Marc-Andre Fleury knew his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins was coming to an end, but that doesn’t make parting much easier.
It’s with mixed emotions that Fleury has moved on from the Penguins, agreeing to waive his no-movement clause to join the Vegas Golden Knights in last Wednesday’s NHL Expansion Draft.
The veteran goalie wrote a piece for the Players’ Tribune remembering the good times and thanking the fans for the 14 years he spent with the organization.
Fleury won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins. However, the last two were clinched with him on the bench and teammate Matt Murray in the crease.
“Saying that the last few weeks have been bittersweet would be an understatement,” said the 32-year-old netminder in the piece. “I wish I could have been in net for my last game as a Penguin. But we raised the Cup, again, and it made all the sacrifices worthy.”
Fleury strolled down memory lane in the piece, starting when he was drafted in 2003 – ironically in Nashville, where the Pens secured their latest title earlier this month.
His first training camp saw him face the legendary Mario Lemieux.
“I remember the first time I stopped Mario in practice,” Fleury said. “It was a simple warmup shot. But you better believe that I kept that puck — and still have it at home.”
His NHL career didn’t start off well. He initially forgot his stick when walking out of the dressing room for his first game.
“It was a pretty funny walk of shame past all my teammates to go grab my stick,” said Fleury, noting he allowed a goal on the first shot he faced, too.
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After losing in the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, the Penguins earned retribution by beating the Detroit Red Wings in a rematch a year later.
A diving Fleury save on Nicklas Lidstrom in the final seconds secured the win.
“I proudly sported a deep bruise on my ribs from that save for weeks following that game,” he said. “I’ll always remember my teammates jumping on the ice, racing toward me with the biggest smiles. The feeling of winning the Stanley Cup that night is indescribable.”
Fleury’s piece closed with him praising the fans for their support and how much the city has meant to him, his wife and his daughters.
He went on to single out a few longtime teammates from Pascal Dupuis to Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin to Chris Kunitz – and, of course, Sidney Crosby.
Except now that they’re opponents, Fleury’s message to his former captain wasn’t entirely good natured.
“Thanks, Sid, for all the years,” he said. “We spent a lot of time together, always sat next to each other on the plane, behind one another on the bus, plus all the dinners before every game on the road. Thanks for helping me get through tough times and for being a good friend. It’s tough to say goodbye. I know we were both trying to avoid it. You’re the best.
“Next time we face each other, make sure you keep your head up. The poke check will be coming, like that one time in Rimouski.”
