Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Golden Knights’ Fleury to fans: ‘Stay safe. That’s all that matters’

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Steve Marcus

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture was finishing explaining why it’s tough to play against Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury when Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf interjected with the one-liner of the day.

“And he took your coach,” Getzlaf said.

Fleury, Couture, Getzlaf and Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar took part in a video conference call hosted by the NHL today.

The league is doing two calls a day, sorted by conference, trying to get some of the sport’s biggest names some airtime while play is suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today’s Pacific Division representatives were asked some light-hearted questions — they revealed that Getzlaf is building a chicken coop and Couture started a book club — but also some more serious, hockey-related ones.

When the suspension is eventually lifted, all four on the call said they hope the NHL resumes the regular season instead of jumping right into the playoffs.

“I think the biggest thing as a goalie is timing,” Fleury said. “That’s something you’ve got to catch up on.”

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, whose team is unlikely to miss the playoff cut, said on the Metropolitan Division call Thursday that he would prefer to pick up the season with postseason play. The Golden Knights are in the same boat, sitting in first place in the Pacific when the season was halted.

The Kings’ Kopitar said he would rather resume the regular season, prompting Getzlaf to chime in and say, “I don’t think we need to worry about the playoffs, Kopi.” The Ducks and Kings are 11 and 14 points, respectively, out of a Wild Card berth.

Fleury said he has been doing the same thing as others in Las Vegas — isolating at home. He has remained at his valley home during the NHL pause with his wife and three children, while getting some work done around the house.

He put up a trampoline in the backyard and has roller-bladed around his neighborhood with his youngest child in the stroller.

“I think I go to bed more tired now than when we were playing hockey, with the kids running around all day,” Fleury said. “Home school’s not easy.”

Fleury said Las Vegas in particular is struggling because of the large number of workers in the hospitality industry.

“It’s a city that thrives on having people in town and so many people work in that business — in the hotels and stuff — and right now nobody’s making money, and everybody went home,” Fleury said. “It’s definitely a tough time for people in Vegas right now.”

His message to the fans: “Right now, just take care of yourself, your family. Stay healthy, stay safe. That’s all that matters. We’ll play hockey at some point — we don’t know when — but I’m looking forward to seeing you guys in the stands again.”