Fleury says he could return to Wild next season in interview with NHL.com/fr

ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- Marc-Andre Fleury still has that passion, the fire still burning inside, to borrow his expression. And that fire is not likely to be extinguished by the end of this season.

Inside a small office at TRIA Rink, the Minnesota Wild practice facility, Fleury spoke at length about his future and his long NHL career in an interview with NHL.com/fr. There was one major point that stood out during the half-hour long conversation: he's not planning on hanging up his mask.

"The door is more open today for a return than it was in September or October," Fleury said this week.

Several months ago, the Minnesota Wild goalie sounded more like a player who was getting ready for the final stages of his NHL career. When reminded of this fact, the 39-year-old flashed his classic smile before gathering his thoughts.

"I also thought it was going to be my last season," he said. "When we spoke this past summer, I was telling myself that I was preparing for one last year. But the mood has changed. [Training] camp wasn't easy, my hips were hurting, we were losing games at the start of the season. I wasn't playing the way I wanted. I ended up feeling better and I started playing better. I rediscovered the joy of playing hockey. For the first few months, I wasn't finding it very fun. I had hip problems and the team was struggling.

"When I played in Montreal in mid-October, I was still being very honest. I'd said that I was going to wait until the end of the season before making a decision on my future. I'd invited my friends and family, just in case that was my last game at Bell Centre."

If he does open the door to a return next season, Fleury would do it for a single team: the Wild.

"Yeah, it's probably Minnesota or retirement. I wouldn't want to move and take my three kids out of their environment. They've moved enough already. I don't want to uproot them. My girls have their school, their friends and their sports in Minnesota. And my wife, Véronique, is also happy here."

Fleury is in the final season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million. Fleury has said that money would not be an obstacle in future contract negotiations with the Wild.

"If I come back, I'd sign a one-year contract," he said. "And then we'll figure it out from there."

After a 3-1 win against he San Jose Sharks to Xcel Energy Center on Thursday, the Wild have 10 games remaining on their schedule. Barring an epic comeback, Minnesota will likely miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as they sit eight points behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the race for the second wild card in the Western Conference. At some point during the next few weeks, Fleury will be knocking on the office door of his former Pittsburgh Penguins teammate, Wild general manager Bill Guerin.

"I'd like to sit down with Bill and have a chat with him," Fleury said. "I want to know what he thinks. What are the plans for the Wild? What are his options? What does he think about me? Am I still an asset for the team? We also have another good young goalie in the American Hockey League in [Jesper] Wallstedt. He's been playing in Iowa for two years now. I'll need to know Bill's plans.

"I'll probably make my decision after my conversation with Bill. I expect to talk with him after our season, during the end-of-year meetings. I run across him at the arena, but I don't want to talk with him in a hallway. I know Bill well. I could call him, but I'd prefer to wait until the end of the season."

Several hours before the game against the Sharks, Guerin indeed could be seen walking the halls of the arena. Although he hadn't yet spoken with Fleury, the Wild GM shared his thoughts with NHL.com.

"I'm more than open to the possibility of seeing him coming back for another season, 100 percent," Guerin said. "We'll talk about it in the next few days. He's still having a good season. I think he's still got hockey in him if he wants. There's still some gas left in his tank.

"I like his approach and his love for hockey. He's a professional, he's well-prepared, he works hard and he wants to win. He has a positive influence in this locker room, and he's an incredible role model."

Coach John Hynes, who replaced Dean Evason on Nov. 27, said he also would like to be able to count on Fleury next season, noting that Fleury could continue to be part of the Wild's goalie tandem, alongside Filip Gustavsson.

In 36 games this season, Fleury is 16-12-5 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .899 save percentage. When he got a win against the New York Islanders on Jan. 15, he passed Hall of Famer Patrick Roy for second in NHL history (552). The three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017) and Vezina Trophy winner as the best goalie in the NHL in 2020-21, has a career record of 560-327-94, with two ties, 75 shutouts, a 2.59 GAA and .912 save percentage in 1,021 games with the Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Wild.

"At the level he's playing, and when I look at how he interacts with his teammates and how he lifts the mood in the locker room, I'd say, 'Why not?'" Hynes said. "I haven't seen any drop in his performance. If he can maintain a high level of play as a goalie and if he still has the same desire to play and win, I'd say that a return is certainly a possibility."

Inside the Wild locker room, forward Frederick Gaudreau said he would like for his fellow Québécois to stick around a while longer.

"It's up to him to decide on his future," Gaudreau said. "It all depends on what he's feeling in his heart. There are a lot of things to take into consideration. But if you ask my opinion, I think he still looks like a 24-year-old goalie out there. He's never in a bad mood, he always brings a positive energy. And he still loves hockey."

After 20 seasons in the NHL, Fleury probably has taken part in more than 2,000 practices. But on a Wednesday morning in late March, as the hopes of making the playoffs start to slip further and further away from the Wild, Fleury has the same passion he did on the first day of the season.

Beaten three times in quick succession during a power-play drill, Fleury flung a puck against the glass after giving up a goal to defenseman Brock Faber.

"I had no choice, I need to keep the fire burning in me," Fleury said. "I've always been like that. People don't really know that side of me, they always talk more about my smile. But I'm very competitive. In order to keep playing, I need that passion. I take pride in my play and I don't want to get beaten, even at practice. I want to stop pucks. When it goes in, I am definitely not happy."

By the end of practice, Fleury already had moved on from that rough sequence. He brightened the day of several young children who were watching practice by signing autographs for them and posing for pictures, all while still wearing his goalie equipment.

"I'm fortunate to still be in the NHL at my age," said Fleury. "It makes me happy when I see fans wearing the No. 29, especially when they're kids. There are often people holding signs for me. Whenever I can, I try to give them some attention. I also look back to when I young. I didn't have the chance to go to the Forum or the Bell Centre. But if I'd had the chance to go see games or practices, I would've really liked to go home with an autograph or a photo. I'll sometimes toss them pucks. I read the signs too, especially during practices. Sometimes I have the time to look all around."