Marc-Andre Fleury received a standing ovation Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena as he was inducted into the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hall of Fame alongside Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford, and the family of Jack McGregor. The ceremony took place before the Penguins faced the Ottawa Senators, drawing thousands of fans who celebrated some of the franchise’s most influential figures.
Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most popular goaltenders in Penguins history, earned a unanimous vote for the 2026 class. “The organization gave me the chance to live my dream and play here for so long,” Fleury said. “That’s why it’s always a special place for me to come back.” His career with the Penguins spanned over a decade, during which he became a defining presence between the pipes and a fan favourite.
Larry Murphy, who was inducted as part of the early 1990s championship teams, recalled the experience of winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. “Everything about it, of course, actually getting your hands on the cup, the honor. The skate around the ice with it was something I’ll never forget, but also the reaction of the city of Pittsburgh. It was the first cup for this franchise,” Murphy said. His defensive skills helped solidify those Penguins teams as some of the best in NHL history.
Jim Rutherford, the Penguins’ general manager from 2014 to 2021, also joined the Hall of Fame class. He reflected on Pittsburgh’s status as a sports city and his time building competitive teams. “With the group that we had and the run that we had, it was just one of those, two of those, years that were just a dream come true,” Rutherford said. His leadership was instrumental in assembling squads that captured Stanley Cups during his tenure.
The family of Jack McGregor accepted his posthumous induction. McGregor helped bring the NHL back to Pittsburgh in 1966 after a 36-year absence, laying the foundation for what the franchise would become. Fans watched a video highlighting his vision and contributions to the team’s return. Murphy recalled the excitement of that moment, saying, “I’ll never forget the airport, when we arrived … you really got a sense, right then and there, just how much that meant to the city.”
The induction ceremony combined nostalgia with recognition for those who shaped the Penguins both on and off the ice. Fleury’s emotional remarks captured the sentiment of many in attendance who have followed the team’s journey over the decades. The Penguins continue to honour their history as they build toward future successes.
According to Yahoo Sports.
