Patrick Marleau stands alone.
At 7:08 p.m. when the puck dropped to start Monday’s game between the San Jose Sharks and host Vegas Golden Knights, Marleau, who started the game, secured his place in NHL history, playing in his 1,768th regular-season game to pass Gordie Howe and become the league’s all-time leader in games played.
What was once thought to be an unbreakable record that Howe had owned for close to 60 years now belongs to Marleau, who was drafted by the Sharks in 1997 and would go on to become the face of the organization.
“On behalf of all of your fans and friends and the entire NHL family, congratulations on an amazing achievement,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a videotaped statement that was shown at the first stoppage in play. “To be merely mentioned in the same sentence as Gordie Howe is an achievement most hockey players can only dream about.
“To break one of his records is historic.”
Fans inside T-Mobile Arena, including some Sharks fans, gave Marleau a standing ovation. Members of the Golden Knights also showed their appreciation for Marleau’s accomplishment.
Marleau removed the No. 12 jersey he wore at the start of the game, and it was hung up behind the Sharks bench, to be sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
Reaction on social media poured in from across the NHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain and former Marleau teammate John Tavares tweeted: “Incredible to see you pass Gordie’s record for all-time games played. There is no one more dedicated, humble or deserving. I feel extremely fortunate to have been your teammate. Congrats, Patty!”
“I was there for Patty’s first game & now I’m witnessing history,” tweeted former Sharks forward Owen Nolan. “An amazing accomplishment. Congratulations bud.”
Marleau’s wife, Christina, their four boys, and members of his extended family were all in attendance Monday, watching the game from a luxury suite.
A special moment for Patrick Marleau in Vegas.
Thank you @GoldenKnights and @NHL! #HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/DEZWrr3UKL
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021
Earlier Monday, Marleau shed close to 24 years of stoicism and became emotional as he thanked the individuals that have helped him throughout his historic career.
“I always get choked up and emotional when it comes to people reaching out and talking to people about how long it’s been, how far I’ve come, or how many games I’ve played,” Marleau said. “You don’t get this far without help and support. I’m very grateful for all that.”
Marleau has now played in 1,596 games over 21 seasons with the Sharks, the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 1997. Marleau also played 164 games from 2017 to 2019 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and eight regular-season games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020.
With the games played record in hand, Marleau adds to an already impressive resume that should warrant a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame after his retirement, even without a Stanley Cup to his credit.
Marleau entered Monday’s game with 566 goals and 1,196 points in a 23-season NHL career, scoring at least 20 goals in a season 15 times. He played in three NHL All-Star games and won gold medals with Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Marleau has also now played in 899 consecutive games, an ironman streak that began on April 9, 2009.
“This is more than just a personal milestone,” Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said before the game. “This is a statement to every player that has played this game at any point in time.”
Marleau said members of Howe’s family have offered their congratulations to him on setting this new NHL standard.
Howe played 1,767 regular-season games over 26 seasons in the NHL, with the first 25 coming as a member of the Detroit Red Wings from 1946 to 1971. He led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup four times, winning the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy six times each as the NHL’s most valuable player and leading scorer, respectively.
Howe’s last NHL season came in 1979-80 with the Hartford Whalers, as he finished his career with 1,850 points, a record that stood for close to a decade before Wayne Gretzky surpassed that mark in 1989. Howe died in 2016.
Mark Howe, one of Gordie’s sons, sent Marleau a congratulatory text Sunday.
“I got his message yesterday and it meant the world to me,” said Marleau. who also received messages of congratulations from Gretzky and numerous former teammates. “Then we exchanged messages, but the message he left me was … I’m very grateful.”
Marleau and Gordie Howe both have the same gritty Canadian prairie background, from rural towns in the sometimes bitterly cold province of Saskatchewan.
Howe grew up in a town called Floral, which is just outside Saskatoon in the central part of the province. Marleau is from Aneroid, which has a population of fewer than 100 people and is in the southwestern corner.
“It’s something I’m pretty proud of, being from Saskatchewan and Gordie being from Saskatchewan, I think that’s a pretty cool connection,” said Marleau, whose first NHL game came on Oct. 1, 1997.
“That was part of the part of the message that Mark gave to me yesterday, was that it’s kind of fitting that I am from Saskatchewan and that’s where Gordie was from, and that’d he be very proud that breaking the record tonight (was) a small-town farm boy from Saskatchewan.”
With Marleau just 44 games shy of Howe’s all-time record, the Sharks in October signed him to a one-year contract. General manager Doug Wilson said at the time that if Marleau was going to break this record, it should happen with San Jose.
This season, Marleau passed Ron Francis (1,731 games), Jaromir Jagr (1,733) and Mark Messier (1,756) before he tied Howe on Saturday when the Sharks played the Minnesota Wild.
“That’s why we’re so proud that he’s doing this in a Sharks uniform,” Wilson said recently. “This is why we wanted to happen like this.”
Marleau called Bob Boughner in the offseason before he signed to make sure the Sharks coach was on board.
“He asked me, ‘Do I want him back?’ I said, ‘Absolutely, of course. That’s a no brainer,’” Boughner said. “When you need someone to set the culture in the dressing room, what better guy? When I think of Patty, what comes to mind is first class.”
Marleau in recent days has been showered with adulation and respect from players and coaches around the NHL.
“It’s super special to have that respect, to have guys say such kind words,” said Marleau, with his voice fading. “You go into battle with these guys, day in and day out, you play against them.
“They know the grind, they know what it takes to play in this league, and for them to show that respect and have all these kind words, it’s very humbling.”
Marleau also became emotional as he spoke about his first agent in the NHL, Don Baizley, who passed away from cancer in 2013.
“All that he did for me throughout my career,” Marleau said, pausing momentarily, “was extremely amazing for me. I wish I could say more, but he definitely was a huge part of my career.”
Players and coaches throughout the NHL have talked in recent days about the enormity of Marleau’s achievement.
“We still haven’t been able to grasp or realize that it’s actually going to happen until now,” Karlsson said of Marleau’s record. “This is just not only a historic moment for Patty and for this organization, but it’s a historic moment for the entire league and every player that has played this game, whether with or against him.”
The Sharks also printed shirts and hoodies that recognized Marleau’s achievement. Boughner said the team will “do something special” for Marleau before the game, although Marleau said he wasn’t sure Monday morning what the presentation might entail.
“I know there’s been a lot of work that has gone into this day on a lot of people’s parts,” Marleau said. “I’m very thankful for all the work that’s been done.”
“I’m just trying to embrace it, take it all in. That’s the biggest thing,” Marleau said. “But I just love being able to thank the people that have supported me along the way.”
# The Sharks announced Monday night they will host an on-ice ceremony prior to their game Saturday vs. the Minnesota Wild at SAP Center.
