The #Leafs announced today the signing of F Patrick Marleau to a 3-year contract. The annual average value of the contract is $6.25 million.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) July 2, 2017
Patrick Marleau's $6.25M AAV tentatively puts the #Leafs above the current $75M ceiling by $2.415M, with a projected cap of $77,415,834.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 2, 2017
Boom.#NHLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/mKoT6CcBIw
— NHL (@NHL) July 2, 2017
— Leafs R Us (@Leafs93dmart) July 2, 2017
per MapleLeafs.com
On the second day of the NHL’s unrestricted free agency period, the Maple Leafs landed a major component for the next three seasons when they signed former San Jose Sharks cornerstone forward Patrick Marleau to an $18.75-million contract.
The signing, which was made official late Sunday afternoon, carries an average annual salary cap value of $6.25 million for the services of the 37-year-old Marleau, who had spent his entire 19-year NHL career in San Jose and leaves that franchise as its all-time leader in regular-season games played (1,493), goals (508), points (1,082), power play goals (160), shorthanded goals (17), game-winning goals (98) and shots on net (3,798).
The Aneroid, Sask., native’s game-winning goal total is the seventh-best in league history, and his overall experience as one of the game’s most consistent high-end performers makes him an extremely valuable addition to Toronto’s lineup.
Q. Patrick, can you talk about the last day, what it’s been like and what it came down to in the end.
PATRICK MARLEAU: I think I’ve worn out a few carpets pacing around the house trying to make this decision over the past couple of days. I’m extremely excited and happy to be a part of the Maple Leafs organization. It’s definitely an honour to be able to call myself a Maple Leaf. Obviously, being a Canadian player, a Canadian-born player, this decision took me quite a while to come to but I’ve made it, I’m happy with it and I can’t wait to get started.
Q. What was the key, do you think, at the very end in your decision? What pushed you to Toronto in the end?
PATRICK MARLEAU: It was the team, I think. The excitement that’s around it, the youth, the coaching staff, the coach, the management, the way they see the game going, the players they have on their roster. It’s extremely exciting to be a part of that.
Q. How difficult was it to make the decision to leave San Jose?
PATRICK MARLEAU: It was extremely difficult. The owners, Hasso Plattner, and all the other owners here – the organization has been first-class to me over the 19 years I’ve been here. My wife and four boys, it was extremely tough to finally pull the trigger and have them move to a new country, from one coast to the other, but everybody here in our house is extremely excited to be a part of the Maple Leafs and where they’re going. I’m ecstatic to be a part of that.
Q. Did you speak with Mike Babcock much during this time? What is your relationship with him and how did that factor into your decision?
PATRICK MARLEAU: I think having known [Mike Babcock] from the Olympics and following his career and the work he has done over his career speaks for itself. Knowing that what he’s doing there with the team he has and knowing what I can contribute is extremely exciting for me.