The trade that sent Marc-Andre Fleury from the Vegas Golden Knights to the moribund Chicago Blackhawks late last month has left much of the NHL world unsettled.
Fresh off a Vezina Trophy-winning season — the first of his already decorated career — the three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins was unceremoniously dumped to a team that finished sixth in the Central Division.
Many have felt the charismatic fan favorite deserved better and even speculated that he might demand another trade to a contender or retire.
He hasn’t thus far, instead indicating that he will report for duty. The team, however, isn’t doing itself any favors in giving Fleury’s many fans confidence about the arrangement. When the Blackhawks unveiled his jersey alongside those of other offseason acquisitions Thursday, they misspelled his name.
How on earth do you spell Marc-Andre Fleury's name wrong? pic.twitter.com/vV3CrrTQ5A
— Paul Ross (@RealPaulRoss) August 19, 2021
That’s right. They made a jersey that says “Fluery” instead of “Fleury.” And predictably, it prompted a viral response.
say what you want about the golden knights but at least they knew how to spell this poor man’s name pic.twitter.com/11rS0fLcxD
— katie (@dameofscones) August 19, 2021
Maybe Fleury shouldn’t have decided to play for the Blackhawks… pic.twitter.com/7DPuaKMufo
— Noah ???????????? (@Phlyers24) August 19, 2021
Fleury deserves so much better pic.twitter.com/8BlP1Kunm1
— ???????????????????????? (@eelitetolvanen) August 19, 2021
Go Mark-Andrew Fluery! pic.twitter.com/w06qJc3xjk
— Anthony - xMeatballs ???????? (@DBtBAnth) August 19, 2021
i can't believe the blackhawks spelled fleury's name wrong what did this man do to continuously get disrespected.
— anna ✨ (@rantannanen) August 19, 2021
Can't come in to work today, feeling kinda Fluery https://t.co/1rC9z3wLPO
— Matt S (@MattSeg09) August 19, 2021
The tweet has since been deleted, ostensibly so the equipment staff can correct the gaffe before the Oct. 13 season opener.
The Penguins will see their former teammate just a few days later, when they welcome him back to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. faceoff at PPG Paints Arena.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: August 19, 2021, 5:44 p.m.
Updated: August 20, 2021, 10:39 a.m.