Marc-Andre Fleury has been gone from Pittsburgh for nearly 10 years, but the city never really let go of him.
That’s the thing about Fleury in black and gold: the résumé is obvious, but the bond ran deeper than wins and trophies. Three Stanley Cup championships made him a Penguins great. The way he carried himself - the humor, the energy, the ease with fans - made him something even bigger in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins will honor that connection on Saturday, Nov. 14, when Fleury is inducted into their Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. He was chosen unanimously in his first year of eligibility, becoming the first player from the post-lockout era to earn that distinction.
It’s a fitting recognition for a career that helped define one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. Fleury was the first overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, and the Penguins spent 13 seasons watching him grow into one of the most accomplished players the organization has ever had.
His biggest moment came in the final seconds of Game 7 against the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. Pittsburgh was clinging to a 2-1 lead when Fleury threw himself across the crease and made the desperate diving stop on Nicklas Lidstrom’s shot. That save sealed the Penguins’ first championship in 17 years and became one of the defining images of his career.
He was part of all three title teams, winning in 2009, 2016 and 2017. Even when his role shifted and Matt Murray became Pittsburgh’s primary starter in the 2016 playoffs, Fleury still mattered. He remained a key piece of the championship picture, especially during the 2017 postseason.
The numbers back up the legacy. Fleury finished his Penguins career with 375 regular-season wins, 691 appearances and 44 shutouts. In the playoffs, he owns the franchise records with 62 wins, 115 games played and 10 shutouts.
But Pittsburgh’s affection for Fleury was never built on statistics alone.
“Flower” fit him perfectly. The nickname, pulled from the English translation of his last name, became part of who he was on and off the ice.
He joked with teammates, talked trash, and turned practice into a competition whenever he could. He liked challenging the team’s shooters and making the workday a little more fun.
That side of him mattered. Fleury could be fiercely competitive without ever losing the sense that hockey was supposed to be enjoyable.
In the Penguins’ recent Hall of Fame feature, he said his father told him to work hard, give his best effort and enjoy playing the game. Fleury said he felt he played better when he was having fun.
That attitude followed him after Pittsburgh, too. Even with the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, he stayed one of the NHL’s most recognizable personalities.
And the relationship with Penguins fans never faded.
Fleury kept getting warm welcomes whenever he came back to Pittsburgh, and he always made time for the people who showed up for him. In December 2023, during a game against the Penguins, he noticed a young fan holding a sign that read, “Fleury is my middle name!” He skated over, met her and posed for a picture, turning a routine moment into something unforgettable for one supporter.
He also understood what the city meant to him. In the Hall of Fame feature, he talked about seeing fans around town at restaurants, hotels and team events during his time in Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh will always be a special place,” Fleury said.
That’s why this induction feels bigger than a formality. It honors the Cups, the saves and the record book, sure.
But it also recognizes the personality that made him beloved long after he left. For Penguins fans, Fleury has always been more than the goalie who helped win three Stanley Cups.
He was the guy who made time, appreciated the support and never forgot the people on the other side of the glass.
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The Penguins blue line has become part of a larger trade conversation as teams around the league look for help, and Erik Karlsson keeps surfacing as one of the more intriguing names. Toronto would like to add a defenseman but is boxed in by the salary cap, which makes any move complicated unless it can clear money first. For Pittsburgh, that keeps Karlsson in the middle of a market that is still trying to sort out who can actually afford to do business.
Among the clubs kicking tires, Carolina has been tied most closely to Karlsson, which is enough to keep the rumor mill humming in Pittsburgh. But any path forward is not as simple as a team deciding it wants him and calling it a day, because the veteran defenseman still has say in where he goes. Until that part of the equation is settled, the interest around him remains just that - interest. [Read more 🡒]
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Hershey finished the rally in overtime to steal a 4-3 victory, leaving the Penguins to sort through a collapse that will sting for a while. Taylor Gauthier was busy throughout the night, and Cal Petersen held up his end for the Bears as they found a way to turn a milestone game into a memorable comeback, one Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would have liked to close out much differently. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Practice Sent A Clear Message About A Roster Shakeup
Dan Muse used practice to reshuffle the Penguins lines, and the message from the morning skate was hard to miss. Rookie Sergei Murashov was being singled out as having secured a roster spot, giving the club a little clarity at a time when the lineup has been in flux and every adjustment feels like it carries a little extra weight.
Elsewhere on the ice, Bryan Rust and Elmer Soderblom were both on injured ice before practice, with Rust skating but not at full intensity. The broader picture around the Penguins is still changing too, with trade chatter continuing to swirl around Erik Karlsson and other names around the league, leaving the roster conversation very much alive even as one young player appears to have carved out his place. [Read more 🡒]