While the Los Angeles Kings are among the three teams that San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau has reportedly indicated his willingness to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a trade to, from the sounds of another recent report, that's not just unlikely, it's darn near unpossible.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the man who originally reported the Marleau trade conversations "bubbling under the surface" at One Shark Way, indicated on Wednesday that there's almost zero chance of Marleau ending up a King, putting it in no uncertain terms.
"There's a better chance of me being Miss America than San Jose trading Marleau to the Kings."
Well, that about settles that.
As for the other two teams considered to be possible landing spots for the 36-year-old, 19-year NHL veteran, it sounds like the Anaheim Ducks may have the best shot of the three.
Per Friedman - and an earlier report from TSN's Bob McKenzie - it's believed that the Sharks and New York Rangers have had a discussion involving Marleau. Unfortunately, it sounds like new Rangers GM Jeff Gorton, looking ahead at an immediate future wherein Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider and JT Miller all need new contracts, has seemingly shied away from acquiring Marleau.
That leaves the Ducks and GM Bob Murray. As Friedman notes, Murray and Sharks GM Doug Wilson played together and remain friends. Would that be enough to facilitate a trade of this size? Marleau's advancing age and his $6.7 million salary for the next two seasons make it unlikely, but not im - or un - possible.
And as has been pointed out by both Friedman and McKenzie, the possibility very much remains that the Sharks simply decide not to trade their longtime franchise cornerstone.
Yes, they'd like to transition to the next era of hockey in San Jose, but a trade simply for a trade's sake, especially if it weakens the immediate season's prospects, is generally ill-advised.
