in the coming days. San Jose has struggled since winning four straight to open the season, and moving Marleau would pave the way for a younger player to step in and contribute. Former first-round pick Nikolay Goldobin immediately comes to mind as a prospect the team may want to slot into a full-time role this season.

Meanwhile, Marleau is signed through the end of the 2016-17 campaign with a cap hit of $6.66 million. The 36-year-old forward doesn’t have much left in the tank and his salary could make him difficult to deal, but he remains a solid contributor at both ends of the ice. Marleau could provide a nice boost to a playoff team looking to get over the hump, and the Ducks, Kings and Rangers all fit that bill.

Thus far, Marleau is fifth on the team in scoring with four goals and five assists, but he’s a minus-three through the first 15 games of this season. This comes off one of his worst seasons as a pro last year as he scored just 19 goals and 57 points, while being a minus-17.

Next: Sharks Slip Back To Fourth Place In Pacific Division

Marleau has spent the entirety of his 18-year NHL career in San Jose after being drafted by the franchise second overall in the 1997 Entry Draft. He is the Sharks’ all-time leading scorer with 997 points in 1,343 games, and I’d guess San Jose would try to keep him around until he hit the 1,000-point mark if possible.

It’s difficult to imagine Marleau playing for another team – particularly an in-state division rival – but that’s looking more and more likely as the season progresses.