Photo: Teal Town USA

Leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Patrick Marleau from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a conditional third-round pick, which can become a second if the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, on Monday, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. Marleau can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Third-round pick to San Jose. The pick becomes a second-rounder if Pittsburgh wins the Cup. https://t.co/sL6L9r60yG

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 24, 2020

After getting the final season of a three-year contract that carries $6.25 million cap hit bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes last June, the 40-year-old signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Sharks in October. The Sharks were trying to make an effort to make up for some offense after they lost captain Joe Pavelski, forward Gustav Nyquist, and forward Joonas Donskoi in free agency last July. Marleau has recorded 10 goals, 20 points, and a -5 rating in 58 games this season.

In 1715 career NHL games with the Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs, Marleau has recorded 561 goals, 1186 points, and a -18 rating. He spent his first 20 NHL seasons with the Sharks before signing with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent in 2017.

With the addition of Marleau, the Penguins countered the Washington Capitals’ addition of forward Ilya Kovalchuk on Sunday in adding similarly a low-risk but potentially high-reward type acquisition to an offense that already ranks ninth in the NHL with an average of 3.25 goals-per-game. Marleau will likely slot in the Penguins’ third-line. They are currently two points behind the Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand.

The Penguins acquired forward Jason Zucker in a trade with the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Alex Galchenyuk, defenseman Cale Addison, and a conditional 2020 first-round pick on February 11 with forward Jake Guentzel (shoulder) out for the rest of the regular season.

In 191 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Marleau has recorded 72 goals, 127 points, and a -7 rating. He helped the Sharks reach the 2016 Stanley Cup Final where they fell to the Penguins in six games with five goals, 13 points, and a +4 rating in 24 games.

The Sharks, who are 14 points behind the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference after making the Western Conference Final last season, could also move center Joe Thornton, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, before the 3 PM ET deadline. He has spent the last 15 seasons in San Jose.

The Penguins currently have $2,713,803 remaining in cap space.

By Harrison Brown