Sharks Ink Marleau, Thorton to Contract Extensions
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Len Redkoles/ NHLI via Getty Images(SAN JOSE, Calif.) — The San Jose Sharks announced Friday that they’ve signed veteran forwards Patrick Marleau and Joe Thorton to three-year contract extensions.
Both Marleau and Thorton were expected to become unrestricted free agents July 1.
“Patrick and Joe continue to perform at an elite level in the National Hockey League and, most importantly, they make the other players around them better,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “They both made it very clear that they wanted to stay in San Jose and we were able to agree on contracts that fit with our team building philosophy.”
According to ESPN and media reports, Marleau gets an average salary of $6.66 million while Thornton will make $6.75 million per year. Thorton is the team’s captain.
The 34-year-old Marleau has 21 goals and 47 points in 51 games this season. He has amassed 425 goals and 908 points in 1,216 games since being drafted by the Sharks with the second overall pick in the 1997 NHL draft.
Thorton, 34, leads the NHL with 47 assists this season. His extension includes a full no-movement clause. In 1,176 career games Thorton has 337 goals, 834 assists and 1,171 points.
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