The Flower is back where it all began. The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that the club’s legendary netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has signed a PTO with the team and will appear in parts of the team’s September 27th exhibition game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It is important to make clear that it does not appear that this time that Fleury is set to go back on his retirement announcement from earlier this year and attempt to play one final season in the NHL. Instead, this PTO signing, according to the Penguins, is a way for Fleury to have a “full-circle” moment and celebrate his retirement and his career with the franchise he won three Stanley Cups with. In the team’s official announcement of the signing, general manager Kyle Dubas said:
The entire Penguins organization is honored to welcome Marc-Andre Fleury back to the ice in Pittsburgh. This past year everyone witnessed how beloved and respected Marc is in the game of hockey, but the adoration goes beyond his accolades and career. Marc means so much to our team, our fans and the City of Pittsburgh because of the person he is and the example he set. The Penguins feel he and his family are most-deserving of this opportunity to celebrate this full-circle moment back where it all started in front of the black and gold faithful.
So it appears one should not expect Fleury to be competing with Tristan Jarry, Joel Blomqvist, and Arturs Silovs for a spot on the club’s season-opening roster. Penguins fans nonetheless have reason to be excited by this transaction, even if it is more ceremonial in nature. Fleury, beloved by Penguins fans and hockey fans alike, will now be able to play for the club one last time.
Fleury, who is widely expected to be elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame at some point down the line, is the Penguins’ all-time leader in wins, starts, and goals-against-average. (minimum 50 starts) He was drafted number-one overall by the club at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, and led the team to victory in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings. He split time with Matt Murray in both 2016 and 2017 when the franchise won two additional Stanley Cups, and it was Murray’s presence that led to Fleury’s exit from Pittsburgh via selection in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Now, with this PTO signed, Fleury will return to Pittsburgh and, even if just for a preseason game, suit up for the Penguins one last time before hanging up his skates for good.
Interesting. At first I thought it could be a ploy to drum up ticket sales but I don’t think Flower would be part of something like that.
Now I see it is for one game after they updated the article.
Seems well-intentioned AND it won’t hurt ticket sales either lol. A moment when doing a good thing pays off doubly.
Classy move
Make 700 games in pittsburgh
He should play one more season
Obviously Fleury has a gigantic ego, And can’t stand the idea of retirement, Because he won’t get any attention, His biggest fear is that we forget about him, And his slightly above average NHL career. He sounds like a very sad, And lonely guy.
Wow, what the heck did he do to tick you off?
I guess you need to read the update and admit you look foolish. Sad.
Really hope this is an attempt at sarcasm
Sadder, and lonelier than your post makes you look?
I think not.
Wilf/Sparky is ticked by pretty much everything about hockey but has become must-see reading. Here are a couple of his recent posting gems: “the worst thing an NHL franchise can do is win” and “Alex Ovechkin is washed up”.
Lol and of all the players to try to trash he picks the one that is arguably one of the most appreciated and well like across the league. Also judging by a comment further below it looks like Sparky might have another burner account.
This was a particularly entertaining, HOF-wilf take for sure. I like that you have a few other examples haha. And as some know I’ve had no trouble agreeing with wilf from time to time, but this is one for the books! Clash of the egos 2025.
Would be a great story & I’m sure he’d love to go play another season & finish his career with his boys. But man I’d hate to see him go to the Pens & get torched on a regular basis. That team is only headed down.
What a ridiculous sentiment by a sad, lonely guy who’s got a giant ego and feels the need to continue posting that we do don’t forget about him.
lol
Sadder, and lonelier than your post makes you look?
I think not.
We’ll see how it all works out but this feels like a sentimental decision more so than the pathetic cry for attention your, and the post above, appear to be.
He’s trying to rage bait. Just lame
Misdirected hostility?
It seems pretty clear to me that he meant to reply to wilf, especially considering MAF doesnt post here.
Yup for some reason it didn’t attach to sparky’s post. Sorry about the confusion
I love Fluery and think this is super cool.
It was NOT Murray’s presence that led to Fleury’s exit but rather mismanagement and plain stupidity.
What a classy thing to do. Good on you, Penguins.
This game had better be on TV.
If the TV channel that the Penguins own is airing a pointless late September Pirate game over this…
And let’s not forget what an egregious money grab this is for Pittsburgh, You know all the followers will sellout the preseason exhibition.
Wow! There should be a medal on this site in honour of Wilf and his takes. Like: this comment is Wilf kind of legendary and must be marked for everyone to see
If he chose to, he could outplay those other goalies this season. But the Pens want McKenna.
Wow Wilf, a money grab? Glad that you are calling out these businesses for doing things to make money. More of them should be making moves to make less revenue. You continue to be a national treasure and you do it with such ease. It’s almost like you don’t even know that you mock yourself with many of your posts.