The “Flower” has bloomed for the last time – after confirming his retirement at the beginning of the 2024-25 NHL season, Marc-André Fleury has officially played in his final NHL game at the age of 40, following Minnesota’s elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, ending a remarkable 21-season career spanning stops in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Chicago and the Twin Cities.

A standout with Cape Breton of the QMJHL, Fleury was just the third, and most recent, goaltender taken first overall in the NHL Draft, selected first by Pittsburgh in 2003. Debuting for the Penguins that season, Fleury would end up being the backbone of the Penguins dynasty that featured the likes of Sidney Crosby, Yevgeni Malkin and Kris Letang that would capture three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017) in Fleury’s tenure, which saw the Penguins make playoff runs in eleven of his thirteen seasons there, also earning All-Star honours twice. Following his 2017 Cup win, the Penguins controversially opened Fleury up to the 2017 Expansion Draft, which saw the newcomer Vegas Golden Knights snatch up Fleury to build their roster around.

Fleury’s four seasons in the desert saw him turn back the clock, notching another three All-Star Game nods, along with Vezina and Jennings Trophy honours in 2021, with his heroics taking the Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Fleury would controversially be moved by Vegas to Chicago in 2021, spending just one season with the lowly Blackhawks before being traded to Minnesota, where he would spend his final four seasons with the Wild. Fleury retires with a staggering .912 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average in 575 wins and 1,051 career games over 21 NHL seasons, along with another 92 wins and .911 save percentage in 170 playoff games, making the playoffs in all but four of his pro seasons. Fleury is just the third goaltender to reach 500 wins (after Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur), now ranking second all-time in wins, and is just the fourth to reach 1,000 games played (after Roy, Brodeur and Roberto Luongo).

A native of Sorel, Québec, Fleury made his junior national team debut at the 2003 World Juniors, falling to Russia in the Gold Medal Game in Halifax. Looking to redeem himself the following season, Fleury unfortunately became part of hockey error lore in the 2004 final, with a clearing attempt late in the game against the United States instead deflecting off of teammate Braydon Coburn and in, unexpectedly giving the Americans their first World Junior title, and his second straight Silver medal. Thanks to his immense playoff success, Fleury only was a member of the senior national team once, as the third goalie on Canada’s roster at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, where he did not compete in game play, but did still receive an Olympic Gold medal as part of Canada’s thrilling overtime victory over Team USA, surely giving Fleury a small sense of redemption for six years earlier.

UPDATE 05 May: After his final NHL game ended four days ago, Fleury today made the surprising announcement that he would be joining Canada’s national team at the 2025 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. This will mark the first World Championship for Fleury, and just his second senior tournament ever, giving him the unique opportunity to enter the Triple Gold Club as a golden button on his remarkable career.

UPDATE 22 May: As a result of Canada’s elimination by Denmark at the World Championship, Fleury’s chance at the Triple Gold Club will not come to fruition; however, he won his second (and final) IHLC as a result of Canada’s preliminary round victory over Sweden. Fleury started in three of Canada’s eight games, earning wins over Latvia and Austria, and a shootout loss to Finland.

By virtue of his senior career, Fleury only technically won the IHLC once, with Canada’s 2010 Olympic quarterfinal win en route to the final counting with Fleury as part of the overall roster. We wish Marc-André and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: Getty Images – IIHF – HHOF – IOC