ST. PAUL, Minn. – After 21 seasons in the NHL, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has retired from the league. At age 40, he is looking forward to spending more time with family and is ready for the on-ice farewells to end, while acknowledging he is no longer performing at his peak.
However, it seems he isn`t quite done with playing just yet.
During a season-ending interview in Minnesota on Monday, Fleury announced he has committed to playing for Team Canada in the upcoming IIHF World Championship. With the Wild having been eliminated from the NHL playoffs four days prior, his schedule is free.
He joked, “Just a little longer, right? I went home, my kids were crazy, I was like, ‘Geez, I’ve got to keep playing.’”
Fleury apologized in case his announcement was premature, then expressed excitement about rejoining former Pittsburgh teammate Sidney Crosby, who was the first high-profile player confirmed for Canada`s roster.
Fleury, whose only playoff appearance this season was the third period and overtime of Game 5 against Vegas due to an illness sidelining Wild starter Filip Gustavsson, commented, “I think it`ll be fun to spend some time together and maybe yell at him in practice a bit, keep him honest.”
The tournament runs from Friday through May 25 in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark. Hockey Canada had announced on Sunday that Crosby would join the team, which is coached by Dean Evason, Fleury`s former coach with the Wild and now with Columbus. New York Rangers prospect Dylan Garand was the only other goaltender announced for the roster at that time, with anticipation of another established NHL netminder being added.
Players whose NHL teams advance deep into the playoffs are typically unavailable for the World Championship, which is a major reason this marks Fleury`s debut appearance in the tournament. He has a storied playoff career, appearing in 170 postseason games, winning three Stanley Cups with the Penguins, and reaching the finals a fourth time with the Golden Knights. He also represented Canada at the 2010 Olympics as the third goalie behind Roberto Luongo and Martin Brodeur.
This additional tournament will help Fleury, known for his perpetual smile, transition into retirement. He showed visible emotion at times during the final stretch of his farewell season, reflecting on the accolades and appreciation he received from fellow players, teammates, and fans across the league.
Fleury remarked, “I knew it was coming, but it’s still sad when it happens for real.”
Over the past year, Fleury has felt increasingly confident about his decision to retire, sensing that both his physical and mental state indicate it`s time to stop.
He explained, “I feel like I’m not as good as I was. I feel like I’m not as flexible as I was. I don’t do things like I used to,” comparing some mornings after games to feeling like he`d been in a car crash. “It’s a little frustrating. You try to take care of your body as much as you can and try to stay healthy, try to stay loose and strong enough, keep up with the young guys, but at some point it catches up.”
Fleury intends to remain in the Twin Cities area with his wife and three children. A potential next step could be a front office role with the Wild. His teammates have even jokingly suggested he return as an emergency backup goalie next season if Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt face illness or injury. Other potential interests include mountain biking, skiing, and tennis.
However, Fleury emphasized his immediate priority: “But I think my first thing, though, is I want to be home more. I want to be there for my kids’ birthdays and school plays and just go walk Halloween with them and stuff like that. That’s my main concern.”
The Wild organization is fully supportive of his decision and his desire for family time.
Defenseman Brock Faber spoke highly of his teammate: “Being able to share the same sweater as him is something that I will never take for granted. It’s something I will tell my kids and something that I will brag about to all my friends and family forever. He’s a legend, and a legendary human being.”