Former Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury turned 40 on November 28, cementing his status as the oldest netminder in the NHL. A day later, he was between the pipes, leading the Minnesota Wild to another victory.
With Friday night’s 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, Fleury joined Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur as the only goaltenders to win NHL games as a teenager and a 40-year-old, according to League Public Relations.
Fleury’s first win came as a member of the Penguins, who drafted him first overall in 2003, on October 18, 2003 against the Detroit Red Wings. Twenty years later, on January 15, 2024, with the 552nd victory, he moved into second place on the list of all NHL victories.
It’s only fitting that Fleury found himself in a different category alone with Brodeur after Friday’s win, as the two tied for the first (691) and second most (566) victories in professional hockey history.
Additionally, if Fleury could play 14 more games before retiring, he would pass Roberto Luongo (1,044) and be behind Brodeur (1,266) for most games played.
Fleury seems to be making history every night he laces up the pads. Fans across the league should embrace the next five months, because the next time we see Kvet will be at his jersey retirement ceremony or his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.