There is much to admire about Fleury, from his talent to his fun-loving attitude. But this is an occasion to appreciate his resilience and class.
Fleury had his ups and downs in 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning one championship as a starter in 2009, one as a backup in 2016 and one while filling both roles at times in 2017. He was exposed in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, and it says it all that he was still beloved in Pittsburgh and instantly the face of the franchise in Vegas.
His first season with Vegas, an expansion team in its inaugural season, he put up the best goals-against average (2.24) and save percentage (.927) of his NHL career. Yes, the Golden Knights were the best expansion team in NHL history, but he was a huge reason.
Perhaps all that prepared him for what was to come.
From owner Bill Foley on down, the Golden Knights are about one thing: winning the Cup. DeBoer was hired Jan. 15, 2020, and took a fresh look at everything with no past loyalties. Lehner was acquired Feb. 24, 2020. DeBoer said he would play the goalie who gave Vegas the best chance to win.
Last season, it was Lehner. But even though Lehner signed a five-year, $25 million contract Oct. 3, Fleury dug in.
And this season, the goalie who has given Vegas the best chance to win has been Fleury. He set new bests for GAA (1.98) and save percentage (.928) in the regular season and has the best GAA (1.71) of his NHL playoff career. His .931 save percentage in the playoffs is the second-best of his NHL career, behind the .933 he had in 2008, when the Penguins made the Stanley Cup Final.
"He faced some adversity there last year, and you know, instead of laying down, he showed up in camp and fought and battled and turned it into what I think should be a Vezina Trophy," DeBoer said.