To paraphrase something Crosby said the other day, there will never be another Marc-Andre Fleury. He is a unique player who put together a Hall of Fame career spanning 22 seasons, ranking him second all-time in wins and games played. His longest tenure was in Pittsburgh, where he spent 13 seasons from 2003 to 2017 and won three Stanley Cup championships.
But the numbers aren’t what come to mind when you think about Fleury. It’s the talent, the competitiveness, the athleticism, the acrobatic saves. It’s the zest for life, the prankster sense of humor, the unfailing kindness. It’s the type of teammate and person he is. And of course, that smile. All of that combined endeared him to everyone, and resulted in an evening that felt like lightning in a bottle.
“What’s not to love? That’s the question, honestly,” Kris Letang said. “Just his personality, there’s not a mean bone in his body. He comes to the rink with a big smile on his face. He plays the game with a big smile. He’s a great teammate, obviously. So, it’s hard not to love a guy like that.
“Especially when he came in as an 18-year-old, first overall pick, tons of pressure. But he comes to the rink with the same mindset, same mentality, battles hard, and he does it with a smile.”
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