NHL legend Patrick Marleau, the all-time record holder for games played (1,779 games) has had quite the time coming to reality that his career is over. Regarded as one of the most gentlemanly players, Marleau tallied up 1,197 points, two Olympic gold medals, and 20 playoff appearances.
Then the 2021-22 season came about, and no team offered a contract to the long-time veteran. This was one of the hardest times for Mr. San Jose Shark.
«It's tough. I won't lie. It was really tough not playing,» Marleau said recently in an interview at his home in Parkland, Florida, where he has relocated from San Jose with his wife Christina and their four boys.
«Just trying to figure out my own plan, how to spend my own time, was probably the biggest thing,» Marleau said. «It was hard. And then talking to other retired players, some say it took years in order to feel normal.»
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«My whole life has been hockey, hockey, hockey. That's how you identify, that's what you do,» he said. «It's trying to find (out), what's the next step, or what's your next passion?»
«Opening night, the first year he was done, he so badly wanted to be out there,» Christina said. «He just loves the game so much, and to see when it started, that was probably the hardest because it was the first time he wasn't out there.»
Before moving to Florida in the summer, Marleau got a chance to get back into hockey from a former friend and teammate, current Sharks GM Mike Grier. He believed that his former teammate would be able to display some hockey knowledge to the club's prospects for the annual rookie camp, and Marleau took the opportunity and ran with it.
«I was excited to do it,» Marleau said. «It was something to do, something to get out there and help the boys. And just to try it out, as well.»
This happened to be just the beginning for Marleau, as Florida has proven to be a gold mine for coaching. One of the main reasons the Marleaus moved to Florida was to enhance the probability of their son Landon going to the NHL. Landon is now playing in a program run by another former teammate, Shawn Heins, who was a tough defenseman who didn't see a ton of NHL time. The 16U AAA Florida Alliance program offers more intensity than anything offered in San Jose, and now Marleau is one of Heins' assistant coaches. Of course, the two former players differed on the ice, so it only makes sense to differ as coaches too.
«I'm more of the in-your-face type coach, where he's more of a calming factor,» said Heins, whose son, Caeden Heins, is also on the team. «I am who I am, I've always been when I played. I was intense. So, I think it's a good mixture.»
Marleau also is the head coach of his son's 12U team, and volunteers from time to time with his other two boys as well.
«In a normal week I'm pretty much at the rink every day,» Marleau said. «I might even be at the rink more now than when I was playing.»
Even though there have been rumors of Marleau being a coach in the NHL after retiring, he is in no rush to return just yet.
«I think right now, where I'm at, taking the time with the family, trying to be around as much as I can and help the kids out (after) being gone for so many years and throughout their seasons,» Marleau said, «I'm just trying to enjoy that.»
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