Is it for Real, A Fleury Return to Calgary?

When I read about former NHL star Theoren Fleury spending countless hours this summer working out with a personal trainer and skating to get back into game shape I couldn’t help but to hope that this 41 year-old can once more make it back to the National Hockey League. It only seems like yesterday that this 5 foot 6 182 pound ball of fire made his mark when in 1991 he showed the world his jubilation for the sport of hockey when he took a few strides towards center ice before dropping to his knees and pumping his fist in excitement after scoring a game six overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers. While in Calgary this Saskatchewan native who overcame long odds to make it to the NHL was a two time one hundred point scorer (100 points in 1992/93 and 104 in 1990/91) and enjoyed his finest hour as an NHLer in the spring of 1988/89. During that magical time Fleury who was a rookie scored 34 playoff points to help the Flames capture the Stanley Cup. From Calgary Fleury who was part of team Canada that captured the 2002 Olympic Gold Medal also played for the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks during his 15- year career. In 2001/02 when Fleury was with the Rangers his personal life spun out of control as it was made public that he had an alcohol and substance abuse problems. Fleury got involved with an aftercare program and eventually had a short 54 game stint with the Blackhawks. in 2002/03, Fleury who accumulated 455 goals and 633 assists in a 15 -year career was put on waivers and his once promising career ended prematurely. 

During this dark period of time for Fleury was suspended indefinitely by the NHL for violating the aftercare program. Now he says that his life is under control and that he wants another shot at playing in the National Hockey League.  Even though he hasn’t played an NHL shift in six seasons and no word has been given about the suspension being lifted Fleury is still willing to keep a positive attitude as he strives for that ultimate goal of getting an invite this fall to an NHL training camp. “You always want to see guys play as long as they can,” said Calgary Flames defenceman Cory Sarich who has been working out with Fleury. “It sure makes a heck of a story if a guy can pull something like that off.” In a society where we give second chances I believe that Fleury should be commended for getting his life in order and for that be allowed to end his NHL career the way he wants to. “The initial reason I did it (training to make a comeback) was because I did not want to retire as a suspended player,” he said. So far it’s been reported that there is little to no interest from the 30 GM’s still that hasn’t discouraged him from trying once more to beat those odds. “I have to believe somewhere, someway that I can do this otherwise there is no sense in me putting in the work and not expecting to achieve the end goal.”

In a perfect world Fleury will not only get that suspension lifted but also get to finish his career where it started and that’s in Calgary where once more fans can see a recovered Fleury wearing his familiar number 14.