John Locher / AP
Vegas’ Alec Martinez and Marc-André Fleury share a moment after the Golden Knights’ series-clinching Game 6 win over Colorado.
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 | 2 a.m.
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If there was one game that could test the loyalties of a Golden Knights fan, one night where the T-Mobile Arena crowd might not be that upset if the visitors won, it would be tonight.
The Chicago Blackhawks visit tonight, but all that the capacity crowd will want to see tonight is Marc-Andre Fleury. The beloved goaltender returns to Las Vegas for the first time since his controversial trade in the offseason, and in a week of Golden Knights reunions, this one figures to hit the hardest.
“It feels weird so far,” Fleury said, sporting a Chicago ballcap and shirt from a podium inside T-Mobile Arena on Friday afternoon. “It’s weird to come to the rink to come to this locker room and be on the other side and all that, but I think it will be definitely more emotional (tonight).”
Fleury was the face of the Golden Knights franchise from the moment he stepped through the curtain at the expansion draft in 2017. He was the backbone of the team that went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 and was part of three more playoff runs after that, including back-to-back trips to the league’s semifinals.
Last year was the individual apex of his career, winning his first Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie. For a player who had a borderline Hall of Fame case after 13 years and three Stanley Cup rings with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he left no doubt about his legacy during his time in Vegas.
His Golden Knights tenure ended unceremoniously this summer when he was traded to Chicago without Vegas receiving an asset in return.
The player they received back, career minor-leaguer Mikael Hakkarainen, remained in Chicago’s system even if his contract is now owned by Vegas. He’s currently playing in Europe.
In exchange for their Vezina-winning goalie, Vegas received relief from Fleury’s $7 million cap hit, which was used to acquire winger Evgenii Dadonov and backup goalie Laurent Brossoit.
It’s something that still doesn’t sit well with a portion of the Vegas fanbase, but Fleury didn’t want to dwell on it.
“It’s behind me. It was months ago. I’ll always be grateful for my time here with this organization,” Fleury said. “I’m fortunate that the Blackhawks wanted me to play for them and continue doing what I love, play hockey. I’m grateful for that.”
The Golden Knights have started a tradition for honoring former players with a video tribute during the first period, and did so on Sunday when Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny returned with Winnipeg and on Thursday when Ryan Reaves and coach Gerard Gallant did with the Rangers.
Fleury’s will no-doubt be the one that tugs at Vegas fans’ heartstrings the most as the team’s undisputed favorite former player.
He has been through this before. He spent much of his career with the Penguins, and his return there was emotional for him, as he was as beloved there as he was in Las Vegas.
He was a first-overall pick in Pittsburgh and blossomed from a teenager into a future Hall of Famer. Here, he helped build an organization from the ground up and set the foundation for one of the winningest organizations in the league to thrive from Day 1.
“Both places I loved playing, I loved living there, I made a lot of connections, a lot of friends,” Fleury said. “The fans were awesome to me in Pittsburgh, they were awesome to me here in Vegas and that’s what makes it emotional when you come back.”
What is for certain is how loud his ovation will be. And if he plays well and beats the Golden Knights, there will be fans who go home smiling anyway. That’s how loved Fleury is in this city.
