PITTSBURGH — Marc-Andre Fleury isn’t going anywhere.
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed the franchise’s all-time winningest goaltender to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday worth $23 million.
The new deal, which begins next year, runs through the 2018-19 season.
“I believe in Marc-Andre Fleury, as the team does,” general manager Jim Rutherford said. “He’s won before and he will win again. We’re very pleased to have him signed long term.”
The 29-year-old Fleury was in the final season of a seven-year contract he signed in 2008. Fleury is off to a hot start for the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins. He is 7-2 with a 1.89 goals against and is tied for the NHL lead with three shutouts heading into Thursday night’s game in Winnipeg.
The former No. 1 overall pick is 295-171-46 in 11 seasons. Fleury’s 111 victories over the past four seasons are tops in the NHL. He has struggled at times in the postseason since helping the Penguins win the 2009 Stanley Cup.
Fleury’s save percentage in the postseason dipped below .900 from 2010-13 and he briefly lost his job to Tomas Vokoun in the 2013 playoffs. He bounced back last spring, going 7-6 with a 2.40 goals against in 13 games as the Penguins fell to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The team declined to negotiate with Fleury over the summer following a massive front-office overhaul that saw Rutherford replace Ray Shero and Mike Johnston take over as head coach for Dan Bylsma.
Rutherford, a former goaltender, backed Fleury recently even as Fleury downplayed his uncertain future. He’s sparkled as the Penguins have adjusted to Johnston’s style of play. He posted consecutive shutouts for the first time in wins over Los Angeles and Buffalo last week to push his career total to 31.
Photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
