By Phillip Garrett -
In many cases, complaining about a backup goalie not getting enough ice time is a good thing, and that’s the case for the Minnesota Wild this year. Through 17 games, the Wild have shown no reason to return to a 50/50 goaltending tandem like the last two seasons.
Despite losing three of his last five starts, Gustavsson is first in the NHL in GAA (2.08) and is in a three-way tie for first in SV% (.927). So, if we can’t appreciate Marc-Andre Fleury in his final season by watching him play, how can we?
Fleury has played a large part in many lives and has been a core inspiration for hockey players globally throughout the last few decades. So, even though I am far from a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, I feel the weight of his retirement looming. Each day, we step closer to April, and each day to when we may see Fleury skate off the ice for a final time. And as a hockey fan, that is the kind of event you try to see with your own eyes, a once-in-a-lifetime moment that I will likely have to watch on TV.
That's why it's sad that he has only played four games this season, three of which he has won. His stats this season have also been serviceable: He has a 2.70 GAA and a .904 SV%. So why hasn’t he played more often?
Fleury would have been a perfect option for the Montreal Canadiens game, giving Gustavsson some well-deserved rest and letting Fleury get another win for his stats. However, Gus showed why he’s Minnesota’s go-to guy, saving 19 shots and coming home with his first shutout of the season. While someone could argue that if Gus had gotten the break against the Canadiens, he might have won against the Dallas Stars. Still, it's not as if he played poorly against Dallas; Minnesota only lost by one point.
Michael Russo reported that Fleury will get the call for either the Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames game, allowing the goaltender to stretch his legs for the second time this month.
https://twitter.com/RussoHockey/status/1858570675864109372
We must remember that any team's success depends on the backup goaltender. There are more than enough chances for an injury or the team to regress. In that case, the Wild will need a level-headed vet to steady the team, which Fleury has shown he can still do.
Any team would love to rely on one goalie all season. Still, Fleury wants to play, and the Wild should let him. Fleury has helped drive Minnesota’s new culture under Guerin. Players want to play in front of a hockey legend who’s also additive in the locker room. I don’t care if he starts against the bad teams. The team should want to keep him happy and finish his career off right.
Minnesota’s players will be motivated to honor the future Hall of Famer. He has given the Wild two good years and has chosen to stay in the Twin Cities until the end. Everyone in Minnesota, including the team, shouldn’t take that for granted.
Bill Guerin brought Fleury to Minnesota because of his experience and to mentor Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt. Fleury’s influence on Gus will last for many seasons.
The veteran netminder has positively influenced Gustavsson, allowing him to influence the next generation.
More starts would be great for Fleury, but he also seems happy to see Gus improve this season.
“I want to help,” Fleury said. “I want to help the team as much as I can. Sometimes waiting for a while is not easy, but Gus is playing amazing. He’s been winning lots, that’s all you can ask for.”
So, then, the time has come. Fleury had already confirmed this to be his final season, and he and the Wild seem content with his limited play. That will also likely result in the veteran goaltender's least active season.
(I hadn’t thought of this until I started writing. But at the pace Fleury is playing, we will likely see less than 20 more starts from him by the end of the season. It truly is the end of an era.)
As Fleury’s time with us runs down, it's essential to look at the man, not the player.
While Fleury may not want any special treatment, his final season must be good – not only from the players but also from the fans. It may not seem like much, but buying into the team's story can often lift a club through a season and the offseason. So let’s enjoy what we’ve got left.
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