Poll: Is Patrick Marleau a Hall of Famer?
It's hard to look at Patrick Marleau's body of work and be unimpressed.
The quiet veteran forward from Aneroid, Saskatchewan did Thursday what only 44 players have before him: score 500 regular-season goals in the NHL.
Related: Watch: Marleau joins 500 club
Marleau broke into the league in the fall of 1997, after the San Jose Sharks drafted him second overall that summer. He's been scoring for the Sharks ever since - like, every season. The 37-year-old has been remarkably durable throughout his career, with his 74-game rookie season the fewest number in 19 campaigns.
Marleau has 500 goals and 564 assists in 1,463 games. His next goal will give him 20 in 2016-17 - the 14th time he's hit the mark. He's a seven-time 30-goal scorer, and even hit 40 once, potting a career-high 44 in 2009-10. He's consistently filled the net, and done it for almost 20 years. That counts for something.
Related: Marleau: Joining 500 club is 'pretty special'
Marleau's never won a Stanley Cup - he plays for the Sharks, after all - but he's produced in the playoffs, too, with 65 goals and 51 assists in 117 spring games. He's also a two-time Olympic gold medalist as a member of Team Canada in 2010 and 2014.
So, you've got the facts. Now you tell us: Does Marleau have a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame when his career's over?
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