Patrick Marleau emotional as he reflects on career, breaking Gordie Howe’s record

Patrick Marleau became emotional Monday morning as he thanked the individuals that have helped him throughout his historic career as he was about to become the NHL’s all-time leader in regular season games played.

“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 on Monday night will play in his 1,768th career NHL regular season game, passing Gordie Howe for No. 1 on the league’s all-time games played list.

The record will become official when the puck drops shortly after 7 p.m., as Marleau will be in the Sharks’ starting lineup for their game with the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With tonight’s game, Marleau will have 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.

“This is more than just a personal milestone,” Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “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.

"They know the grind, they know what it takes to play in this league. For them to show their respects and have all these kind words, it's very humbling."@SanJoseSharks Patrick Marleau gets emotional when talking about having the respect of players around the @NHL. #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/vxuH723LqR

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2021

Howe played 1,767 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 passed away 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 Wayne Gretzky and numerous former teammates. “Then we exchanged messages, but the message he left me was … I’m very grateful.”

Marleau and Howe are both from rural towns in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Gordie Howe grew up in a town called Floral, which is just outside Saskatoon in central Saskatchewan. Marleau is from Aneroid, which has a population of less than 100 people and is the southwestern part of the province.

“It’s something I’m pretty proud of, being from Saskatchewan and Gordie being from Saskatchewan, I think that’s a pretty cool connection,” Marleau said.

“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.”

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, whose first NHL game was Oct. 1, 1997. “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 the 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.”

An emotional Patrick Marleau on his first agent Don Baizley, who passed away in 2013: “All that he did for me throughout my career — he was extremely amazing for me.” pic.twitter.com/ppg7Cqf9A2

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) April 19, 2021

Along with Marleau’s wife, Christina, and their four sons, several members of his extended family will be in attendance. His parents, Denis and Jeanette, and his brother Richard and sister Denise will not be able to attend. The U.S-Canadian border is closed to non-essential travel.

Marleau said his wife and children have been his biggest supporters.  About his immediate family, Marleau said. “none of this would be possible, not even playing in the NHL, if it wasn’t for mom and dad, my brother and sister.”

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 an historic moment for the entire league and every player that has played this game, whether with against him.”

Coach Bob Boughner said at the of the team’s meeting Monday morning, he spoke about Marleau and how honored he was to first play against him in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and then coach him in his time with the Sharks’ organization.

“Just seeing how his whole career has unfolded and the commitment and passion he has,” Boughner said. “We took a minute to recognize that this morning as a team, and to understand the history that Patty is about to make and us being a part of it.

“It’s going to be something that we talk about for years. These guys will be telling their children.”

The Sharks also made up 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 may end up learning a little bit more as the day goes on, but I’m just trying to keep things simple and focused,” Marleau said “Just walking into the dressing room, there’s a lot of great things I’ve seen so far on T-shirts and sweaters.

“I know there’s been a lot of work that has gone into this day on a lot of people’s parts. I’m very thankful for all the work that’s been done.”

“I think everybody in our locker room respects the hell out of what he’s doing,” Golden Knights forward Mark Stone said Sunday. “I’ve played seven full seasons now, and it’s been a grind. For him to play 82 games a season, never miss a game, always be there, that speaks volumes about how good of a professional he is.”

“I’m just trying to embrace it, take it all in. That’s the that’s the biggest thing,” Marleau said. “But I just love being able to thank the people that have supported me along the way.”