PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s just that smile. Few Pittsburgh champion athletes have shown so much fun playing the game at such a high level as Marc-Andre Fleury.
Tuesday night as the Wild visit the Penguins, it will be his final game at PPG Paints Arena.
“I can’t say I’ve had my best games playing against them, but looking forward to it,” Fleury said Monday. “I have a couple of days in town it’s good to walk around a bit and see some old faces. Not that they are old, but people I haven’t seen in a while. It’s always special coming back.”
It’s the humor, that almost naivety, that has made him a favorite not just who those who support him, but those that played with him.
“A great friend and someone who shared a lot of great times and a lot adversity too,” said Pens captain Sidney Crosby. “Basically, grew up together in the league and trying to find our way. He means a lot. He means a lot to me and a lot to the organization. He was an incredible teammate.”
“What is not to love, honestly,” said Pens defenseman Kris Letang. “Just his personality. Here is not a mean bone in his body. He comes to the rink with a big smile on his face. Plays the game with a big smile. He’s a great teammate. It’s hard not to love a guy like that.”
When Letang was first starting in the league, Fleury let him stay with him. Neither spoke a lot of English, but each could share experiences in French. They would share many experiences, from initially losing, building, winning a Stanley Cup, building back up to win two more and then being separated.
“I think there are so many good moments, tough ones,” Fleury said. “The welcome I got here for my first game, first training camp was unbelievable. There are times I’ve had tough times where I feel like the crowd was there for me, pushing me to get better. It’s hard to remember all of them, but a lot of good times for sure.”
And he did it always with a smile, and a few practical jokes mixed in.
“You see it on the ice,” Letang said. “You see it in practice. You see it in the room. That’s Marc Andre. There is no guy outside and a guy at the rink. It’s the same. Always having fun, always a great attitude.”
“I feel lucky to be a part of it,” Fleury said. “I feel fortunate to have lived it. The way Mario and Ron handled things. We were able to turn it around. Sid, Geno, Tanger, Staalsy, Max, some of the guys who came in and were part of turning the team around a bit. It meant a lot going to the finals and winning that one in ’09 because we started as some young guys losing a lot to becoming a good team.”
“It worked out pretty good.”
He said there will probably be some emotions when he will be honored Tuesday night, likely during the first timeout of the first period. He says as he’s growing older he’s getting a little softer with his emotions, meaning there could be tears.
The 39-year-old Fleury said he will take a good look around while on the ice. There are a lot of good memories. He said he was very fortunate to play in Pittsburgh for so long.
He will also have his wife and kids with him and for his children, they might be able to understand better, being older, what Pittsburgh means to his family.
“I think they will see how good the fans have been to me,” Fleury said.
“For guys that have been here for a long time,” Letang said. “He made a big difference in this organization and people will remember him for it.”