Fleury not looking for special treatment in final season
Marc-Andre Fleury doesn't want opposing teams to roll out the red carpet as he embarks on his 21st and final NHL season.
"I don't want any special treatment," Fleury told The Athletic's Michael Russo. "I just want to go, look around, bring back some memories from my time here, but definitely not looking forward to any special treatment. Don't need that. We're good."
Fleury announced the 2024-25 campaign will be his last after signing a one-year, $2.5-million extension with the Minnesota Wild in April. Players of Fleury's caliber often get farewell tours as they visit opposing cities for the last time.
One destination certain to bid Fleury a warm adieu will be Pittsburgh, where he played his first 13 seasons and won three Stanley Cups. Fleury's also been well-received in his home province of Quebec throughout his career, and the Wild only visit the Penguins and Canadiens once during the regular season.
Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin doesn't want any hoopla for the future Hall of Famer either.
"Look, we're going to be business as usual. This is not a farewell tour," Guerin said. "That's not what he wants. That's not what we want. We don't want any distractions like that. We're just going to go and do our business."
Guerin continued: "I've been asked that question 20 times already. ... We don't want frickin' video replays and video tributes and things like that. Like, let's just play the games. Of course, if they do it in Pittsburgh, then that makes sense. In Vegas, in Montreal - that makes sense. And if they do it, great, nice, but that's not what we're all about. We're going to work."
Fleury became a Golden Knights fan favorite after he arrived via the expansion draft in 2017. He played four seasons in Vegas and won the Vezina Trophy the season before he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 39-year-old posted 17 wins in 40 appearances last season with an .895 save percentage. His playing time this season is unclear, as the Wild are expected to carry Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson on their roster.
Fleury moved into second on the NHL's all-time wins list last season and became the fourth netminder in league history to play 1,000 games.