After twenty-one years of being a professional hockey player, Marc-André Fleury signed a one-day contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, finally returning to the team that drafted him. After thirteen seasons with the Penguins, Fleury was selected by the Las Vegas Knights in the 2017 NHL expansion draft, sending him bouncing around the NHL for his last couple seasons. During his time in Pittsburgh, Fleury earned both the admiration of the city and his nickname “Flower.” At his last game in Pittsburgh, playing with the Wild, he was honored with a flower statue of his number and a custom painting. After the game, he became emotional during the interview, saying it was “hard to believe […] that it’s the last time.” But that night would not be Fleury’s last game with the Penguins.
In early September, Fleury signed a contract with the Penguins: a one-day professional tryout contract. On September 26, he would again take the ice as a Penguin, if only for practice and part of the preseason game. The practice was open to the public, and over eight-hundred people filled the FedEx Rink bleachers to say goodbye. The practice watchers came from all stages of Fleury’s career, Minnesota fans, Team Canada fans, and Penguins fans all sitting next to each other.
Before his practice, Fleury caught up with former Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang over breakfast. While the Penguins core is getting older, these three (alongside Evgeni Malkin) led the team to three Stanley Cups across the late 2000s and 2010s. Famous for his pranks and good nature, Fleury said that what he enjoyed most about the practice was getting to be around the guys again.
Even though he enjoyed his return to Pittsburgh, Fleury says he isn’t retiring with any specific team. His preseason game appearance with the Penguins isn’t enough, he says. He still has respect for the Minnesota Wild, where he played his last full game. More than his last full season, Fleury hit many milestones with the Wild, reaching one thousand games played and earning his spot as the second-winningest goalie in NHL history. Still, his wife, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, and all Pittsburgh fans all saw this contract as a homecoming. In retirement, Fleury will hopefully make it to the Hall of Fame, and the Penguins will retire his jersey. For now, however, he’s happy to settle down with his wife and kids in Minnesota; his words at practice were “But at the same time, I’m older, slower, more hurt, a little more sore, and not as flexible, as fast, maybe. Yeah, I think it’s time.”