Sharks to retire Marleau's #12 in February

The San Jose Sharks announced today that franchise icon Patrick Marleau will have his #12 retired and raised to the rafters of SAP Center on February 25, 2023.

"As a little boy skating on a frozen pond, my dream was to play in the NHL," said Marleau in a statement on the Sharks' official website. "Never could I have imagined the honor of my jersey hanging in the rafters above the very ice that I played so many of my NHL games on. I cannot begin to the describe the way I feel. I am truly grateful and thankful for this recognition, but also for being able to play in front of the great San Jose Sharks fans for so long. I'll miss doing so for the rest of my life. Thank you to the Sharks organization, my teammates throughout my career, and especially the fans for this honor of a lifetime. I can't wait to see you all on Feb. 25."

"It is only fitting that the first San Jose Sharks player to receive the ultimate franchise recognition of having his number retired is Mr. San Jose Shark himself, Patrick Marleau" said Sharks President Jonathan Becher. "Patty symbolizes the Sharks franchise as much as our famous jersey crest and the color teal. We look forward to celebrating his amazing NHL legacy with Patrick's family, friends and his legions of fans, many of whom were in the arena when Patrick first stepped on the ice in San Jose in 1997."