The Marc-Andre Fleury Hall of Fame case is going to become a MUCH bigger conversation soon, but Pittsburgh already got the easy part right. The Penguins announced that beloved goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, and obviously.. Flower belongs there. It’s quite the honor for Flower and much deserved. Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford, and Jack McGregor will join him as this year’s inductees.
Fleury was always meant for greatness. Fleury is just one of three goaltenders to ever be selected first overall in the NHL Rick DiPietro and Michel Plasse are the others. Unlike DiPietro and Plasse, Fleury went on to have a career worthy of that selection. Number 29 helped the Penguins to three Stanley Cups, took Vegas to a cup final in their inaugural season, and won a Vezina trophy. Fleury’s numbers in Pittsburgh were never too braggadocios, but he wasn’t exactly backstopping for the early 2000s Devils. The Penguins played a high tempo, risk-reward, style of hockey for Fleury’s entire tenure and I believe they did so because they were well aware they had a goaltender capable at handling hectic odd-man breaks. Once Fleury departed the team for Vegas, which he very much did not want to do, the Penguins have been lost in goal ever since. Matt Murray seemed like a surefire bet after starting in net for two cup finals, and winning both, but people with a close eye could tell he had his shortcomings. For greatness Murray displayed in 16 and 17, his glove hand was always notoriously suspect which is not something Penguins fans ever had to worry about with Fleury in the crease. Murray lasted a few more seasons before his glove hand was discovered by the league, and his hips failed him. Up next was Tristan Jarry and we all know how that went. Pittsburgh has rarely been a prosperous spot for a goaltender, but Fleury bloomed here. Up next will be Sergei Murashov trying to fill the void left by the man who broke into the league wearing all yellow pads.
Murashov seems like the most capable goaltender to fill Fleury’s shoes and it has nothing to do with his on ice performance. See, Fleury is a deserved Hall of Famer for his play on the ice, but his off ice attributes were what made him truly special. Fleury was known for pranks, his huge smile, and his overall positive persona. Murashov seems to a somewhat similar aura about him. Murray and Jarry were never able to have a Fleury like relationship with the city of Pittsburgh. Sure, some people (myself included) disliked Murray because he was the heir apparent. However, both Murray and Jarry were extremely reserved, at times standoffish, and were never to be blamed for any shortcomings. When Marc Andre Fleury went through his few dark seasons he was always the first one to put his hand up to take the blame on his shoulders and that’s something that I believe the fanbase really loved about him.
Some fans might scoff at the notion that the off the ice things matter. I would disagree vehemently. The game is played on the ice, but like with any sport the game is as mental as it is physical. Having someone in the room to lift the spirits of everyone else goes a long way. Having a calm presence with a huge smile just helps set the rest of the room right. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have someone who wasn’t afraid to mess with Sid and Geno. I promise you that Fleury’s off ice approach was just as important to the Penguins success as his play on the ice, even if they didn’t know it at the time.
Why the Marc-Andre Fleury Hall of Fame Case Is First-Ballot Worthy
Of course Fleury was deserving of a spot in the Penguins Hall of Fame. However, I think the more important topic is whether or not he deserves to make it into the hockey Hall of Fame. I really see no reason for him to not make it. I don’t even understand the argument for keeping him out. For God’s sake they just put Pekka Rinne into the hall. Rinne for comparison has three less Stanley Cups, the same amount of Vezina’s, and 206 less wins. Longevity was important to Fleury reaching some of his numbers, but that shouldn’t ever be a mark against a player. By the time Fleury retired he was 2nd all time in Wins, 12th in shutouts, same career sv% as Brodeur, second in goalie games played (and likely the last goalie to play 1000 games), and he stopped the third most pucks in NHL history (27,188 shots stopped by the Flower).
When you look at all of the stats, all of the accolades, and take into account the human the conversation should shift from hall of famer to is he a first ballot guy? He would certainly be on my ballot the first time he’s eligible, what about you?
