[Signing] Marc-Andre Fleury to Pittsburgh

[redmile04]

Not sure if many know those as I found out through a convo with Theo himself at a sports convention at the BMO center a few years after his retirement. He said he did get an opportunity but his partner didnt want to go "up north" with a grin..

With that being Theo, hard to know if he was telling the truth or just wanted a laugh out of us. He seemed serious though.

[curves2000]

Off topic but #14 Theo would have been able to get up to quicker speed with some more time. He had the hands, the hockey IQ, did lack speed but that would have improved within a few weeks. We had a veteran team that year and plenty of older players. I think he would have been more productive overall than several players. If you look at some of the production of some of these forwards, it's downright pathetic how we were wasting Iggy's prime. I would have taken the chance on a guy who played with passion and had a history of putting the puck in the net with IQ, skills and toughness.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Not sure if many know those as I found out through a convo with Theo himself at a sports convention at the BMO center a few years after his retirement. He said he did get an opportunity but his partner didnt want to go "up north" with a grin..

With that being Theo, hard to know if he was telling the truth or just wanted a laugh out of us. He seemed serious though.

Considering the Oilers finished last overall by 12 points that season, I wouldn't be surprised if they offered him a contract.

[PepsiFree]

Theo was 41 and had been training for almost an entire year straight.

He wasn’t getting any faster.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This is pretty cool and hopefully something other teams adopt for when a legend retires with another team and doesn't get a last game in their home uniform.




Reminds me a bit of Theo playing in that pre-season game that time.

It's been tarnished a bit now due to his position politically since then, but I can't remember many games as electric as that one in the Saddledome.

I sold my season tickets for that pre-season game for like $30 a couple weeks before and then bought new tickets at $100 once it was announced he was officially playing mid day. To this day it was still totally worth it.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Not sure if many know those as I found out through a convo with Theo himself at a sports convention at the BMO center a few years after his retirement. He said he did get an opportunity but his partner didnt want to go "up north" with a grin..

With that being Theo, hard to know if he was telling the truth or just wanted a laugh out of us. He seemed serious though.

He wasn't telling the truth, lol. Theo is all about Theo and his brand. If he was cut by the Flames and done in the NHL and the Oilers offered him a league minimum contract, he'd be up there in two seconds to soak in all the media attention and keep the story alive.

[jayswin]

nm

[3rd liner]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

It was cool to watch, but he was slow as molasses out there, and it was VERY clear he wasn't up to NHL speed anymore.

Eric Duhatschek at the time said words to the effect of "small and slow has never been a successful NHL combination". Sutter similarly said "Honor the past. Don't live in it." when Fleury was cut.

I really wanted it to happen, so those things stick out in my mind.

Now of course, I'm pleased it didn't. That loon didn't need any more money or success in life.

I was at that preseason game and a huge Fleury fan since his rookie days- what an electric atmosphere- the best preseason game I've ever been to.
But, as others have said, he couldn't just enjoy the moment and bow out with class. He had to roast the team afterwards for cutting him. That was the beginning of the end for me- the guy just went downhill from there and turned into an attention seeker.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by getbak

I hope he brings back the yellow pads for his final game.


I like this better than the "one day contract" stuff so a player can retire with a specific team. Wouldn't it have been amazing to see Iggy flying down the right side with Monahan and Johnny if only for one preseason game?

Perhaps, this experience is reserved only for Fleurys

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I sold my season tickets for that pre-season game for like $30 a couple weeks before and then bought new tickets at $100 once it was announced he was officially playing mid day. To this day it was still totally worth it.

I was next door stuck working at the ####ing home show… I’m still pissed about it.

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Theo was 41 and had been training for almost an entire year straight.

He wasn’t getting any faster.

Fundamentally not true. He was never going to be fast but he effectively started training after years of drug and alcohol abuse, being really overweight and 9/10 months later was playing NHL pre-season hockey.

Just getting to suitable shape to even play NHL quality hockey is one thing but to start from such a low baseline is another. Young, high level NHL players often take months to get back up to game speed from injuries or time off. I think he just ran out of time in some ways but would have been able to contribute more than other players at the time. Wither he would have gotten much faster or stayed healthy we don't know. Was still cool to see.

[memphusk]

I like this way better than watching Messier skate around with the cup when the Oilers opened that dump of an arena.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Favourite player of all time.

Had the absolute pleasure of watching him since he was 16.

I've never seen a goalie at the junior level like him. He w as unreal, and to see him game in game out was such a privilege I didn't deserve.

There's a wall in my basement that's dedicated just to him:



The jersey retirement poster, World Junior 2003 Team Canada photo, and program from the 2003 CHL Prospects game are all signed.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Favourite player of all time.

Had the absolute pleasure of watching him since he was 16.

I've never seen a goalie at the junior level like him. He w as unreal, and to see him game in game out was such a privilege I didn't deserve.

There's a wall in my basement that's dedicated just to him:



The jersey retirement poster, World Junior 2003 Team Canada photo, and program from the 2003 CHL Prospects game are all signed.

Ugh...but he's French tho!!

Kidding aside he seemed like an awesome teammate and, lets be honest, he was a great goaltender.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Locke

Ugh...but he's French tho!!

Kidding aside he seemed like an awesome teammate and, lets be honest, he was a great goaltender.

Hey now! We taught him Engli.... Cape Bretonese which is mostly close to English.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1968041043334664538

[Nufy]

Wonder if they will hide his equipement so he has to play in someone else's Jersey...

The final prank.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by curves2000

Fundamentally not true. He was never going to be fast but he effectively started training after years of drug and alcohol abuse, being really overweight and 9/10 months later was playing NHL pre-season hockey.

Just getting to suitable shape to even play NHL quality hockey is one thing but to start from such a low baseline is another.

You’re describing where he was at in 2005, not 2009. Read his book. 4 years of training and getting back into playing hockey, followed by 9-10 months of training purely focused on the NHL. He wasn’t an overweight drug addict in 2008/2009. His baseline, as a former all star NHL player, was also significantly higher than the typical person. The body remembers.

There’s no shame in admitting he didn’t have it and wasn’t going to find it. The list of 41 year olds that have the wheels for the NHL is an incredibly small list, even amongst those that were the best.