When word originally leaked from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that there was something "bubbling under the surface" where the San Jose Sharks and longtime forward Patrick Marleau was concerned, it was met mostly with derision - on Tuesday, only a day or so after Friedman's report emerged, another well-connected NHL insider suggested that such talk amounted to nothing more than "rumor-mongering."
But now, it seems the fire feeding the smoke billowing out of San Jose is actually very real and very much ready to devour everything in its path.
CSN Bay Area's Kevin Kurz reported later Tuesday that Marleau had actually already offered to waive his full no-trade clause in order to be sent by San Jose GM Doug Wilson to one of three teams - the New York Rangers, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings.
In a further stunning revelation, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that it's "more likely Marleau asked them to explore trade possibilities to select teams."
McKenzie expounded on that report on Wednesday.
Per McKenzie, Marleau appears to be "driving the bus" on trade talks. The 36-year-old Shark reportedly approached the team "as early as training camp" to express his desire to be dealt. McKenzie indicated that some NHL executives expressed surprise that the story had not actually come out sooner.
Unfortunately for Marleau, the picture McKenzie paints of the possibility of the former first-round pick landing in any of his three preferred destinations is a bleak one. The Kings, who McKenzie says "could have interest," would struggle fitting Marleau's $6.7 million cap hit for the next two seasons under their already tight cap.
The Ducks reportedly feel it would be a "difficult deal," and the Rangers have not shown "significant interest" in Marleau to this point.
Interestingly, McKenzie suggests that "unconfirmed talk" points to the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators as possible landing spots for the three-time NHL All-Star.
Marleau currently has four goals and nine points this season. He recently retained LA-based agent Pat Brisson, who helped facilitate Roberto Luongo's trade from the Vancouver Canucks to the Florida Panthers in 2014.
