Patrick Marleau hit a major longevity milestone and etched his name among a quartet of legends in the process.
The San Jose Sharks forward suited up for the 1,700th regular-season contest of his career Saturday against the Dallas Stars, becoming the fifth player in NHL history and the youngest ever to accomplish the feat.
Here's a look at the handful of players who've appeared in that many games, and how old they each were when they reached the mark, according to the NHL:
| Player | Age at Time of MIlestone |
|---|---|
| Marleau | 40 years and 118 days |
| Ron Francis | 40 years and 328 days |
| Mark Messier | 42 years and 309 days |
| Jaromir Jagr | 45 years and 32 days |
| Gordie Howe | 51 years and 223 days |
Here's where Marleau stands on the league's all-time games played list:
| Player | GP |
|---|---|
| Howe | 1767 |
| Messier | 1756 |
| Jagr | 1733 |
| Francis | 1731 |
| Marleau | 1700 |
| Mark Recchi | 1652 |
In addition to his longevity, Marleau also has an impressive ironman streak going.
The veteran hasn't missed a regular-season contest while under contract since April 9, 2009, a run of 831 straight games. That's the sixth-longest streak ever and the second-longest among active players behind Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (841).
The Sharks re-signed Marleau on Oct. 9, four games into their 2019-20 campaign. He reunited with San Jose - with whom he spent the first 19 seasons of his career - after two years with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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