On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fanbase welcomed back legendary goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. The former Vegas Golden Knights superstar was greeted with a standing ovation and a speech. He told the audience at PPG Paints Arena how much he loved them and was grateful for them.
This came after a 5-3 victory by Fleury's latest team, the Minnesota Wild. Fleury earned the number one star, stopping 26 of 29 shots.
But back to the speech for a second. What are you doing with your life if you're not crying like you're cutting onions after that speech? Imagine the type of speech he could give Golden Knights fans at T-Mobile if he plays on January 12. That could be the final time fans see the "Misfit" who got them on the winning track, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.
Of course, that also goes for the other "Misfit," Jonathan Marchessault. He's slated to return to T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, April 12, 2025. But will they greet the former Conn Smythe winner with the same admiration as Fleury?
Better yet, how many franchise records does "Flower" hold within the Golden Knights organization? It's no secret that Fleury and Marchessault are the two "gold standard" players. They've made the franchise the shining example of how an NHL team wins consistently (aside from the front office). So let's answer that question and see how many records Fleury holds with the Golden Knights.
How many records does Marc-Andre Fleury hold altogether?
For this, let's look at all-time records. These are the ones amassed over a set amount of time, where the goaltender puts in years of work with a franchise. Compared to a single-season record, where averages can fluctuate throughout the year. By the way, Marc-Andre Fleury currently holds 14 single-season records.
As for all-time records? The former Vezina Trophy winner holds 15 all-time records. That includes saves (5,053), save percentage (.917), and shutouts (23). Fleury set the precedent for what a franchise player should be. That meant standing firm and taking care of business, which helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.
When you're a legendary goaltender who's made his mark on two NHL franchises, you know you've made it big. That's the case with the former first-overall NHL Draft pick, who's closing out a remarkable hockey career. Holding countless franchise records will get you that kind of recognition, especially if you lead your team to unforeseen success.