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No 'C'? No Problem - Nov. 23, 2009 - Vol. 63, Issue 10 – Adam Proteau

WHEN PATRICK MARLEAU and the captaincy of the San Jose Sharks were made mutually exclusive last summer (a polite way to say he was stripped of the role as the official team leader), most presumed the move was a precursor to the end of the center’s 11-year stint in Northern California.

But after many premature media reports of Marleau’s departure, Sharks management decided to keep him in teal after all. That has to be a relief for both fans and management, because judging by his scorching start to this season – 11 goals and 22 points in San Jose’s first 16 games – giving him the America’s capital treatment (you know, getting de-‘C’-d) is suiting Marleau extremely well.

And if the past is any indication, removing the captaincy from Marleau may lay to rest the Sharks’ consistent playoff woes and deliver them, finally, to at least their first Stanley Cup final appearance in franchise history.

To wit: Veteran Dave Lowry was stripped of the ‘C’ in Calgary late in the 2001-02 campaign and the Flames went on to qualify for the Cup final two seasons later.

‘WE WEREN’T GOING TO STOP BELIEVING IN PATTY MARLEAU’

Vincent Lecavalier suffered the same fate early in his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning – and two years after he endured that indignity, the Bolts claimed their first-ever Cup.

“Well, I hope that’s what happens here with us,” said Marleau with a laugh. “We’re off to a good start so far and obviously, that would be the perfect way to finish the year.”

Both the Flames and Lightning were dealing with significant internal-combustion issues and on-ice struggles before the decision was made to put Lowry and Lecavalier through the emotional wringer.

But both the Sharks and Marleau enjoyed very productive regular seasons in ’08-09 – Marleau led San Jose in goals last year with a career-high 38 – before they collectively soiled the sheets in a first-round playoff loss against Anaheim.

In other words, Marleau never was the root cause of San Jose’s troubles.

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“What people overlooked with Patty last year was that he had a pretty good season for us,” said Sharks GM Doug Wilson prior to the start of the 2009-10 campaign. “He doubled his goal total from the previous year and was very responsible for us at both ends of the ice.

“But because we disappointed everybody – our fans, ourselves – in the playoffs, Patty took heat like everybody on the team. That never meant I was going to trade him – and let me re-iterate, regardless of what was erroneously reported in the media, I never once asked him to waive his no-trade clause.

“We weren’t going to stop believing in Patty Marleau because of our disappointments as an organization. We know him better than that.”

Wilson’s patience with his longest-serving veteran was very similar to the manner in which the Lightning dealt with Lecavalier – and like Marleau, the Tampa Bay star now understands why it was the right decision at the time.

“Obviously I was upset, like anybody would be,” Lecavalier said. “But you get over it.

“(Marleau) and I are in different situations. I was 19, 20 years old and when a guy like Dave Andreychuk came in at 39, it was pretty understandable why they gave the ‘C’ to him.

“Maybe it was a tough situation for (Marleau) when it happened, but he’s talking back with his play. He’s a great leader and whether he has an ‘A’, a ‘C’, or nothing at all on his sweater, he’s leading the way for them right now.”

Marleau admits losing the ‘C’ wasn’t the ideal capper for an ’08-09 season that began with such promise. But he wasn’t about to let the decision haunt him.

“Obviously it was an honor to be a captain,” said Marleau, who handed the ‘C’ to Rob Blake. “But if you look at the guys wearing our letters, they’re well-deserved.

“But one thing you do realize is that when things change within our team, you’re still going to be the same person and you’re going to lead the same way, whether or not you have a letter. I’ve had a lot of conversations with (Sharks coach) Todd (McLellan) and with Doug, and they still expect the same things out of me, even though I’m not wearing a letter.”

Marleau’s excellent efforts this season are being buttressed by an even more dangerous Sharks team.

“You can tell this is a team that’s different from last year’s,” Marleau said. “Our penalty kill is a lot better already than it was.

“I think the team was looking for a little bit of change and hopefully the changes we’ve made are the changes we needed to win.”

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