Marc-Andre Fleury visits PPG Paints Arena tonight for the last time as an active NHL player. He'll be back to get his No. 29 retired.
The word that most accurately describes Fleury is "best."
Best goaltender in Penguins history.
Best teammate anyone has ever had.
Best person I've worked with.
Fleury uplifts every room he's in, and everybody he's around.
He made a spectacular NHL debut at Mellon Arena in 2003, making 46 stops vs. Los Angeles including a penalty shot. (Fleury got to Pittsburgh before Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin did. Fleury was the cornerstone.)
He made the save that won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
He had major impact on winning the Cup in 2017.
562 career wins, second-most all-time.
Led Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, their expansion season.
Won the Vezina Trophy as best goaltender in 2021.
Nailed-on Hall-of-Famer.
His agility and athleticism are nearly unique to his position.
But more than all that, I'll remember the person.
The smile.
The practical jokes.
The non-stop good humor.
He was never down, even when he could have been. Like when he got benched in the '17 playoffs.
Fleury is the epitome of what sports are supposed to be.
Fleury played for four NHL teams.
But he's a Penguin.
You had better believe that. Marc-Andre Fleury is a Penguin.