The video conference call between Patrick Marleau, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews on Monday naturally opened with some chirps.
"Your beard is coming in thick," Marner said to Marleau.
"Are you going to put some Just for Men in it?" Matthews asked.
"I'm probably going to have to at some point," Marleau said.
The rest of the call remained just as light-hearted.
The host called the call a "family reunion," referring to their close relationship as teammates from Marleau's time playing in Toronto.
"When I made the decision to go to Toronto I was watching these guys on video," Marleau said. "Once I got to training camp they just seemed like really good guys. I just took a liking to them. The first road trip I just barged into their room and said 'Let's do something, or hang out.' It just evolved from there."
While Marleau was speaking, his third oldest of his four sons, Jagger, wandered down the stairs in a Sharks shirt and joined Marleau for the call. Marleau's oldest son Landon later joined as well, and sons Brody and Caleb made brief appearances throughout the chat.
Marner and Matthews would spend time with Marleau's family in Toronto, and visited him in San Jose when the Maple Leafs were in town earlier this season:
Patrick and his boys after dinner, before the epic mini stick battle. Ha ha for helping with our elf on a shelf @Marner93 @AM34 pic.twitter.com/SYA7n9tw8w
— Christina Marleau (@c_marleau) December 19, 2017
Family reunion! The boys all are getting so big. Missing Caleb, who was sound asleep. pic.twitter.com/yWc7WpanX1
— Christina Marleau (@c_marleau) March 2, 2020
"You see the two guys behind Patty right now," Marner said of Marleau's sons. "I think those two guys had a big influence to get us over there. They wanted to play some mini-sticks, have some fun with it. The first time we went over there, I don't think we brought shorts or anything. Every other time we went after we bought an extra pair of clothes, shorts and t-shirts. We knew we were going to get all sweaty. We played mini-sticks for hours."
"The Apple Watches were broken," Matthews added with a laugh. "It was always a good time."
The host then led the three in a game, where he would ask either a trivia question or something about the players' personalities. The players would write their answers down (Marleau used a whiteboard, Marner used paper, Matthews wrote on the backs of paper plates) and reveal their answers at the same time.
Here's some of the highlights.
Host: Auston took a unique route to the NHL. Rather than playing Canadian junior or U.S. college hockey in his draft-eligible season, he went overseas. Where did he play in 2015-16, and what was the name of the team.
Marner: Zurich Lions, Swiss.
Matthews: Zurich Lions.
Marleau: Zurich Lions.
Marleau looked like he didn't know the last answer, but his son Landon whispered it in his ear.
Host: What is Mitch's favorite ice cream flavor?
After several questions, Marleau's wife Christina joined in and started asking the questions.
Christina: Which one of you is most likely to binge watch "Love is Blind"?
Marner: Matthews.
Matthews: Matthews.
Marleau: Matthews.
Christina: Which one of you is most likely to fall asleep on the couch?
Marner: Matthews/Marner.
Matthews: Marner.
Marleau: Matthews.
Christina: Which one of you is most likely to just live on pizza?
Marner: Marner.
Matthews: Marner.
Marleau: Marner.
After a few questions, Christina left, saying, "We're missing a few kids, I have to go find them."
The host asked Marleau's sons if they had any questions.
Jagger: Which one takes the most penalties in mini hockey?
Marner: Matthews or Landon.
Matthews: Landon or Brody.
Marleau: Matthews.
"It depends who slashes first," Marner said. "There's always a retaliation penalty."
Landon: Who (celebrates) the hardest in mini hockey?
Marner: Matthews.
Matthews: Matthews/Landon.
Marleau: Matthews.
Matthews said he was running out of paper plates, so the host said they'd wrap up the game soon.
Landon: Who takes the longest to get ready?
Matthews: Who usually pays for dinner when we go out to eat?
Marner: Marleau.
Matthews: Marleau.
Marleau: The loser.
Dave has more on the conference call in his story, including Marleau talking about his time with the Penguins.
