Patrick Marleau Notches his 500th Career Goal
The San Jose Sharks’ all-time leading goal scorer Patrick Marleau has joined a milestone club in the NHL.
Patrick Marleau, who has spent his entire 19-year NHL career with the Sharks, has scored his 500th goal, beating Vancouver Canucks’ goalie Ryan Miller about halfway through the first period on Thursday night.
This milestone comes just a few weeks after Marleau’s historic four-goal third period against the Colorado Avalanche on January 23rd, scoring career goals number 495, 496, 497, and 498. Marleau scored his 499th goal on January 31st against the Chicago Blackhawks, just minutes after a goal he scored was wiped off the board by an offsides call.
Marleau is already the first Shark to cross 1,000 points in his career, and now becomes the 45th player to join the 500-goal club. He is the franchise’s goal leader by a mile, with Joe Pavelski a very, very distant second place with 283 goals.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
Though Marleau is the only Shark to score 500 goals with the team, he is not the first player to reach his 500th career goal with San Jose. Back on November 10th, 2007, Jeremy Roenick scored his 500th goal while wearing teal. He did so against his former club, the Phoenix Coyotes, but it was only his fifth goal with San Jose. Roenick spent two years with the Sharks, and scored what turned out to be the final 18 goals of his career.
Teemu Selanne also spent parts of three seasons with the Sharks, from 2000 to 2003. He scored 64 times in teal, but didn’t reach his 500th goal until three years after leaving San Jose with the Anaheim Ducks. Marleau joins Roenick and Selanne as the only 500-goal scorers to play with San Jose.
Marleau is also the second player to reach 500 goals this season, joining Blackhawks’ winger Marion Hossa. About a week into the 2016-2017 season, Hossa hit the milestone against the Philadelphia Flyers.
In addition, Marleau becomes the 10th player in the 500-goal club to score all of his goals with one team. He joins Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings), Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins), Joe Sakic (Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche), Mike Bossy (New York Islanders), Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), Maurice Richard (Montreal Canadiens), Stan Mikita (Blackhawks), Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres), and Jean Beliveau (Canadiens). Marleau’s status in this club, of course, could change, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent following this season.
Marleau is fifth among active players in goals scored, behind Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla, Overchkin, and Hossa.
Next: Marleau Nets Four to Push Sharks' Streak to Five
In addition to Marleau’s milestone score, the Sharks received a pair of goals from Chris Tierney and another from Brent Burns to beat the Canucks 4-1. The Sharks have won eight of their last nine games, and lead the Anaheim Ducks by three points in the Pacific Division.