Marc-Andre Fleury Sets the Record Straight on Retirement After Return to Pittsburgh

Whenever goaltenders are being mentioned among the all-time greats of the NHL, Marc-André Fleury's name is never too far behind.

The Penguins' franchise record holder for games played (691), wins (375), and shutouts (44), he built a Hall of Fame resume spanning two decades.

And so when Fleury laced up one final time for the Pittsburgh team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003, it was a nostalgic moment.

The 40-year-old played the third period of a 4-1 preseason victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, turning away all eight shots he saw.

"One More Year" chants echoed from the crowd, but Fleury made it more than explicit, stating that he's truly retired, choosing to put his health first after hip problems.

Multiple teams had been looking to bring him back for a late-season push, as NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported, but Saturday's effort was indeed his goodbye.

A three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2008 and 2017, Fleury is now happy to shut the book on his playing career.

Sidney Crosby's availability is less clear. The Penguins are in rebuild mode, and GM Kyle Dubas stated that he has no problem trading veterans for assets.

Pat Brisson, Crosby's agent, fueled speculation by stating "anything can happen," and with Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov out injured, speculation paired Crosby with the defending champions.

But Crosby has spoken publicly about his commitment to Pittsburgh, making any potential move challenging. At this point, he is the face of the franchise.

Fleury's retirement provided closure for one of the Penguins' legends' careers, but also placed another in the spotlight with question marks. While Fleury can retire off into the sunset in glory, Crosby's own long-term life in Pittsburgh isn't quite over, yet.