Hockey world celebrates Patrick Marleau setting all-time games played record

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetApril 20, 2021 - 12:39am

Watch as Patrick Marleau sets the NHL record for games played with 1,768, beating Gordie Howe’s long-standing record, and commissioner Gary Bettman has a video message for him.

It was a night of celebration in Las Vegas as Patrick Marleau etched his name in history, passing Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s all-time games played leader.

Marleau was named in the starting lineup to make the record official as the puck dropped on his 1,768th NHL game. It was a day 23 years in the making after the 41-year-old was selected second overall by the San Jose Sharks back in 1997.

For the first time in over 59 years, the @NHL has a new all-time leader in games played!

Patrick Marleau is skating in the 1,768th game of his NHL career, passing Gordie Howe for the most in League history. #HistoryMarleaud #NHLStats: https://t.co/D1gQeWm1F3 pic.twitter.com/4X757RecJv

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 20, 2021

“To be merely mentioned in the same sentence as Gordie Howe is an achievement most hockey players can only dream about. To break one of his records is historic.” – A message from @NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to Patrick Marleau pic.twitter.com/lUnQsex6UY

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 20, 2021

Throughout his career, Marleau has met many people both on and off the ice and many of them took the time to congratulate the veteran for achieving the rare milestone.

For love of the game pic.twitter.com/joB2u5zTl3

— Christina Marleau (@c_marleau) April 20, 2021

Lots of great things come from Saskatchewan: Pilsner, bunny hugs, sunsets…and hockey players like Howe and Marleau!

Really proud of you Patrick. Incredible achievement! https://t.co/5I81quB48s

— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) April 20, 2021

Congratulations on a historic night Patty! pic.twitter.com/wwt8XIfI0x

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 20, 2021

I was there for Patty’s first game & now I’m witnessing history. An amazing accomplishment. Congratulations bud. @NHL @SanJoseSharks

— Owen Nolan (@OwenNolan11) April 20, 2021

Congrats from around The Bay! #BayAreaUnite pic.twitter.com/kfoajUuyrO

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2021

1,768 games. 23 seasons. One amazing career.

Players from around the league marvel at the incredible achievement by the @NHL’s new All-Time Games Played leader, Patrick Marleau. pic.twitter.com/g5wVMd03Yo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 19, 2021

Write it in the record books:
Most games played in the NHL

Congratulations Patrick Marleau! pic.twitter.com/VFuhUHdpvX

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 20, 2021

The kind of longevity and consistency Patrick Marleau has shown throughout his career is tough to comprehend. He was the NHL's youngest player when he played his first game and is today its third-oldest as he skates in No. 1,768 — more than anyone in history.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 20, 2021

Congrats Patrick!

It's gonna take us a LONG time to catch up to you https://t.co/812r4dAaGf

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 20, 2021

There’s another in San Jose.

Congrats to Patrick Marleau on becoming NHL's all-time leader in games played!#HistoryMarleaud | @SanJoseSharks pic.twitter.com/XLYkD3Ua4U

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) April 20, 2021

GP FOR PATTY.
Patrick Marleau now sits atop the NHL’s All-Time Games Played list, passing “Mr. Hockey”. @SanJoseSharks | #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/06VH22npuJ

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) April 20, 2021

From the Western Hockey League to the NHL record book as the all-time games played leader – here's to you, Mr. Marleau.

Congratulations on an incredible career thus far. Wishing you nothing but the best in all that's still to come.#WHLAlumni pic.twitter.com/qNmEWYUJ5C

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2021

An amazing tribute to the NHL's new all-time games played leader Patrick Marleau here at T-Mobile. Well done, NHL. Patrick waving to his family in the building…where's the tissues

— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) April 20, 2021

With tonight’s game, Patrick Marleau has officially surpassed Gordie Howe on the @NHL’s all-time games played list.

Congrats on an incredible milestone, Patty! #HistoryMarleaud pic.twitter.com/yJpXwTaCjq

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 20, 2021

Mind blowing stat>> Patrick Marleau of #SJSharks has appeared in at least one game with 37% of every #NHL player who has ever played in the 104 year history of the league (3009 of 8100)
Source @SharksStats pic.twitter.com/TkSU0jiOPN

— Jonathan Becher (@jbecher) April 17, 2021

The Golden Knights as a franchise will have played as many games as Marleau has in the 2038-39 season https://t.co/RMeA5lEDqn

— Justin Emerson (@J15Emerson) April 20, 2021

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