Marleau thanks Matthews, Marner, says goodbye to Toronto after trade
Forward used wife's Twitter account to send heartfelt message
by Pat Pickens @Pat_Pickens / NHL.com Staff Writer
Patrick Marleau doesn't use social media, but he still found a way to use Twitter to thank Toronto after he was traded Saturday.
Marleau posted a heartfelt message on his wife's social-media account thanking the Toronto Maple Leafs, forwards Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner and fans after he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Marleau signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 2, 2017, and his family developed a very close relationship with Marner and Matthews. They famously created a "family" Christmas card in 2017 and earned a nomination for Best Bromance in the 2019 NHL Fan Choice Awards. Marleau made certain to acknowledge the bond they formed.
"To Auston and Mitch, a special thank you for welcoming us into the [Maple] Leafs family and then becoming a part of ours," Marleau's message said. "You will always have a spot at our dinner table and extra sticks in our hockey room. … Never forget how good you guys are."
Marleau was traded with a conditional first-round pick and a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Current and former Toronto players also made sure to thank Marleau for his contribution to the organization.
