from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

With the Sharks four wins from a Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, it’s amazing to think that Marleau could have missed out. The NHL’s active leader in games played without appearing in the Stanley Cup final could have been elsewhere.

The precise details remain murky, but Marleau has never run from reports last November that he may have had an interest in parting ways with the franchise.

It wasn’t exactly a trade request, per se, but Marleau reportedly let it be known to Sharks management that he was open to the idea of starting anew outside of the Bay Area.

“Yeah, I mean, it’d be hard to imagine not being here,” Marleau said Sunday at media day to kick off the Stanley Cup final. “I’m extremely happy to be here, obviously.”

The Sharks might not have made it to the Stanley Cup final without Marleau. The 36-year-old Aneroid, Sask., native chipped in 25 goals and 48 points in the regular season, but it was his willingness to drop down to a third-line role for a stretch that turned the Sharks into a matchup nightmare for opponents.

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