It’s been a special and emotional week for legendary goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Although nothing is confirmed yet, he’ll likely retire after the 2024-25 season, so when the Minnesota Wild played the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, it was probably the last time Fleury took the ice as an active player in front of his former home fans.
Fleury spent the first 13 seasons of his incredible career in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups and being a cornerstone of one of the most successful dynasties in modern NHL history.
He got the start for just the third time this season against the Penguins and was named first star after stopping 26 of the 29 shots he faced, leading the Wild to a 5-3 victory. After the game, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang stayed on the ice to congratulate him as Fleury took a lap to wave to all the fans in attendance.
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It was a great gesture of appreciation for a beloved former teammate. But it didn’t stop there.
In a video posted by the Pittsburgh Penguins on social media, Fleury is joined by Letang, Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin for a chat long after the game had ended.
Fleury’s family is there with him, and the Penguins even invite him to take a special souvenir as a memory of PPG Paints Arena.
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Fleury is handed a pair of scissors and offered the chance to cut the net from one of the goals to take home, and he, of course, accepts. With the help of his kids and amid laughter and jokes with his former teammates, Fleury cuts down the net and brings it with him.
It was a heartwarming ending to a very special night, and it was emotional seeing Fleury reminisce with Crosby, Letang, and Malkin about old memories.
