Marc-André Fleury, the legendary Quebec goalie, had hoped to end his career in an ideal way, by playing one last season in front of his loved ones and the fans of the Montreal Canadiens.
He didn’t admit it out loud. But everyone knew.
But this dream was suddenly extinguished, crushed by the meteoric rise of Jakub Dobes, a young prodigy who has already sealed the future of the goalkeeper position in Montreal.
With an exceptional career, Marc-André Fleury had everything to have a dream ending.
After 22 seasons and more than 1,000 games played, he hoped to end his journey where it all began: at home, in Quebec.
Fleury had shown notable openness, telling the Journal de Montréal earlier this season that he was not yet ready to retire, despite being 39 years old (soon 40).
His performances, although declining, remained competitive, and he saw in Montreal an opportunity not only to extend his career, but also to help a young team rebuilding.
But hockey is unforgiving, and the emergence of Jakub Dobes has radically changed that.
At just 23 years old, Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens’ fifth-round pick in 2020, made a sensational debut in the NHL.
In his first two starts, he blanked the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers before defeating the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout, allowing just one goal on 57 shots.
With a goals against average of 0.48 and an efficiency rate of 0.982, Dobes made everyone agree.
Even his teammates, like defender Alexandre Carrier, were full of praise for him:
“The calm he has in front of the net is what makes him so successful. As a defender, when you feel like your goalie is calm, even in his first two games in the National League, it gives you confidence to make plays and be more aggressive. »
Dobes, who experienced meteoric progression after an initial adaptation to the American League with the Laval Rocket, seems to have the perfect profile for the Canadian.
His composure, his ability to elevate his game under pressure and his calmness make him an obvious solution to stabilize the Montreal net.
The rise of Dobes means that Marc-André Fleury will not have a place in Montreal. Although Fleury had hoped to sign with the Canadiens this summer as a free agent, Dobes’ performance sealed the fate of that scenario.
Montreal no longer needs a veteran to fill the second goalie position: Dobes is already ready to heat Samuel Montembeault.
And that’s not all. Behind Dobes, Jacob Fowler, another young goalie considered a prodigy, is expected to make his professional debut with the Laval Rocket next season.
With Dobes on fire and Jacob Fowler about to arrive, it’s over for Marc-André Fleury. His Montreal dream came to an end.
In an interview with the Journal de Montréal, Fleury revealed his doubts about retirement:
“Retirement scares me”he confided, repeating several times his desire to continue. But these hopes now come up against a reality that he cannot ignore.
Dobes’ rise closed the door to one final season in Montreal, an outcome he so hoped for.
It wasn’t a decision he wanted to make. By talking about retirement, he almost seemed to be trying to convince himself.
“You never know what can happen in life, but I’m pretty determined. This should be the last time”he declared, hesitantly.
Yet even those words sounded like a last hope, an attempt to cling to the idea that perhaps there was still a door ajar.
Even though Fleury has done everything he can to keep his career alive, it seems that time and circumstances are working against him.
As the Canadian turns to a new generation of goalies, Fleury must accept that his place is no longer where he dreamed it would be.
Yes, he dreamed of one last way out.
He had imagined this door in Montreal.
Fleury had done everything to maintain hope. Last summer, he knew Kent Hughes had considered signing him, but the Minnesota Wild still seemed to need him.
Today, the situation is reversed: the Wild is ready for the post-Fleury era, and Montreal has found its next gem.
For Canadian fans, the arrival of Jakub Dobes marks the start of a new era. With his Olympian calm and his ability to shine in critical moments, he embodies everything the organization is looking for in the goalkeeper position.
He proved that he was ready to take on a leading role, alongside Montembeault. Until it packs down.
Marc-André Fleury’s dream of ending his career in Montreal will therefore remain an unfulfilled dream. Despite his ardent desire to play one last season in front of his family, circumstances do not work in his favor.
Retirement now seems inevitable for the last heir of the great line of Quebec goalkeepers.
And if the end of Fleury’s career marks the end of an era, the birth of a new star in Montreal begins a new one, full of promise and hope.
Dobes…Montreal’s new prodigy…
