Marc-Andre Fleury confirms he will be retiring at the end of next season
Next season will be Marc-Andre Fleury's last in the National Hockey League as the legendary goaltender has officially confirmed 2024-25 will mark the end of his lengthy career.
Fleury, 39, confirmed he will retire at the end of the next season, having re-signed a one-year extension this past April with the Minnesota Wild. The extension takes him into his age 40 season, and his apparent end.
The Wild goaltender in an interview with TVA that this season would indeed be the last for him in the NHL.
Fleury said back in April his plan was to come back for one more season with the expectation being it'd be his last.
Fleury, 39, was the last goalie to be drafted with the first overall pick, taken 1st by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Fleury spent 13 seasons in Pittsburgh, compiling a 375-216-68 record in 691 games played, a franchise best in games and wins.
Fleury lost the Stanley Cup finals in 2008 to the Detroit Red Wings, but rebounded along the Penguins for revenge against Detroit in 2009. Fleury won back-to-back cups in 2016 and2017 with Pittsburgh, the third time as a backup to Matt Murray.
Fleury, who was losing the starting role to Murray, was left unprotected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, taken by the Vegas Golden Knights. The move led to a resurgence in Fleury's career, once again becoming a top goalie as the Knights made the Stanley Cup Finals in their first season, losing to the Washington Capitals.
After spending his prime years in the shadow of a deep goalie pool, Fleury finally won the Vezina in 2021 with Vegas. He was later traded from Vegas the same year to Chicago, and in the same season to Minnesota after 45 games.
Fleury also won a gold medal with Canada in 2010, but did not appear in any games.
In 20 NHL seasons, Fleury played in 1,025 games for the Penguins, Golden Knights, Blackhawks & Wild, with a 561-330-96 career record. His 561 wins place Fleury 2nd all time behind Martin Brodeur at 691. His 1,025 games are fourth, 20 games from second place.
| POLL | ||
Will Marc-Andre Fleury make the Hall of Fame after his retirement? | ||
| Yes | 704 | 95 % |
| No | 37 | 5 % |
| List of polls | ||
