Hockey enthusiasts are generally good-natured, but occasionally, you come across individuals who are exceptionally kind and gracious, serving as the finest representatives of the sport.
Marc-Andre Fleury, one of the best hockey players globally, is undoubtedly one of the most endearing. The veteran Minnesota Wild goaltender recently achieved a remarkable milestone that few of his colleagues have ever accomplished.
Fleury, who is 39 years old, started in Sunday’s game against Winnipeg, making him the fourth goalie and 388th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000th game mark. He joins the likes of Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Patrick Roy as members of the exclusive 1,000-game club.
Although it is unlikely that Fleury will surpass any of these three netminders in game appearances, reaching the 1,000-game plateau is no small feat. He is in his 20th NHL season, a milestone that few players, goalies or otherwise, ever attain, and more importantly, he is a credit to his team and his sport.
Fleury’s infectious smile, jovial personality, and willingness to take a stand make him a true leader and a testament to the caliber of his character. He recently demonstrated this by wearing a custom-made goalie mask to support First Nations peoples, despite facing the NHL’s threat of punishment for violating their rule banning masks with socio-political messages.
In his 1,000 career games, Fleury has recorded a 550-321-2-91 record, a .912 save percentage, a 2.59 goals-against average, and 73 shutouts. Although he is most commonly associated with his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has made friends and fans while playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Wild.
Over time, Fleury has accomplished a multitude of feats, including ranking first in league history for goaltenders with 65 shootout wins, third in career wins with 550, and fourth all-time in career saves with 26,016 and minutes played with 57,900:03. He has also been named a four-time NHL all-star and won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2020-21, achieving a 26-10-0 record with six shutouts, a .928 SP, and 1.98 GAA.
Additionally, he has won three Stanley Cups and has a playoff record of 92-74 in 169 appearances, with a 2.56 GAA, .911 SP, and 16 shutouts. Despite the Wild’s struggles this season, Fleury’s playoff career totals may not improve, but he is already a surefire Hockey Hall of Famer.
What sets Fleury apart from his peers is his ability to handle the pressure of netminding with optimism and a positive attitude. He is a Hall of Fame human being who has never had an inflated ego and has never lashed out at reports about his quality of play. Fleury’s kindness and personality have made his community richer just by being himself.
As modern-day goalies are now in a tandem setup, it will be challenging for any of them to reach the 1,000-game plateau, making Fleury potentially the last 1,000-game goalie we see. However, celebrating his achievements should take a back seat to celebrating the Grade-A gentleman Fleury is. He is a legend as a player and as a person, and his legion of friends and family will be cheering him on whatever his next step may be after his playing days are done.
