Despite a playoff run full of off-ice drama and an uncertain future with the club, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury hopes to remain with the Vegas Golden Knights for the rest of his NHL tenure.
"I want to stay in Vegas," Fleury told The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "I don’t know what the future holds, but I've loved every moment since I got here."
He added: "This team means a lot to me, and the city has been so good to me. The fans, and (owner Bill Foley) have been so awesome. It's a great team, and I thought when I came here that maybe I could retire here. I wanted to end my career here."
Fleury has been the Golden Knights' backbone since joining the expansion franchise from the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017. He signed a three-year, $21-million contract with Vegas the following summer, but his future in Sin City grew murky when the Golden Knights acquired Robin Lehner prior to this season's trade deadline.
Lehner eventually took over as the club's postseason starter, and the dynamic between the two netminders came into question after Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh, tweeted a picture of a sword inscribed with head coach Peter DeBoer's name stabbing his client through the back.
Vegas reportedly plans to sign Lehner, a pending unrestricted free agent, to a new deal this offseason - potentially making Fleury expendable in a trade. Fleury hopes that isn't the case.
"I get along great with Robin, so I think it would be all right," he said of another time-share in goal next season. "I still love to play. I don't think I just want to be a backup, but I'll practice hard, try to play well, and hopefully get some games, but it always comes down to the coach's decision.
"Whatever happens, happens. And that's fine. I'll just try my best to come to camp in good shape and do well from there."
Fleury, who turns 36 on Nov. 28, has posted a 91-50-14 record along with a .915 save percentage and 2.51 goals-against average in three seasons with the Golden Knights.
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