Browsing: Fleury

There was no chance Marc-Andre Fleury could return for a final game in Pittsburgh without also bringing his pranks back, too.

Fleury, whose skills as a prankster are almost as famous as his skills between the pipes, had No. 29 and flower car decals stuck on his teammates’ cars on Friday while they were all inside at practice. After more than 20 years of his shenanigans, however, no one was that surprised.

“He always finds new ways to come up with new things. I don’t know how he does it,†Sidney Crosby said. “I think itâ€s even more impressive that thereâ€s no proof. It seems like thereâ€s no footage of how he gets away with it. We know itâ€s him, but we donâ€t really have any proof besides the 29 on my door. But other than that, nothing.â€

“When Geno came in screaming, I kind of knew that something was up,†defenceman Kris Letang said with a laugh. “I knew that I wasnâ€t going to be spared.â€

Crosby joked about liking the new decor and decided that perhaps Fleury had taken it easy on the team, as he cited one prank years ago where he had filled conditioning coach Mike Kadar’s car with packing peanuts.

“Seeing him stand on the roof of a car and pile those things into the sunroof will be forever ingrained into my mind,†Crosby said.

Fleury, who retired at the end of last season, played his last period — and shootout — at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, where he received an emotional farewell and multiple standing ovations from loyal fans who were excited to have him back for one final game.

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What a game, what a night, and what a player.

There was a lot of anticipation heading into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ pre-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, and – honestly – it all lived up to the hype.

On Marc-Andre Fleury night, the Penguins put their best effort on the ice and bested the Blue Jackets, 4-1. Rickard Rakell scored twice for the Penguins, and Sidney Crosby and Ville Koivunen also added tallies. Sergei Murashov – likely the future at the Penguins’ goaltending position – started the game and stopped 12 of 13 shots through two periods, and Fleury – the legacy of the position – stopped all eight shots on goal that he faced in the third period.

Of course, getting the win was nice. The game itself was a well-played one by the Penguins. But, if everyone is being real with themselves, none of that was the story on Saturday. It was all about ‘Flower,’ and a sold-out crowd cheering every time he touched the puck and chanting “one more year” at fever pitch told you everything you need to know about what transpired at PPG Paints Arena during what was had to be one of the most-attended NHL pre-season games in history.

“It was the coolest pre-season game ever,” forward Bryan Rust said. “Flower is a person who is so revered in this organization and in the city, and I don’t think he necessarily wants the attention, but I know he appreciates it. We appreciate him. I only played with him for a couple years, and I know how special he is.”

The energy consumed the building from warm-ups to the aftermath of the pre-planned “shootout” at the end of the game, where Fleury took one final lap around the ice and shook hands with players on both teams. There wasn’t a dull moment on Fifth Avenue Saturday, and even head coach Dan Muse – new to town – was able to get a feel for how much Fleury means to his teammates, to the fans, and to the city.

Marc-Andre Fleury Steals Show For Penguins On Saturday
It was Marc-Andre Fleury’s night in Pittsburgh on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their second preseason win. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by three, 4-1, thanks to two goals from Rickard Rakell, one from Sidney Crosby, and one from Ville Koivunen.

He and the coaching staff even had a moment to turn to each other and marvel at the atmosphere that they found themselves in.

“I mean, the crowd was incredible,” Muse said. “Just the passion of the fans and then, obviously, to see a tribute like that… it’s so obvious to me, somebody who’s new to the organization, seeing not just tonight, but over the last couple of days, how much Marc-Andre Fleury means to the fans here and to the organization, to the city, to his former teammates, the admiration from players that never played with him before but were now sitting with him in the locker room these last couple of days… yeah, it’s incredible.

“I think I speak for the entire coaching staff and for everybody that was a part of that, it was a really special experience throughout… To get the win, it was important there just to cap off a really special couple of days and a really special night for Marc-Andre Fleury and this entire organization.”

Fleury was, obviously, the story of the night, but there were other items to discuss from this one. Here are some other thoughts and observations from the win.

– In other news, let’s talk prospects. In particular, let’s talk about Ben Kindel. Again.

I know I brought up Kindel after the Penguins’ 4-1 loss to the Jackets on Wednesday. But he has been very, very good for the Penguins. He finished with six shot attempts and was helping drive offense all night. He’s absolutely flying, and I simply do not see what draft experts held against his skating: his edgework is great, and he looks like one of the fastest players out there, at least, per the eye test. And – above all – he’s such a smart player, and his reads are already at NHL speed.

My sentiment from Wednesday hasn’t changed much. I still don’t think he makes this opening night roster, even for a nine-game trial. But, man, Penguins’ fans need to keep an eye on this kid, regardless of where he ends up playing this season. I really, really like his game, and I think he could be something special for the Penguins down the line.

Benjamin Kindel Finding His Footing In First Penguins Training Camp
It’s been almost three months since the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Benjamin Kindel with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

– Another player I want to talk about? Rakell.

No, he isn’t a prospect at the ripe age of 32. However, I’ve been intrigued by some of the decisions Muse and the Penguins have made with him so far in terms of deployment this pre-season.

He started as the game’s third-line center between Koivunen and Kindel, and he’s been iced at the center position pretty much all throughout camp. He was also deployed on the penalty kill, which is something that – in my opinion – should have been done a long time ago, as Rakell is one of the Penguins’ best defensive forwards.

And, of course, he knows how to score goals, which is the best part of his game. He had a garbage goal on the power play and an empty-netter at the end.

Both his positional and situational versatility are being tested in training camp, and – while I like that the Penguins are giving him some runway with those things – I’m curious to see what happens as rosters are gradually more and more reduced. Rakell scored 35 goals alongside Crosby last season, so it’s hard to imagine that he won’t be iced in the top-six as a winger, where he can play to his biggest strengths.

But that versatility is something that Muse and the rest of the staff like about Rakell, and they’re leaning into that.

“He’s a player – and he’s shown this from an offensive standpoint, even as a wing – who’s really good attacking the middle of the ice,” Muse said. “He’s really good at finding space in the middle of the ice. You know, you look at his game in the offensive zone and on the power play, and he’s just got some great instincts there in terms of how he positions himself to be a scoring threat but also just how he positions himself in the middle of the ice to be available.

“We also view him as a responsible player, a player that can be trusted on the defensive side. You get a player like him, too, which today, he got a little bit of time there on the penalty kill… it was good to see. Sometimes, players like him that have spent a lot of time on the power play, they think like power play players. So, they’re able to anticipate plays really well. You combine that with his defensive awareness, really good stick… it’s something that we want to see. So, we’re going to continue to look at that, and we’re going to continue to look at other options. But, now is the time to see things like that.”

I also wonder – to an extent – if the Penguins are trying to up Rakell’s trade value by showcasing these things. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise. But, that said, I would be surprised if any movement happens prior to puck drop on Oct. 7.

In any case, this is something to keep an eye on as camp progresses.

– Two other players worth touching on are defensemen Caleb Jones and Parker Wotherspoon.

Jones played a decent game. He was caught being too aggressive on Del Bel Belluz’s goal in the first, leaving Letang out to dry a bit on the two-on-one. But, aside from that play, I thought he was solid the rest of the game. He generally has a good feel for when to activate and when to stay back. He’s been paired with Letang for a few practices in camp, too, so we’ll see where that goes.

As for Wotherspoon? I like how… uninteresting he is. He’s rarely out of position, he’s calm, and he just does his job. He plays the game so simplistically that you hardly notice him out there, but that’s far from a bad thing. In order to be effective with Erik Karlsson, a defensive partner needs to have his head on a swivel, but they also need to just simplify and give him space to do his thing.

So far, Wotherspoon has shown he can handle that. I’m not saying he’s a high-grade option in terms of top-pairing defensemen – he isn’t that – but as long as he’s serviceable and is able to handle the tall task of playing alongside Karlsson, he’ll be effective in his role.

We’ll see if one – or both – of these pairings stick throughout the rest of camp. If they do, it will be interesting to see what happens with the rest of the defensive corps.

Pre-season Offers Sneak Peek At Potential Future Defensive Pairing
When in the early stages of NHL training camp, it’s not often wise to read into too much.

– Speaking of… I’ve said it a few times, and I’ll say it again:

Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke should be the third pairing on this team. And it’s becoming less and less of a debate at this point.

If you remove contractual obligations to veteran players from the equation, they are, easily, two of the best-six defensemen in this camp. And what has impressed me most is the detail in each of their games. Brunicke’s stick detail is outstanding. Pickering is rarely caught out of position and reads off of Brunicke’s tendency to activate really well. Both defend odd-man rushes well.

There are going to be mistakes from them as young players, but honestly? They don’t do a whole lot wrong. They both have great instincts.

They need to be on this team. I’ve seen enough at this point.

– Last but certainly not least, how fitting was it that Crosby registered three points in this game?

As much as this night was about Fleury, it was also about Fleury, Crosby, Malkin, and Letang all having their reunion on the ice together. Crosby has been in visibly good spirits since Fleury’s arrival at camp on Friday, and there is just a different kind of energy with him when Fleury shares the room.

After the media was done talking to Fleury – and Fleury shook hands with everyone – Crosby was sitting in the locker room, just waiting for Fleury. Waiting for the noise to die down and for the room to clear so he could enjoy some time with his best friend.

This night was beautiful for a lot of reasons. But what was most beaufitul was seeing all these guys get to have this experience together and give their longtime teammate and good friend the sendoff he deserved.

‘I’m Happy It All Worked Out’: Fleury, Teammates Relish Chance To Share Ice One Last Time
Normally, NHL training camp is an all-business kind of affair, and that’s exactly how it’s been at Pittsburgh Penguins’ camp this year.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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Sep 27, 2025, 10:12 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — Returning to Pittsburgh for one final farewell just felt right for Marc-Andre Fleury.

Fleury stopped all eight shots he faced during the third period of his final game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 4-1 preseason win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

“It was a little surreal, a little crazy, but also comfortable,” Fleury said. “When I played here with other teams, I always felt a little weird, but this felt normal … like it used to.”

Fleury officially retired from the NHL as a member of the Minnesota Wild at the end of last season. But the beloved 40-year-old goaltender signed a ceremonial professional tryout contract earlier this month to see old teammates and friends, come full circle and complete a 21-season NHL career that began in Pittsburgh.

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“I feel bad because I’ve done so many laps and goodbyes, and I keep coming back,” Fleury said. “I’m thankful I got the opportunity to come back for one more go-around.”

Fleury, a former Vezina Trophy winner who also played with Vegas and Chicago, is second in NHL history only to Martin Brodeur with 575 wins and 1,051 regular-season games played, and his 76 NHL shutouts are tied for 10th in league history.

But this night was meant to celebrate Fleury, who is most well-known for his time in Pittsburgh, where he won three Stanley Cups and holds nearly every major goaltending record in Penguins history, including games played (691), wins (375), goals-against average (2.58), shutouts (44), playoff games (115), playoff wins (62) and playoff shutouts (10).

Fleury, who practiced with the Penguins on Friday, wore his familiar bright, yellow pads and a specially made mask to commemorate the special weekend. Fleury was offered a choice as to when he could play Saturday, and he opted for the third period to try to win one more game with the Penguins.

The sellout crowd gave Fleury a standing ovation as he led the Penguins from the tunnel to begin the third period. Loud chants of “Fle-ury” “Fle-ury” and “One More Year” filled the arena minutes after the puck dropped to begin the period. Fans erupted with thunderous applause each time Fleury made a save or touched the puck, including stops on Hudson Fasching, Cole Sillinger and Erik Gudbranson.

Marc-Andre Fleury signed a ceremonial professional tryout contract earlier this month to play one final game with the Penguins, a 4-1 preseason win over Columbus on Saturday night. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

In the final two minutes, with the victory in hand, the crowd showered Fleury with chants of “Thank You, Fleury.” When the final horn sounded, fellow franchise cornerstones Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang embraced Fleury one more time in the crease.

“Every time he touched the puck, the reception was unreal,” Crosby said. “It felt like a playoff game. It was nice to get him the win.”

Fleury spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Penguins. He helped Crosby, Malkin and Letang win the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017 before Vegas selected Fleury in the 2017 expansion draft.

Pittsburgh traded up to draft an 18-year-old Fleury No. 1 in 2003 during a tumultuous period in which the franchise nearly moved. More than two decades later, Pittsburgh is no longer a playoff fixture, but Fleury helped stabilize the franchise and turn the Penguins into one of the NHL’s marquee teams.

His signature moment with Pittsburgh came June 12, 2009, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Detroit. Fleury made a last-second desperation, post-to-post diving save on Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom to seal a 2-1 win and deliver Pittsburgh its third Stanley Cup.

The fans remembered Saturday.

Before the game, crowds gathered multiple rows deep behind the Penguins’ goal, hoping to catch a glimpse of Fleury during his final pregame warmup with the team. Many took photos and video to commemorate the moment, wore familiar No. 29 jerseys and held homemade signs expressing their love for Fleury, who lobbed pucks over the glass in between facing shots.

“It was surreal to be back with the Penguins and seeing the guys in front of me,” Fleury said. “It was amazing. It was just like old times.”

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The Pittsburgh Penguins enter Saturday on the back leg of a pre-season back-to-back, and everyone in North America is aware that a special someone is back in town for one last hurrah.

But Marc-Andre Fleury won’t be the only source of entertainment when the Penguins take on the Columbus Blue Jackets for second and final time this pre-season.

In their 3-2 comeback win against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, the Penguins featured mostly a prospect- and AHL-focused lineup. There were a few exceptions in guys like Danton Heinen, Blake Lizotte, Philip Tomasino, Connor Dewar, and Matt Dumba, but may others were players fighting for role positions on the NHL roster.

That’s not the case for Saturday’s game.

Not only are the big veteran players in Fleury, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell slated to start, they will also ice most of their top organizational prospects – offering fans a glimpse into what the future could look like for the Penguins.

During the summer, we released our full Top-20 Penguins’ Prospects list. As it turns out, many of them are going to be in the lineup Saturday for the Penguins. Top-five prospects Harrison Brunicke, Ville Koivunen, Ben Kindel, and Sergei Murashov are all listed on the roster, as are Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz, Filip Hallander, Finn Harding, and Avery Hayes.

It should be a nice blend of past, present, and future, gift-wrapped within a game that may not have any meaning in terms of standings and points but hold significant emotional value.

“We felt like this was one… today’s a little bit unique,” head coach Dan Muse said. “You got the uniqueness there of Marc-Andre Fleury being here and the celebration of him going into the game, so I think this is just the way it lined up.”

Blue Jackets At Penguins Preseason Preview: Marc-Andre Fleury Returns To Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their first preseason win on Friday night against the Detroit Red Wings.

Here are the lines and pairings for Saturday’s game:

Forwards
A. Hayes – Crosby – Rust
Anthony Mantha – Malkin – Justin Brazeau
Koivunen – Rakell – Kindel
Boko Imama – Broz – Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Hallander

Defensemen
Parker Wotherspoon – Karlsson
Caleb Jones – Letang
Pickering – Brunicke
Harding

Goaltenders
Murashov
Fleury

It is already known that Fleury will suit up for the third period and Murashov will anchor the opening two. Murashov has emerged as a legitimate prospect candidate to take the reins as the Penguins’ goaltender of the future, as his dominance at every level of professional hockey has been something to marvel at.

In some ways, Murashov is remniscent of a young Fleury – quick, athletic, agile, cool, confident, and poised. So it’s only fitting that – akin to the rest of the roster – past and future get to suit up in the same game.

And Fleury’s advice for Murashov and other young Penguins’ goaltenders?

“You better try hard,” Fleury said Friday. “I’m coming to take your spot.”

And for one night, one period only, he will.

‘I’m Happy It All Worked Out’: Fleury, Teammates Relish Chance To Share Ice One Last Time
Normally, NHL training camp is an all-business kind of affair, and that’s exactly how it’s been at Pittsburgh Penguins’ camp this year.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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Normally, NHL training camp is an all-business kind of affair, and that’s exactly how it’s been at Pittsburgh Penguins’ camp this year.

That is, until a certain Penguins’ legend waltzed into the rink at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. for practice on Friday.

“Itâ€s been a few years, you know?” said Marc-Andre Fleury – the aforementioned Penguins’ legend – after practice. “But it didnâ€t feel like it. Itâ€s so good to see the guys, obviously, and you guys [the media], and other staff members are still the same… so, definitely very fortunate to be able to come back for a couple days.â€

And players, coaches, and media weren’t the only ones who got to see the 40-year-old goaltender – who officially called it a career at the end of his 2024-25 campaign with the Minnesota Wild – take the ice for one last practice.

Fans showed up in droves. Parking lots were full. There was a line outside of the facility prior to the morning skate that preceded practice. There were cheers every time Fleury made a save and groans every time any one of the Penguins’ players scored on him.

There is so much love between Fleury, his teammates, and the city of Pittsburgh, and it’s a bond that hasn’t faded since 2003 – even with an eight-year absence between now and his last appearance as a Penguin in 2017. Ultimately, the chance to play for that bond one last time is what made him want to do it, even given some initial hesitation after Penguins’ GM and POHO Kyle Dubas approached him about signing the paid tryout (PTO) contract – which he did end up signing on Sept. 12 with the Penguins – at the end of last season.

Penguins Sign Marc-Andre Fleury To Professional Tryout Contract
Pittsburgh Penguins fans are getting their wish to see Marc-Andre Fleury one more time in Pittsburgh.

“I was like, ‘I donâ€t know, I feel like Iâ€ve said goodbye, like, 17 times already to everybodyâ€, you know?” Fleury said. “I was a little banged up, too, after the season. I wasnâ€t planning on working out or skating.

He continued: “We talked a few weeks back… and I was like, yeah, itâ€d be fun and come in and spend some time with the guys, the staff, and see the fans, you know? I miss them, too. Iâ€m happy it all worked out.â€

It seems, too, that it worked out for just about everyone. Fleury brings an energy to the rink – as he is known to do – that simply just fills a room. It was all smiles for pretty much the entirety of practice, and especially for his longtime pals in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.

“Just trying to enjoy it,” Crosby said. “You know, you [practice with him], like, hundreds of times, a thousand times, and you take it for granted. To get a chance to do that today was a lot of fun.â€

There was even a moment before the main practice when the veterans were all taking turns and shooting pucks in Fleury’s direction five-on-zero in the offensive zone. They kept passing the puck around and trying to get pucks past Fleury, and Crosby was fed a pass in the right circle. He walked in a bit and fired, with Fleury making a barrel save with his toe.

However, Crosby made sure to clear the air with the media post-practice about what happened with the rebound off of Fleury’s toe.

“The one where I batted it out of the air and scored? That’s the one you’re talking about?” Crosby said, smiling. “Yeah, it was a good initial save, for sure.”

The quips didn’t end there, either. They never do with Fleury around, and he got a good one of his own in, too. During the practice session, Fleury had the chance to chat with Penguins’ goaltending prospects Sergei Murashov and Filip Larsson, and when asked what was said and what advice he would give to the young netminders, he remained deadpan.

For Fleury And The Penguins, A Storybook Ending Is In Store
When a young netminder from Sorel, Quebec made his NHL debut on Oct. 10, 2003, it’s difficult to imagine that folks in Pittsburgh, Pa. knew what was in store for the next decade and a half.

“You better try hard because I’m coming to take your spot,” he said in response before cracking a smile and adding that he wished them luck this season.

And what would a visit from Fleury be without a good prank or two? Not only did Fleury put “29” stickers on Letang’s and Crosby’s cars in the parking lot, his son also pranked his own father as well as Malkin prior to practice by placing little wind-up cockroach toys in their equipment.

It’s those little things that make Fleury so endearing to everyone around him. And Crosby hopes that some of the younger players in the locker room can take his demeanor and the way he carries himself – as well as the effort he puts into building relationships – as lessons for themselves.

Even if Fleury is in town for just a few short days, that is.

“I think that just observing someone like that… obviously, everyoneâ€s got to be themselves, you know?” Crosby said. “Itâ€s gonna be hard to be another Marc-Andre Fleury, but I think just seeing the compete that he brings to practice, the enthusiasm, the bond that he has with the guys that heâ€s played with and how unique that that is… thatâ€s a part of our culture, and thatâ€s something that I think is special.

“So, hopefully, they can see that, and just get to meet him, get to know him, and see what a great person he is above and beyond all the stuff that heâ€s accomplished.â€

Ticket Prices For Fleury’s Final Game Keep Rising
When the Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a paid tryout (PTO) contract on Friday, along with that came the announcement that he’d be appearing in one final pre-season game in Pittsburgh on Sept. 27 against the Columbus Blue Jackets before officially retiring from the NHL.

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CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — There was a time when Marc-Andre Fleury would take days like Friday for granted. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, too.

Days when the four players most closely associated with the Pittsburgh Penguins†run of excellence 2008-17 — an era in which they played for the Stanley Cup four times and raised it above their head in triumph three — would spend an hour competing against each other during training camp, gather for a picture afterward for whomever might stop by and think nothing of it.

Not this time. Not when it was the last time.

And it is, the second-winningest goalie in NHL history stressed, the last time.

Wearing a specially-made mask featuring various symbols of his 21-year career and the No. 29 jersey that may someday soon find itself hanging in the rafters at PPG Paints Arena, Fleury made it a point to drink in every last moment of his final practice as a professional ahead of a one-period cameo during the Penguins†preseason game against Columbus on Saturday.

Skating onto the ice in front of several hundred fans who chanted his name and carried signs like “We Came All The Way From Canada To See You Come Home,†Fleury did what he did nearly every day of his two-plus decade stay in the NHL: he leaned into it.

There he was, theatrically flopping his signature yellow pads in an attempt to stop a Crosby deflection. There he was, laughing after robbing Letang with a glove save. There he was, making Malkin shake his head after turning the Russian star away from in close.

“That might be what I love the most (about hockey), just to be on the ice and have a lot of shots, see the guys a bunch (and) be able to chirp a little bit,†Fleury said afterward while sitting in his familiar corner stall inside the clubâ€s dressing room. “Yeah, itâ€s a lot of fun for me.â€

The 40-year-old officially retired from the NHL as a member of the Minnesota Wild in the spring but signed a professional tryout contract with the Penguins earlier this month after being approached by Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas, who wanted the future Hall of Famer to take one final bow in the city where he remains beloved nearly a decade since leaving in the 2017 expansion draft.

While the pathologically upbeat Fleury joked afterward he wished he had more stamina, for about 90 minutes there were flashes of the form — and the style — that helped the Penguins morph from the worst team in the league when he arrived as the top overall pick in the 2003 draft to two-time defending Stanley Cup champions when he left.

“Itâ€s just the enthusiasm,†Crosby said. “I think the energy that he brings, itâ€s really unique.â€

The franchise relied on that energy, particularly early on in Fleuryâ€s 13-year stay. Wins were hard to come by in the early days as the Penguins poured the foundation of what came as close to a dynasty as the NHL allows in the salary-cap era.

Yet the losing and the pressure never seemed to get to Fleury. He simply kept moving forward. Six years after he arrived, the player universally known as “Flower†sealed the franchiseâ€s third championship by making a diving stop of Detroitâ€s Nicklas Lidstrom in the waning seconds of Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup finals.

The save — an athletically unorthodox act of desperation that encapsulated his talent — cemented Fleuryâ€s spot in Penguins history. And while he went on to have great success elsewhere, including guiding the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Cup finals in 2018 and winning the Vezina Trophy as the gameâ€s top goalie in 2021, Pittsburgh was never too far from his mind. Or his heart.

Every return trip to the city where he came of age over the last eight years felt a little strange. Not just for Fleury but for a crowd thrilled to see him while simultaneously hoping heâ€d lose.

Those mixed emotions for all involved are gone now and his unexpected (if brief) return represents a full-circle moment not just for Fleury, but the Penguins.

While Crosby remains a force at 38, Pittsburgh is no longer a playoff fixture. Dubas is overseeing a youth movement that includes young goaltenders like Sergei Murashov, who wasnâ€t even born when Fleury made his NHL debut. Fleury spent a portion of practice kneeling alongside the 21-year-old Russian, listening and offering a little bit of advice.

Asked what that advice might be, one of the leagueâ€s notorious practical jokers just laughed.

“‘You better try hard, Iâ€m coming to take your spot,â€â€ Fleury said.

Only, heâ€s not. Though he thinks his wife Veronique is “tired of him already,†Fleury has not had any second thoughts about stepping away from the game he played so passionately and so well for so long.

“Iâ€ve found out thereâ€s nothing else I can do. Thereâ€s nothing else I can do that will fulfill that hole, right, of playing hockey,†Fleury said. “But at the same time, Iâ€m older, slower, more hurt, you know, a little more sore, and less flexible, less fast, maybe.

“Yeah, I think itâ€s time.â€

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