Photos: Patrick Marleau becomes league leader in all-time games played

Patrick Marleau played his 1,768th career NHL regular season game on Monday night, passing Gordie Howe for No. 1 on the league’s all-time games played list.

With tonight’s game, Marleau will have played in 1,596 games over 21 seasons with the Sharks, the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 1997. Marleau also played 164 games from 2017 to 2019 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and eight regular season games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020.

“It’s super special to have that respect, to have guys say such kind words,” said Marleau, whose first NHL game was Oct. 1, 1997. “You go into battle with these guys, day in and day out, you play against them.

“They know the grind, they know what it takes to play in this league, and for them to show the respect and have all these kind words, it’s very humbling.”

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The three newest Sharks are L-R: Andrei Zyuzin, Patrick Marleau and Marco Sturm after a Thursday afternoon practice session at the San Jose Arena on October 1, 1998. (Eugene Louie/file photo)  Sharks Patrick Marleau takes the ice before the game at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Saturday, February 3, 2007. The San Jose Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2. (Jim Gensheimer/Mercury News)  Sharks team captain Patrick Marleau at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Sunday, September 25, 2005. Marleau wears #12 for the Sharks. (Jim Gensheimer/San Jose Mercury News)  SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 5: San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) heads onto the ice for pre-game warmups before their game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau (12) takes a shot on goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period for game four of the Western Conference finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, May 23, 2010. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)  The Sharks Patrick Marleau, right, scores a goal on New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur during the first period of their game on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Staff)  San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau (12) is honored for his 1,000 game by family and teammates before their game against the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Tuesday, February 1, 2011. (Nhat V. Meyer/ Mercury News)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) loses his footing after a missed scoring opportunity against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot (33) late in the third period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 24, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  Sharks Patrick Marleau (12) fights against Vancouver Canucks Kevin Bieksa (3) in the second period in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. on Wednesday, May 18, 2011. (Josie Lepe/San Jose Mercury News)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) scores the game-winning goal in the overtime period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates his 2-1 goal against the Detroit Redwings in the third period for game five of the Western Conference Semi-finals for the Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Sharks won 2-1. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)  Sharks’ Patrick Marleau awaits introduction before the game at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Friday, October 15, 2010. The San Jose Sharks played the Carolina Thrashers. (Jim Gensheimer/Mercury News)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) controls the puck against Anaheim Ducks’ Ben Lovejoy (6) in the first period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, March 20, 2014. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) scores a goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, May 5, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates his game winning goal with San Jose Sharks’ Joe Pavelski (8) against the Phoenix Coyotes in the third period at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Staff)  San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau, No. 12, center, and Kyle McLaren, No. 4, head out to the ice before their game against the Detroit Red Wings in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinal in San Jose, Calif. on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) can’t get a shot off against Dallas Stars’ goaltender Kari Lehtonen (32) and Dallas Stars’ Alex Goligoski (33) in the third period at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates his goal with San Jose Sharks’ Logan Couture (39) against the Los Angeles Kings in the third period for Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Sunday, April 20, 2014. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)  SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 12: San Jose Sharks’ Patrick Marleau (12) participates in warm ups before their game against the Anaheim Ducks at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Monday, April 12, 2021. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)