Thornton, Marleau kicking off Cup quest in city where NHL careers began

Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau will make their first appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in the city where it all began.

The veteran centers, who will try to help give their San Jose Sharks a Game 1 win over the Penguins on Monday, were selected first and second overall at the NHL Draft in Pittsburgh back in 1997.

"I think my brother sent me the picture of me and Patty together in Pittsburgh," Thornton said Friday, according to Jimmy Durkin of The Mercury News. "I've known Patty a long, long time. It started, it was the old building at the time, the Igloo. Not as much history as the new building but it'll be fun to go into Pittsburgh."

Thornton was selected first by the Boston Bruins, and traded to San Jose eight years later, while Marleau has been with the Sharks his entire career, despite rumblings in recent years the team was looking to deal him elsewhere.

Over the course of their careers, Thornton and Marleau have combined for 65 points in 66 regular-season games against the Penguins, with the former having more games played based on starting his career in the Eastern Conference.

The Civic Arena, where the 1997 draft was held, was replaced by the Consol Energy center at the beginning of the 2010-11 season.