Saddest part of this is what kind treatment Patrick gets here from some "hockey-fans" during his late years of his career.
Sure, he has been in clear decline for few seasons now already, but that is set default to be expected for 40+ years old players, so it cannot be put as something against him particularly. But he seems to be also very level-headed guy, having no problems with anyone. It is easy to assume that at least part of his late roster-spot worthiness comes from his locker room presence, mentorship capabilities, and the model he set for younger guys.
I don't know how people can consider his career "unremarkable". We are talking 500G+, 1000Pts, hard working guy here anyway, with league top level longevity, persistency, and durability. Any of his incredible numbers could not be possible he being a total plug for his career prime, or without him being capable to keep himself fit nearly uninterruptedly. In Patrick's case I understand very very well why it haven't been big problem for him to find job regardless of him clearly being in his career twilight years.
I fail to see how his achievement is "unremarkable", if anything he is just the type of guy who you would expect to break the record if anyone does. If he does that, it very likely requires another Marleau-type player to break it again.
But, for someone it is horrible thing. They sob in their pillows, and cry how unfair and unremarkable it is that there must be a player with GP totals of Record-1GP before there can be a tie, and there must be Record GP-2GP player before there can be Record-1GP player...
Continue that and you get very long and very unlikely HFB post, that how ever would nicely visually demonstrate how extraordinary feat to get anywhere near the career GP-record actually is.