The Penguins just gave Marc-Andre Fleury something that has completely changed the organization
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Marc-Andre Fleury was unanimously voted into the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, headlining the Class of 2026.
Marc-Andre Fleury just added another line to his already legendary Pittsburgh resume.
The Penguins announced their Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Thursday, and Fleury headlines the group as the first player from the post lockout era to earn a unanimous vote from the Hall of Fame committee, doing it in his very first year of eligibility.
Fleury spent 13 seasons in Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2017, backstopping the franchise to three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
He still owns nearly every meaningful goaltending record in team history, including games played with 691, wins with 375 and a goals against average of 2.58.
Fans still talk about his last second stop on Nicklas Lidstrom in Game 7 of the 2009 Final, the save that sealed the franchise's first championship in 17 years.
A well earned honor for Flower
Fleury has never been shy about how much Pittsburgh means to him, often pointing to the bonds he built with teammates and staff over the years, along with the fans around town who cheered him on and stuck with him through it all.
"Pittsburgh will always be a special place. There's the bonds that you make with teammates and staff that you see every day throughout those years, but also the fans that you see around town. They are all such good sports fans, and they like the Penguins, and they cheer you on. I always keep good memories of my time here."
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Marc-Andre Fleury
That connection is a big reason this honor hits so differently for so many people in the city.
News of Fleury's induction spread quickly across social media, with longtime friends and former teammates reacting to the moment.
Ceremony set for November
The Penguins will honor the Class of 2026, which also includes Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford and Jack McGregor, with an on ice ceremony on Saturday, November 14 against the Ottawa Senators.
Fleury figures to get one of the loudest ovations PPG Paints Arena has heard in years.
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