Retired goalie Marc-André Fleury returning to Penguins on PTO for ceremonial preseason game
Marc-André Fleury returns to the place where it all started-if only for a night. Pittsburgh’s Penguins have announced that the triple Stanley Cup champion had signed a professional test contract and would be suitable for the September 27 pre-season match against the Blue Jackets in Columbus at PPG Paints Arena. Fleury, 40, will also participate in the practice of the team the day before.
“The whole Penguins organization is honored to welcome Marc-André Fleury to the ice in Pittsburgh,” said Penguins Director Kyle Dubas in a statement. “Last year, everyone saw how much Marc is loved and respected in the hockey game, but worship goes beyond his distinctions and his career. Marc means so much for our team, our fans and the city of Pittsburgh because of the person he is and the example he has given.
Fleury retired last spring after the 2024-25 season after a NHL 22-year career which lasted four franchises, but its inheritance remains firmly linked to Pittsburgh. Editorial n ° 1 by the Penguins in 2003, the native of Sorel, in Quebec, passed his first 13 seasons with the club, the Backstop championship in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
As he left for the Golden Knights of Vegas during the 2017 expansion draft, Fleury had set almost all the major guards in the history of the team, including most of the games played (691), victories (375) and laundering (44). At the league level, his 575 career victories rank second in all time, following only Martin Brodeur. He also captured the Vezina 2021 trophy with Vegas, further cementing his references to the renowned temple.
Fleury continued to play with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild. Along the way, he appeared in 1,051 regular season games, displaying 76 whitening and recording 15 seasons with at least 20 wins.
Although the test is ceremonial rather than a return, the night will give Penguins fans a last chance to salute one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise – and one of the most durable guards that the NHL has ever seen.
