Recently, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford indicated that he’d like to add one more forward to add to their depth up front. One of the options they’re considering appears to be Sharks winger Patrick Marleau as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that they’ve shown interest in the 40-year-old.
Marleau started the season as an unsigned free agent after being bought out by Carolina but eventually signed a two-way contract worth the league minimum with San Jose, the team he spent the first 19 years of his career with. While he isn’t the point per game player that he was in his prime, he still has chipped in with 10 goals and 10 assists through 58 games while logging over 15 minutes per night.
In Pittsburgh, Marleau would likely play a lesser supporting role but given the number of injuries to key players they’ve had this season, the fact that he could move up if the injury bug strikes again would certainly have to be enticing to Rutherford and at $700K, it wouldn’t make much of a dent in their remaining cap space.
While Marleau doesn’t have any trade protection in his deal, LeBrun suggests that Marleau will have the ability to approve any potential deal.
Should have gone after Kovalchuk. Would have been great on the power play and it would have been interesting to see him and Malkin together.