Marleau thanks Maple Leafs organization, fans following trade

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Toronto Maple Leafs centre Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates his goal with teammate Mitch Marner. (Frank Gunn/CP)

Shortly after being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, Patrick Marleau took to social media to thank the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and their fans.

The veteran forward posted the following message through his wife Christina’s Twitter account:

After thanking Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Leafs fans and the community, Marleau singled-out former teammates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in his thank you note for “welcoming us into the Leafs family, and then becoming a part of ours.”

Marner quickly showed his appreciation for Marleau’s kind gesture, quote-tweeting his mentor’s thank you note and adding an accompanying heart emoji:

Matthews posted a tribute to Marleau on Instagram:

Marleau, 39, was traded to the Hurricanes along with a conditional first-round pick and seventh-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round pick.

Since joining the Maple Leafs ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, Marleau amassed 43 goals and 41 assists in 164 regular-season games, as well as four goals and three assists in 14 playoff contests.

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