Marc-Andre Fleury got one heck of a goodbye in Vegas on Sunday, even though he wasn’t between the pipes for the Wild.
The 39-year-old goalie, who’s likely hanging up his skates after this season, watched from the bench as his former team honored him during a first-period break. It’s been that kind of farewell tour for the future Hall of Famer.
Just months ago, Pittsburgh fans gave Fleury an emotional sendoff in what was probably his final game at PPG Paints Arena. He spent 13 unforgettable seasons with the Penguins, helping them lift three Stanley Cups.
But Vegas? That’s a different kind of special. Fleury wasn’t just the Golden Knights’ first franchise goalie – he became the face of hockey in the desert. He helped turn a brand-new expansion team into an instant contender, taking them all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in their miracle first season.
The “Flower,” as fans lovingly call him, has that rare gift of making everyone around him smile, whether he’s making impossible saves or joking around with teammates.
When you’ve got both Pittsburgh and Vegas – two totally different hockey markets – treating you like royalty on your way out, you know you’ve done something right.
