Fansided

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury ‘best team player in sports’

By Jeff Hawkins

Apr 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad (20) handles the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends the net during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Brandon Saad (20) handles the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends the net during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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An after-thought last spring, Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has emerged as a possible Conn Smythe Trophy candidate entering the Eastern Conference Finals.

This time last spring, long-entrenched Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had his character tested.

A late-season concussion created an opportunity for rookie Matt Murray to propel the speedy Penguins to the 2016 Stanley Cup championship. During the NHL playoff run, Fleury didn’t pout. He didn’t cause distractions. He avoided headlines.

As Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford described to Postmedia Thursday: “(Fleury’s) the best team player in sports.”

Fleury is now the feel-good story of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Penguins on Saturday face the Senators in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Halfway to earning back-to-back Cups, Fleury has emerged as a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy in the postseason. Not bad considering six weeks ago he was an after-thought on the Penguins goalie depth chart.

The 2003 No. 1 overall draft pick has been a Penguins institution in net since becoming the starter in 2005-06. He backed them to a dramatic Cup victory over the Detroit Red Wings in 2009. Who can forget his effort in Game 7?

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan attempted to employ a two-man goalie rotation during the regular season, but it became clear the franchise was leaning toward Murray. It was widely believed Fleury’s days in Pittsburgh were coming to an end. Until, that is, Murray suffered a freak injury during warm-ups for Game 1 of the opening round. Enter Fleury. Two series later, he is 8-3-1 with a 2.55 GAA and .927 save percentage.

Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin will not soon forget Fleury’s Game 7, 29-save performance Wednesday. Certainly, the one-timer Fleury deflected away with the shaft of his stick, will haunt Ovechkin through another long summer.

Fleury continues to inspire the Penguins. Last spring, Murray benefited from the skaters’ speed. This spring, the Penguins are relying on grit. The skaters were credited with turning aside 19 shots by the Capitals in Game 7.

Regardless of how the Penguins fare the remainder of the playoffs, Fleury will complicate Rutherford’s offseason plans. So many questions. So many scenarios.

Will the Penguins continue to trade Fleury, especially now since he has proven he can still carry a club?

Will Rutherford expose Fleury to the upcoming expansion draft? Will the Penguins GM find a way to juggle the salary cap to keep Fleury and Murray together? If so, will coach Mike Sullivan be able to continue harnessing the duo’s competitive fires during the grueling regular season?

At 32, Fleury feels he can still be No. 1. His .955 save percentage in the Capitals series is significant testimony. This time last spring, Fleury was the forgotten man. This summer, he will be a hot commodity.

Couldn’t have happened to a better team player.