Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Penguins Tryout Contract After Announcing NHL Retirement

Four months after announcing his retirement, Marc-André Fleury is putting the pads back on to join the organization that originally drafted him.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Friday that Fleury has signed a professional tryout contract before all 32 teams open training camp for the 2025-26 season on Sept. 17.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas issued a statement about Fleury returning to the club:

"The entire Penguins organization is honored to welcome Marc-Andre Fleury back to the ice in Pittsburgh. This past year everyone witnessed how beloved and respected Marc is in the game of hockey, but the adoration goes beyond his accolades and career. Marc means so much to our team, our fans and the City of Pittsburgh because of the person he is and the example he set. The Penguins feel he and his family are most-deserving of this opportunity to celebrate this full-circle moment back where it all started in front of the black and gold faithful."

When Fleury signed a one-year deal to return to the Minnesota Wild for the 2024-25 campaign, he also revealed it would be his final season in the NHL.

The Wild's season came to an end on May 1 with a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

What was thought to be Fleury's final appearance came in Game 5 against the Golden Knights when he stopped six of seven shots in relief of Filip Gustavsson, but Vegas won 3-2 in overtime.

"I had a little time maybe in my car after [Game 6], driving home by myself and had a little time to reflect," Fleury told reporters on May 6. "Just, I don't know, still a little unbelievable that it's over. Twenty years went by so quick, right?"

Even though Fleury seemed content with his career, his longtime agent, Allan Walsh, said on a podcast that he received calls from five different teams when free agency opened on July 1 willing to make "serious one-year offers" to get him to unretire.

Walsh said at the time that Fleury "made it pretty clear for now that he has no intention to play next year."

Given Fleury's connection to Pittsburgh and history with the Penguins, it's not a surprise that he was willing to briefly end his retirement for what appears to be a fitting sendoff. He was originally drafted with the No. 1 overall pick by the organization in 2003, played 13 seasons for the club and won three Stanley Cup titles during that span.

Fleury aside, the Penguins have an unsettled goalie situation going into the 2025-26 season. Tristan Jarry is set to be the No. 1 option on the depth chart after Alex Nedeljkovic was traded to the San Jose Sharks on July 1.

Artūrs Šilovs is tentatively set to be the backup, but he only has 19 games of NHL experience. He allowed 3.65 goals per game with an 86.1 save percentage in 10 appearances for the Vancouver Canucks last season.

Joel Blomqvist, a second-round draft pick in 2020, could also get a look for the No. 2 job after appearing in 15 games with the Penguins in 2024-25.