The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed back an old friend to town Tuesday in Marc-Andre Fleury, who started in net at PPG Paints Arena for the visiting Minnesota Wild.
Fleury, 39, was the Penguins’ first-round (No. 1 overall) draft pick in 2003 and played with the club through 2016-17.
This past spring, he announced plans to retire after the 2024-25 season.
Arriving in Pittsburgh with the Penguins in a moribund state, Fleury helped usher in a major turnaround, becoming a franchise pillar alongside Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
During Tuesday night’s game, the Penguins honored Fleury, their all-time leader in wins (375) and starts (536), with a jumboscreen tribute video, allowing the PPG Paints Arena crowd to salute him.
Marc-Andre Fleury received a standing ovation following this video being played at tonight's game ???? pic.twitter.com/bYRPzuvbTz
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 29, 2024
Fleury, after waiving his no-trade and no-movement clauses with the Penguins, became the inaugural starting goalie for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, having being selected by them in that year’s expansion draft.
In Vegas’ inaugural NHL campaign, Fleury led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final, making his fifth individual appearance.
After playing with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021 and 2022, Fleury was traded to the Minnesota Wild, with whom he enters his fourth season.
Tuesday marked Fleury’s 1,028th game, which ranks fourth all-time in NHL history.
Fleury’s 562 career wins ranks second in NHL history, trailing only Martin Brodeur.
