Pittsburgh Penguins Winger Patrick Marleau Video Chat & Reunion

Patrick Marleau had plenty of help on Monday. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) work stoppage, the NHL has ventured into uncharted territory by hosting video chats with a player or players. Some are informative and newsworthy, such as the initial chat with players including Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who made small headlines when he admitted he would like to resume hockey with playoffs only.

Monday afternoon, the NHL hosted another such video chat. This time Toronto Maple Leafs stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were joined by Marleau, the new Pittsburgh Penguins winger, who was a teammate and influential leader of the Toronto boys for a couple of seasons. As Marleau participated in the chat, his helpers gathered.

Salary cap restrictions forced Toronto to buyout Marleau, who then resigned with his longtime team, the San Jose Sharks this season. The Penguins negotiated with San Jose for Marleau for most of the morning on NHL trade deadline day. Pittsburgh Hockey Now finally broke the story just before noon.

Marleau to Pens.

3rd round pick.

“You can tweet it”

— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) February 24, 2020

While much of the call was a happy reunion of the obviously close teammates and questions centered on their relationship, Marleau also had a few unexpected visitors drop by during the call.

And the crew grew

And kept growing

NHL PR hosts played the Newlywed game with the players (for those of you not old enough, it was a goofy game show in the 1970s and ’80s, in which couples had to guess personal answers about their new spouse), but let the Marleau family ask some of the questions.

The questions must not have been very tough because they answered nearly every question correctly, including Marner’s favorite ice cream (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough), and which of player took more penalties when playing mini-hockey. For the record, Marleau’s sons were the most flagrant abusers of the rules, according to Marner and Matthews.

Before the call began, Matthews could be heard chirping the 40-year-old Marleau, “Your beard is coming in thick. Are you going to put some Just for Men in it?”

PHN only spoke with Patrick Marleau a few times before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pause. It may not be visible on the video, but Marleau’s beard has little patches are gray. Of course, a writer battling grays (and deserting hairs), would notice such things.

As noted, this wasn’t the most newsworthy call we’ve every attended.

Marleau did commend the Penguins, “It’s great for me to get another shot at (the Stanley Cup). Everything has been great.”

Marleau is quarantining at his home in San Jose, which includes four sons.

“I’m at home in San Jose with all of my family,” the Penguins winger smiled. “I’m not going to lie, the homeschooling thing has been a little tough on me, but it’s been going good this week–they’ve been off.”

You may watch the entire call here.