Marc-Andre Fleury’s NHL playing career is over.
The Vegas Golden Knights beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in Game 6 to eliminate them in a back-and-forth series. While it was tough for all of Minnesota to get eliminated from the playoffs, it may have stung a little harder for Fleury.
When Fleury signed a one-year contract extension with the Wild in April 2024, he announced the 2024-25 season would be his last. Now that his team is out of the playoffs, his memorable career has ended.
During the traditional handshake line after the series, opposing players spent a little more time with Fleury. After that, the four officials congratulated him on his long career, before he saluted the fans giving him a standing ovation.
One last time. 🌸
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 2, 2025
After 21 seasons, Marc-André Fleury has officially retired from the NHL. 🥲❤️ pic.twitter.com/KR85TDsxyb
After the game, left winger Kirill Kaprizov touched on the honor of being Fleury’s teammate for a short time.
“It was nice to play with him… a couple of seasons together. You can learn so much stuff from him,” Kaprizov told reporters. “I don’t know what to say, unbelievable career… one of the best goalies in the world, all-time.”
Fleury played 1,051 games over 21 years in the NHL. He spent most of his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups over 13 years. The Penguins made sure to congratulate him and to thank him for his time with them.
“Congratulations to Marc-Andre Fleury on a phenomenal NHL career. We've been privileged to be a part of it,” the team said on social media.
The NHL also released a video on its socials, with several old teammates and star players praising him and his prolonged career. The video consisted of messages from former teammate Sidney Crosby, along with Jack Eichel, Connor McDavid, Jeremy Swayman and Macklin Celebrini.
"Fleury's been doing it for so long," Eichel said. "The model of consistency, and I don't think I've ever spoken to a player or staff member, really anybody who's had a bad thing to say about the guy."
Wild defenseman Brock Faber was also in the video message and couldn’t say enough about Fleury.
“As a young player in this league, there isn’t a single guy, probably ever, that could be a better role model,” he said. “The way he treats his teammates, his family, how hard he works, it’s a complete honor to be able to share the same sweater as him.”
'Flower' ends his career with the second-most wins and second-most games played by a goaltender in NHL history, behind Martin Brodeur in both categories.
The 40-year-old from Sorel, Que., signs off with a 575-339-2-95 record, with a 2.60 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and 76 shutouts. He also won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017, the Vezina Trophy and the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2020-21.
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Well, it's official.
After just four days on the open market as a head coaching option, ex-Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan has offically been named the 38th head coach in New York Rangers history.
The announcement came Friday morning via Rangers general manager Chris Drury.
New York Rangers Hire Coach Mike Sullivan: 'Mike Brings A Championship-Level Presence'The New York Rangers named Mike Sullivan their new coach on Friday.
“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said in a statement. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career - including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.
"I’ve gotten to know Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championships, when he coached me as a player in New York and through our shared time working together with USA Hockey. As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”
After a decade at the helm, the Penguins and POHO/GM Kyle Dubas parted ways with Sullivan on Monday. In those 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, the team won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 and went 409-255-89 during the regular season. He is the winningest coach in Penguins' franchise history and is 15th all-time in coaching wins with a single franchise.
Sullivan was also head coach of the Boston Bruins from 2003-06, and he held subsequent assistant coaching gigs with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. Prior to joining the Penguins organization in 2015, he was also a player development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] United States coaches Mike Sullivan, right, and JohnTortorella during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game against Canada at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson-Imagn Images)](https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_hockey_news_pittsburgh_penguins_articles_513/d1493d7290ec5009b8c615fef3a660a1)
Sullivan's international experience aided in his hire, too, as he led Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-off tournament in February and will be the head coach of the men's hockey team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy.
“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG. “Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench.”
According to a report by ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the contract is a five-year deal with the highest average annual value awarded to a head coach in NHL history.
'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.
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The Anaheim Ducks parted ways with head coach Greg Cronin on April 19, following his second season behind the Ducks’ bench.
“It’s much like the way I took the approach last time,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said when asked about the upcoming hiring process during his media availability following Cronin’s firing. “The net’s going to be cast wide. I’m not going to really eliminate any options as far as my approach to the next coach.”
Eight teams are in need of a new head coach behind their respective benches heading into the 2025-26 season, and a laundry list of available candidates with a wide range of experience are on the market.
“Am I looking for some sort of specific coach? No,” Verbeek said. “I’m going to go through the interview process and I will probe and poke and ask questions (about) certain things that I think our group needs and see how it all shakes down.
“I’m open to any type of coach at this point. I’m not shutting anything down. Now, timeline. We’re going to start the search and start to make a list immediately. I really don’t have a timeline on it. I’m going to look to hire the best candidate for this team and what it needs moving forward.”
Ducks Move On From Greg Cronin
Speculation: When to Expect an Anaheim Ducks Coaching Hire
How the Ducks Head Coaching Job Compares to Other Vacancies around the NHL
Just one week later, on April 26, the first sizable news around general manager Pat Verbeek’s coaching search surfaced.
ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a cryptic post on social media of side-by-side images of controversial (to say the least) three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville and a family of Ducks.
Nearly four hours after Buccigross’ post, James Murphy of RG Media reported that a “well-connected NHL source” told him the Ducks offered Quenneville their open head coaching job, a very surprising potential development considering Verbeek’s statements alluding to casting a wide net and being open to any coach.
“The job is his if he wants it, and I’d be stunned if he doesn’t take it,” Murphy’s source relayed to him. “I’d say it’s 99.999999 percent he becomes the next head coach in Anaheim.”
The Ducks later confirmed that Murphy’s report was false and that interviews will continue.
Roughly an hour and a half later, PHWA President Frank Seravalli from DailyFaceoff.com slightly contradicted Murphy’s report, confirming the Ducks interviewed Quenneville, but stated the team is early in their process.
“Joel Quenneville recently interviewed for the (Ducks) head coaching vacancy,” Seravalli reported on social media. “He is a strong candidate but it’s still early in the process, multiple interviews to come in Anaheim.”
The IIHF U18 World Championship is underway in Frisco, Texas, the final big on-ice draft event of the season. Making up most of the attendance numbers are NHL coaches, scouts, media, and family members of players.
Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports and Elite Prospects offered an update on the Anaheim coaching search via social media.
“Chatter at U18s from some in the NHL coaching circles is that Anaheim has interviewed, but not offered the job to anyone,” Shapiro said.
Elliotte Friedman from SportsNet is one of the NHL's premier insiders. He gave his thoughts on Monday’s rendition of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.
“The way I understand it, he’s definitely a serious candidate there, and we’ll see if he ends up being the guy. But he’s definitely a serious candidate. I don’t think that’s the only team that’s interested in him.
“I think the Ducks are very serious about it from a hockey perspective. You’ve heard Pat Verbeek say that they want to make the playoffs next year, and that’s why I think he’s looking at Quenneville, and Quenneville is a possibility. And I think the two of them met face-to-face last week.
“The bottom line is the Ducks are considering him, and he is a very serious contender for their job.”
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on the latest installment of “The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast” that the Ducks are expected to interview Quenneville a second time.
“Some wanted to connect Joel Quenneville to (Rangers GM Chris) Drury because of their Colorado days,” Dreger said. “I know that Q is—he’s expected to get a second interview with the Anaheim Ducks, so we’ll see how things play out there.”
Pierre LeBrun from TSN, one of the NHL’s premier insiders, reported on social media that the Ducks have contacted several coaches in regards to filling their head coaching vacancy while confirming they intend to interview Quenneville a second time.
“Hearing Ducks have interviewed Jay Woodcroft,” LeBrun said. “Also hear Ducks GM Pat Verbeek recently met with David Carle. Believe Anaheim has also made contact with Mike Sullivan. As reported by others, Joel Quenneville will soon get a second interview. Other names in mix. Wide search by Ducks.”
Less than one hour later, Vince Mercogliano, who covers the New York Rangers for USA Today, reported on social media the Rangers were heading toward hiring Sullivan as their next head coach.
"The (Rangers) haven't confirmed or announced anything officially yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history."
To make it official, early on May 2, the Rangers announced they hired Sullivan as their head coach, making him the first coaching hire of the 2025 offseason and eliminating him from contention for the Ducks' job.
Joel Quenneville: Quenneville (66) sits second on the NHL’s all-time wins list for head coaches with 969. He hasn’t coached a game since Oct. 28, 2021. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers following the results of Jenner & Block’s investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.
David Carle: Carle (35) recently withdrew himself from the running for head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is possibly the most clamored-for coach on the market. Carle has coached the University of Denver to two NCAA championships and Team USA to back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medals.
Jay Woodcroft: Woodcroft (48) was relieved of his position as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers just 13 games into 2023-24 and after assuming the position in the middle of 2021-22. He has a 79-41-13 record in 133 games behind an NHL bench, and the Oilers, months after parting ways, made it to game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Mike Sullivan (Hired-New York Rangers): The Pittsburgh Penguins let Sullivan (57) go on April 28. He won two Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017 as their head coach, and his appearance on the market immediately made him one of the most desirable targets for one of the eight franchises in need.
This piece will see continued updates as new information surfaces