:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55733761/3338061.0.jpg)
Two weeks after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the San Jose Sharks thanked Patrick Marleau for his teal tenure with a full-page ad in Sunday’s edition of The Mercury News, long-time Sharks beat writer David Pollak observed on Twitter.
Old school: Full-page ad in Sunday's Merc from #SJSharks thanks Marleau for all he accomplished here. pic.twitter.com/XQ79pcK2gQ
— David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) July 16, 2017
It’s a fitting tribute to Marleau, who first joined the organization as a 17-year-old after being selected second overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. The ad also evokes the ‘thank you’ the Sharks first tweeted when Marleau’s departure from the organization became official on July 2.
There aren’t enough words to describe what you’ve meant to San Jose.#ThankYouPatty pic.twitter.com/LzwOYBYEbK
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 3, 2017
Marleau will play his first NHL game outside of a Sharks uniform on October 4, when the Maple Leafs play the Winnipeg Jets on opening night. Sharks fans won’t have to wait much longer for the reunion, either. 26 days later, Marleau will return to San Jose and make his first visit to SAP Center as an opponent.