Mark Madden: No one deserved such an exemplary sendoff more than Marc-Andre Fleury

Marc-Andre Fleury’s curtain call Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena was hokey, carny and rooted in a money grab via selling out an exhibition game at inflated prices.

But it was incredibly memorable and worthwhile. Tear-jerking, heart-warming, the whole schmear. Absolutely flawless. I loved it.

That says something about the evening’s execution, which was exemplary.

But it says more about the night’s honoree.

That event only works with Fleury. Don’t try it again. (But I’m sure the Penguins will.)

Fleury is that genuine. That beloved. Perhaps more so than any Penguin besides Mario Lemieux. Not one thing about Fleury is calculating.

Fleury ran the gamut in Pittsburgh: Engaging teenager, Stanley Cup champ, epic Game 7 save, playoff scapegoat, beloved underdog, two more Stanley Cups, lamentable departure, series of warmly applauded returns, Saturday’s Fleury-mania.

He was the same person throughout everything. Constant smile. Best teammate ever. Nobody ever said a bad word about Fleury.

Except maybe after he pranked them. But getting pranked by Fleury is an honor. He’s a master of the genre.

Fleury deserved everything he got Saturday. His family even more so. The reflected love was blinding.

He played the third period. That kept people in the stands for the game’s entirety, allowed the electricity to build and gave Fleury a shot at his long-pursued empty-net goal one last time. (Which he didn’t get.)

Fleury allowed no goals on eight shots as the Penguins played what will probably be their best defensive period of the season. He then lost a tacked-on shootout, which should have been scrapped given the third period’s perfect nature and was ironic considering Fleury’s brilliance at shootouts.

The crowd roared like it was a playoff game: not just for Fleury’s saves but even when he fielded dump-ins. (Fleury never was the best stickhandler. When Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins gifted the Penguins’ Ville Koivunen an easy goal via a disastrous turnover, it almost seemed a tribute to Fleury.)

The chants were constant and not limited to Fleury’s name: “One more year!” was popular. There was a brief exhortation for a “goalie fight!” that thankfully wasn’t heeded.

Fleury won’t be playing “one more year.” It’s likely that, come January or so, teams in need of a goaltender come calling. But here’s betting Fleury says no and stays retired.

Fleury’s personality shouldn’t mask his brilliance in goal: Second all-time in wins with 575. Got an expansion team to a Stanley Cup Final. Vezina Trophy (best goalie) winner in 2020-21. Perhaps his position’s best athlete ever. Three-time Stanley Cup champ.

His career accomplished all it needed to.

No swan song could top Saturday’s.

In a situation like this, it’s often said the protagonist came as a boy and left as a man.

With Fleury, that seems cliched and dramatic. It’s also not true.

Fleury came to Pittsburgh as a kid and left as a kid.

He matured in all the important ways: an excellent professional, husband, father, etc.

But nobody ever had more fun than Fleury.

Nobody ever lit up a dressing room like Fleury.

Locker-room chemistry is usually overrated. But when Fleury left in the 2018 expansion draft, the Penguins’ aura dipped noticeably.

Fleury was 18 and didn’t speak English very well when he first appeared on my radio program. He memorably swore, then punctuated that with another curse word in regret.

Fleury is 40 now. He was on my show last Wednesday.

His English is much better. We’re both much older. My, how time flies.

It always does when you’re having fun.

When Marc-Andre Fleury was around, that was guaranteed.

Fleury will be back.

To have his No. 29 retired.

When he makes the Hockey Hall of Fame.

For Stanley Cup anniversaries.

He’d be a natural for Lemieux’s fantasy camp.

How many times do I have to say goodbye to the same person?