Marc-Andre Fleury Retirement Home Game
The Flower bloomed in Vegas and retired as one of the NHL's all-time great goaltenders.
Marc-André Fleury (born November 28, 1984) is a Canadian former professional hockey goaltender. Drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL entry draft, he played 13 seasons with the Penguins, winning Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL expansion draft, reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, and received the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy in 2021. Fleury also played with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild, officially retiring on April 7, 2024, after signing a one-day contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins to retire as a Penguin. He is the third goaltender to reach 500 wins and the fourth to play 1,000 games.
Quick Facts
- Player
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Role
- Beloved Former Goaltender & Franchise Icon
- Team affiliation
- Minnesota Wild (Final Seasons: 2023-24); Officially Retired with Pittsburgh Penguins
- Event type
- Final Regular-Season Game in Vegas as Visiting Player
- Significance
- Last NHL appearance at T-Mobile Arena before retirement; emotional farewell from fans
Lore & Background
Fleury is known by the nickname 'Flower', derived from the English translation of his last name (fleuri means 'in bloom' or 'in flower' in French). He is considered one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.
Reader's Guide
Fleury played junior hockey for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2003–04. After being selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft, he played for Vegas until being traded to the Blackhawks, then later joined the Minnesota Wild, retiring with the Wild in 2025.
Did You Know?
- Fleury is only the third goaltender to be drafted first overall in the NHL entry draft, after Michel Plasse and Rick DiPietro.
- He won a silver medal in 2003 and a gold medal in 2004 with Canada's junior team at the World Junior Championships, and a gold medal with the senior team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Fleury's jersey number 29 was retired by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on January 25, 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Marc-Andre Fleury Retirement Home Game?
It was the last home game Fleury played for the Vegas Golden Knights before stepping away from professional hockey, staged at T-Mobile Arena as a ceremonial farewell to the franchise's first captain and all-time leading goaltender.
Where did Fleury's retirement farewell take place?
The event was held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, giving the Golden Knights' home crowd one final chance to watch their original netminder in action before he retired for good.
Why is the Fleury retirement game considered a landmark in Golden Knights history?
Fleury was the goaltender who anchored the team through its inaugural-season push to the Stanley Cup Final and essentially became the face of the program's identity, so his departure marked the end of an era for the franchise.
What role did Marc-Andre Fleury hold with the Vegas Golden Knights?
He served as the team's first captain and its all-time leading goaltender, the player most fans tie directly to the club's founding season and early competitive identity.
How did the atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena feel during Fleury's final home appearance?
Fans and media described the night as deeply emotional and tearful, treating the contest less like a routine regular-season matchup and more like a collective goodbye to the man who carried the franchise through its most defining early chapter.
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