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Fleury Should Play in Montreal for Team Canada at Four Nations
The Four Nations roster was announced already. Just imagine Marc-Andre Fleury playing in Montreal for Team Canada it would have been special.
Marc-Andre Fleury had another fantastic night in the city of Montreal. In his final start at the Bell Centre in the Province of Quebec, Fleury recorded his 76th shutout Thursday night with a 4-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens. There is something about Fleury playing at the Bell Centre that gets Fleury’s engine going.
In back-to-back seasons, the Bell Centre crowd gave Fleury a standing ovation after the Wild defeated the Canadiens. Last year, it was early in the season, and there was some uncertainty about Fleury’s future. So that was a special moment. On January 30th, 2025, everyone knew this was his final start.
But it makes you wonder, with the Four Nations Face-Off heading to Montreal and Boston in just a couple of weeks, why Team Canada did not put Fleury on the roster.
Fleury on Team Canada Would Have Been Special
Yes, he is an older player and may not see much ice time as the third goalie, but with the games being played in Montreal, his presence could provide a significant boost—not just for him, but for the entire team. The emotional aspect of the game is something you can’t underestimate. Imagine Marc-André Fleury starting a game for Canada at the Bell Centre—the energy in the building would be electric.
Fleury would be the perfect player to boost morale and lift Team Canada, as he knows how to handle big moments. His fun-loving personality and natural ability to bring levity to the locker room make him an asset beyond just playing the position as one of Canada’s three netminders.
He has been in this position before and understands what it takes to win in a short tournament. His veteran presence shouldn’t have been overlooked.
Statistically and Emotionally, He Should Have Been in the Running
Fleury’s numbers don’t jump off the page—an 11-5-1 record with a 2.60 GAA and a .908 save percentage—but they aren’t bad. And having a player of his experience and leadership on the roster, with years of strong numbers, would have spoken volumes. Fleury hasn’t just been good once or twice. He’s been consistently good for over a decade.
Emotional lifts matter in a short tournament. If Canada were trailing or lost a game, just imagine what Fleury would do for the rest of his teammates. Fleury loves to feed off the energy of the crowd. He could help his teammates remain loose and light-hearted. He would have calmed the nerves of the players who have never been in this situation playing for their country on this big stage. Perhaps that matters more than straight stats.
Those emotional lifts can lift teams to victories, and not just on an international stage. In the NHL, especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The New Jersey Devils put Ken Daneyko back into the lineup in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Anaheim Ducks. That helped the Devils win, and it was the emotional boost that the team needed.
That is just one example. Steven Stamkos with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 in the bubble. Glenn Wesley with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. Ray Bourque in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche against the Devils. These are just some examples of how having that emotional boost matters.
Team Canada Miss An Opportunity Here with Fleury
Players feed off the energy of the crowd. Having that Team Canada sweater on could allow Fleury to take his game to an even bigger level. He’s already good, as proven by his 11-5 record with a shutout on Thursday night.
If you don’t think the roof would have come off the Bell Centre, think again. Just listen to the crowd’s reaction to him over the last two seasons. The people love him, and that would help Canada.
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