Hockey fans eager to see Marc-Andre Fleury top the chart of NHL goaltending wins will have to hold their breath a little longer. Fleury, currently tied with Patrick Roy for second place in career wins, will be benching the upcoming game against the Dallas Stars, as CBS News Minnesota reports. Instead, the Minnesota Wild are handing the net to Jesper Wallstedt, who's slated for his NHL debut.
In Wednesday's game, Wallstedt, a 21-year-old goalie hailing from Sweden, will have some big skates to fill, following Marc-Andre Fleury's outstanding career. The Minnesota Wild's coach, John Hynes, mentioned that while a win at home for Fleury to surpass Roy would be a nice touch, resting their star player is the top priority. Hynes expressed in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota, "To make sure that we give him a little bit of a mental and physical breather before he gets back in."
Fleury's stellar career includes three Stanley Cup victories and recognition as the league's top goalie in 2021. His accolades have cemented his reputation, not just as an elite athlete but as a stalwart team player and individual of admirable personal character. Pete DeBoer, current Dallas coach, praised Fleury in an interview cited by the Chronicle Online, saying, "The words that come to mind are great teammate, class act, very professional."
The seasoned goaltender experienced a challenging stint recently, with a 1-4-0 run since the Wild's primary backup Filip Gustavsson encountered an injury. Coach Hynes, emphasizing Fleury's consistent performance on the rink and the so often overlooked humanitarian side, told CBS News Minnesota, "He's a great father, great husband. He's very undercover charitable." The Wild will be looking forward to Fleury's return to form as they face upcoming home games against Philadelphia and Arizona.
Fleury, who was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in 2003, has built a career that now hovers on the edge of making history. As soon as he secures his next win, he'll break his current equal standing with Roy with a significant 552 wins, with only Martin Brodeur ahead. Fans and teammates alike are eagerly watching as Fleury approaches this milestone, an achievement that would add yet another feather to the cap of his illustrious NHL journey.
