Sharks not moving Marleau to Canadiens

Pat Hickey of The Montreal Gazette reports that the San Jose Sharks have on intentions of trading forward Patrick Marleau to the Montreal Canadiens, or any other team for that matter.

Internet rumors have been hinting all summer long that the Sharks were discussing a trade for Marleau with the Canadiens, among other teams.

But when Hickey asked Canadiens GM Bob Gainey about the rumors suggesting he was trying to acquire Marleau, he just smiled and brushed off the suggestion.

“Yeah, the other day I had to call up (Sharks general manager) Doug Wilson and ask him: ‘Are you going to trade that Marleau kid to me or what?’”

Translation: the Internet rumors were false.

Instead of trading assets to bring in veteran players, it’s believed that Gainey will build the Canadiens “through the draft and the development system.” So no Marleau in Montreal. Rather, it’s expected players such as Maxim Lapierre, Guillaume Latendresse, Andrei Kostitsyn and perhaps even Carey Price will get the chance to suit up for the Canadiens and play important roles this season.

As for Marleau, Hickey believes that he will remain with the Sharks, “where he is one of the cornerstones of a successful franchise.”