Marleau, at 39, setting example for Maple Leafs' young players

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. --Auston Matthews was 33 days old when Patrick Marleau scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 19, 1997.

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More than two decades later, Matthews can only shake his head when reminded of that. Saturday, after all, was Marleau's 39th birthday. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been in the NHL almost as long as Matthews has been on the planet. After 1,575 career NHL games, logic dictates that a player starts slowing down.
Except Marleau isn't.
"That's unbelievable. It's crazy, isn't it?" Matthews said after the Maple Leafs completed Day 2 of their training camp at Gale Centre. "He's 39 today and he can still fly.
"We give it to him [about his age] all the time. It's kind of crazy to think about. He was playing his first year in the league and myself and Mitch [Marner] were just a couple of months old. It's a testament to him and how he's treated his body. He stayed in shape. Helps he can skate like the wind because that's today's game. He's able to do that at his age. It's impressive."

Equally impressive is Marleau doesn't seem to sweat, even after all these years. While many of his teammates can be seen slumped over after an exhausting drill, beads of perspiration pouring down their foreheads, Marleau appears rested and ready for more.
"It's like he's not even breathing out there," Matthews said. "Nothing seems to faze him."
Matthews is learning that firsthand these days after coach Mike Babcock started training camp by moving Marleau onto his line. The third member, William Nylander, is a restricted free agent without a contract so wing Tyler Ennis has been playing with them.
Off the ice, Marleau has taken a number of younger players like Matthews, who turns 21 Monday, and Marner, 21, under his wing.

Marleau's wife Christina tweeted a photo of Patrick and sons Landon (11), Brody (9), Jagger (6) and Caleb (3) sitting with Marner and Matthews at the Marleau's Toronto-area home a week before Christmas. "Patrick and his boys after dinner, before the epic mini stick battle," she wrote.
Seems the old guy still has it, on and off the ice.
"I guess I'm pretty cool to be around," Marleau said before breaking into laughter.
"I'm drawn to the youth and enthusiasm they bring. I think they want to be around someone who's had success.
"The [birthday] number keeps going up but [I] still feel good. My skating allows me to keep up, which is a big deal. I still work on it. I enjoy doing it, so that's probably why it's stuck with me. I've always been a little good at it, so that helps."

Marleau spent the first 19 NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks before signing a three-year, $18.75 million contract with Toronto on July 2, 2017. He was the Sharks' career leader in games (1,493), goals (508) and points (1,082) at the time.
He showed no signs of slowing down in Toronto, scoring 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games last season. He credits part of his success to his ritual of shedding off his equipment during the second intermission of games and stepping into a tub filled with ice for a five-minute refresher.
"That's probably the most exotic [in-game workout] I've ever seen," forward Nazem Kadri said. "I've seen guys totally undress and maybe ride the bike or something to keep their legs loose. But Patty said he's been doing that for seven or eight years now so I'm not one to stand in the way of that.
"Hey, whatever works."
For Marleau, it continues to work. Even at age 39.
Perhaps Christina put it best in a tweet Saturday that was accompanied by a photo of the entire family.
"Happy Birthday to my baby (babies?) daddy, and my favorite human ever! Thank you for putting up with all of us, we think we'll keep you."
Just like the Maple Leafs will.