The Sharks Foundation “Sharks Player of the Year” award is given to the player contributing most to the success of the Sharks in the 2009-10 regular season. The award will be presented prior to tonight’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes at HP Pavilion at San Jose."He's done exactly what everyone wanted him to, from day one right on through," Defenseman Rob Blake said. "Marleau's been playing at an elite level these past few years so to a lot of the guys in this lockerroom it's not a surprise."Entering play tonight, Marleau sits second on the team and 12th among all NHL scorers with 82 points (43 goals, 39 assists), a career high, along with a plus-21 rating (T-19th NHL). His 43 goals (fourth overall in the NHL) are also a career-high and the third-most goals scored in a single-season in Sharks franchise history. He is also tied for tenth in the NHL in game-winning goals (6), tied-for-second in short-handed goals (4) and tied-for-fifth in short-handed points (four).This season, Marleau appeared in his 900th NHL game (Dec. 1 vs. Ottawa), scored his 300th (and 301st) NHL goals (Dec. 26 vs. Anaheim) and won a Gold Medal as a member of Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.He tied his career-high with a nine-game point streak (6 goals, 10 assists) from Oct. 17-Nov. 4 and posted his third career hat trick on Nov. 27 at Edmonton.The Sharks Foundation is dedicated to meeting the educational, social and cultural needs of our community, with a focus on health, education and character development for Santa Clara County Youth. It offers unique resources and financial support to those organizations that enhance the lives of local youth.2008-09 Patrick Marleau 2007-08Evgeni Nabokov2006-07 Joe Thornton 2005-06 Joe Thornton 2003-04 Patrick Marleau 2002-03Teemu Selanne2001-02Mike Ricci2000-01Evgeni Nabokov1999-00Owen Nolan1998-99Steve Shields and Mike Vernon1997-98Mike Vernon1996-97Jeff Friesen1995-96Jamie Baker1994-95Ulf Dahlen1993-94Arturs Irbe1992-93Kelly Kisio1991-92Jeff Hackett