Two years after a break up that saw Patrick Marleau sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs after 19 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, reports are indicating if the 39-year-old is traded he would only want to return to the Bay Area.

The Leafs are looking to move Marleau and the remaining year on his three-year, $18.75 million contract he signed in 2017. But Marleau has a full no-movement clause and can veto any trade Toronto includes him in. Marleau has made it known that the only destination he would waive his no-movement clause is San Jose.

According to Nick Kypreos of SportsNet, a potential reunion won’t be as easy as that.

“So right now, my understanding is San Jose’s not sure yet,” Kypreos said. “Doug Wilson’s in a position to say, ‘Yeah, maybe I’m interested, but not certainly at the price of the last year of the contract.’ So, I would probably believe that a third team would need to get involved, a team that needs to get to the floor. The Leafs would have to entice that team to take his contract, and have to give up something. And then if [the third team] were to buy out Marleau, then San Jose could come in and sign him at a number that they’re satisfied with.”

Marleau is the longest-tenured Shark in franchise history with his 19 seasons in San Jose. In those 19 seasons, Marleau scored 508 goals in 1,493 career games. Last year with Toronto, he finished with 37 points, his lowest total since the lockout shortened 2012-13 season.

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