Per NHL.com:
So much for Patrick Marleau testing the free-agent waters.
The longest-tenured member of the San Jose Sharks is staying put, as the highly-talented forward agreed to a new four-year contract with the club on Thursday. Marleau led the Sharks with 44 goals in 2009-10 as San Jose finished atop the Western Conference with 113 points.
Joe Pavelski, who represented Team USA at the Olympic Games before leading San Jose with 9 goals and 17 points in 15 playoff games, also agreed to a four-year deal. Pavelski, 25, would have been a restricted free agent on July 1. He had 25 goals and 26 assists in 67 regular-season games.
Marleau also competed at the Olympics and helped Team Canada win a gold medal. A 12-year-pro (all with the Sharks), Marleau leads the franchise in games played (953), goals (320), assists (373), points (693), power-play goals (97), game-winning goals (57) and shots (2,194). He had 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 14 playoff games for the Sharks, who were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals.
Marleau, 30, would have become an unrestricted free agent next Thursday.
“We are very pleased that Patty and Joe have committed to this organization now and in the future,” Sharks GM Doug Wilson said. “They expressed a strong belief in the direction this franchise is heading, but also understand the challenges to keeping a talented group like ours together.
“Both players had a tremendous regular season, excelled on the ice for their respective countries at the Winter Olympics and elevated their game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have solidified their place in the game along the League’s top forwards and we are excited as an organization to have Joe and Patty back in San Jose to build on what we accomplished last season.”
