Sharks to retire Marleau's No. 12 in February

The San Jose Sharks will retire Patrick Marleau's No. 12 prior to the club's game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Feb. 25, the team announced Thursday.

Marleau will be the first player in franchise history to receive the honor.

"As a little boy skating on a frozen pond, my dream was to play in the NHL," Marleau said. "Never could I have imagined the honor of my jersey hanging in the rafters above the very ice that I played so many of my NHL games on.

"I cannot begin to describe the way I feel. I am truly grateful and thankful for this recognition, but also for being able to play in front of the great San Jose Sharks fans for so long. I'll miss doing so for the rest of my life. Thank you to the Sharks organization, my teammates throughout my career, and especially the fans for this honor of a lifetime."

Marleau didn't play during the 2021-22 season and officially announced his retirement in May. He finished his 23-year career as the NHL's all-time game's played leader (1,779) while racking up 566 goals and 631 assists.

San Jose drafted Marleau second overall in 1997. He spent 21 years with the organization and is their all-time leader in goals and points. The Saskatchewan native also registered 127 points in 195 playoff games with the Sharks, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2016.

Marleau played two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and eight games with the Pittsburgh Penguins before returning to the Bay Area for his final campaign in 2020-21.