What I'll miss the most about Marc-Andre Fleury

Saying goodbye is always the hardest part. That was covered on Sunday after the Vegas Golden Knights pulled away from the Minnesota Wild, 4-1. Of course, this was Marc-Andre Fleury's last game in attendance at T-Mobile Arena, where he's set to retire after the 2024-25 season.

And what's not to love about the former Vezina Trophy winner? He led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final with Jonathan Marchessault and a gang of "Misfits" in the team's inaugural season. He also had the best save percentage and GAA of his previous stints (.917 save percentage and 2.41 GAA in four seasons with the Golden Knights), holding many franchise records in the process.

Fleury also established the "Gold" standard for goaltending in Las Vegas, making him the team's de facto legend. Of course, you wouldn't have made the Stanley Cup playoffs six of seven full seasons without scoring from Marchessault and William Karlsson. However, the team's success always traces back to the former No. 1 pick being in net.

But his specialty and excellence stemmed beyond stats. It was also a lighter side to Fleury that appealed to hockey fans everywhere. It didn't matter if you were from Las Vegas or Pittsburgh. His light-hearted fun and humor made the game better for everyone involved. How did he do this, you might ask?

What made Marc-Andre Fleury special

There was always a light-hearted side to Marc-Andre Fleury that made him special. One would think being a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a four-time All-Star, and a Vezina Trophy winner would mean you're serious all the time. However, that wasn't the case with Fleury, who enjoyed a good time on the ice. Take this silly moment during the 2018 Western Conference Final as a perfect example.

He's also made miniature ice walls to prevent the puck from going in. He did this against those same Winnipeg Jets when the Golden Knights were down, 2-1. Hey, you do what you must do while Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson are in a huddle with Gerard Gallant, right? Leaving an empty net behind means you take extra measures to ensure goals don't come in.

Combine that with an easy-going personality and it's easy to see why Fleury had fans everywhere. It didn't matter if you were rooting for the Golden Knights or Minnesota Wild. The 40-year-old brought smiles and happiness to hockey fans everywhere, bringing his fun-loving style to the NHL forefront. Being a Hall of Fame netminder was just the cherry on top.

That is what I'll miss the most about having a goaltender like Fleury around. He was a man who never took the game of hockey seriously, spreading joy and humor around to players and fans everywhere. That passion was contagious, making the former No. 1 pick one of the most infectious players around with his play and personality. For me, there will never be another Marc-Andre Fleury in the NHL again: A legendary goaltender who got an expansion franchise off on the right foot.