Marc-Andre Fleury’s legendary NHL career came to an end Thursday night as his Minnesota Wild fell 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights. The hometown crowd knew what they were witnessing – the final moments of one of hockey’s most beloved players.
They gave him exactly the sendoff he deserved.
Fleury took one last emotional lap around the ice, raising his stick to salute the fans who’d been cheering him on these past few years. After 21 seasons, the man known as "Flower" was hanging up his skates for good.
The numbers tell an incredible story. Fleury sits second all-time in NHL wins, behind only Martin Brodeur. He lifted the Stanley Cup three times and made it to the finals with two other teams.
But numbers don’t capture what made him special.
He was the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ dynasty years, the heart of Vegas’s miraculous run as an expansion team, and brought his trademark smile and spectacular saves to Chicago and Minnesota in his final seasons.
Perhaps his most amazing achievement? Taking the Vegas Golden Knights – a brand new expansion team – all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in their very first season. Nobody saw that coming.
The Vezina Trophy winner (given to the NHL’s best goalie) did it all with a style and personality that made him impossible not to root for. His acrobatic saves and infectious laugh made him a favorite among fans across the league, even when he was beating their team.
Next stop: Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame. The only question is whether he’ll get in on the first ballot or have to wait a year or two. With his resume, he shouldn’t have to wait long.
He’s leaving the game as one of the most accomplished and universally respected players of his generation. Not a bad way to wrap up 21 years between the pipes.
