Now 39 years old and likely in the final year of his career, Marc-Andre Fleury has developed a reputation as one of hockey's most beloved goalies, and he still has the talent to compete at his age.
Fleury was drafted first overall in the 2003 NHL draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Fleury went on to win three Stanley Cups with the team. With the Minnesota Wild visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight, it could be Fleury's last time as a player in Pittsburgh - and now the Wild head coach has made a highly unpopular decision.
In what is likely Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh, it's a bizarre decision to leave him on the bench. Head coach John Hynes said it was the team's plan heading into the game, this is still a bad look. Hopefully, Fleury himself and the team were all informed of the decision, otherwise the team could already be questioning Hynes just weeks into his tenure as coach.
This season, Fleury has struggled more than usual for himself, posting a 3.29 GAA and a .886 save percentage through only 11 games. If the Minnesota Wild continue to struggle and find themselves out of a playoff spot later in the season, Fleury could be an intriguing option in trade for any team looking for a goaltender with a high ceiling.
