The Pittsburgh Penguins are turning to a familiar face in net. Even if just for one game.
On Friday, the club announced it had signed former goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, one of the most beloved figures in franchise history, to a professional tryout contract.
The transaction is largely ceremonial as Fleury, 40, formally retired as a member of the Minnesota Wild following last season.
Per a release from the team, Fleury is scheduled to practice with the team on Sept. 26 and participate in a preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sept. 27 at PPG Paints Arena.
This is a similar scenario involving other athletes who have signed ceremonial one-day contracts to retire with a specific franchise. But in this case, Fleury will actually participate in a preseason contest before leaving the ice for good.
The Penguins have recognized a goaltender in such a fashion previously. In 2003, Tom Barrasso, who led the franchise to Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, signed a one-day contract to retire with the franchise.
Selected first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft, Fleury was a major component of the greatest era in franchise history, helping the club win three Stanley Cup championships (2009, 2016 and 2017).
Suiting up in parts of 13 seasons with the Penguins, Fleury holds nearly every career franchise record of note for goaltenders, including games played (691), wins (375) and shutouts (44).
Overall, Fleury has the second-most goaltending wins in NHL history having posted a career mark of 575-339-97 over 21 seasons.
In addition to the Penguins and Wild, Fleury skated for the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks during his career.
“Marc means so much to our team, our fans and the city of Pittsburgh because of the person he is and the example he set,” Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said in a statement. “The Penguins feel he and his family are most-deserving of this opportunity to celebrate this full-circle moment back where it all started in front of the black and gold faithful.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
