Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
When you think of recent French Canadian goaltenders, let alone French Canadian players in general, Marc-André Fleury is a name that immediately comes to mind. The Quebecer enjoyed a Hall of Fame career that saw him win three Stanley Cups as a starting goaltender with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as a Vezina Trophy during his time with the Vegas Golden Knights.
With Fleury in his final season in the NHL, who will take the reins as the new elite French-Canadian goaltender? Unfortunately, those reins may not be taken right away. Sam Montembeault of the Montreal Canadiens is the closest thing in the league to an elite French-Canadian goaltender, but he’s still relatively new to a starting role and his path to goaltending greatness could be tough behind a majorly rebuilding Canadiens team with a bottom of the cannon defense.
Only time will tell if Montembeault or another French-Canadian goaltender can replace Fleury, but for now, it seems like we may be at the end of an era in that regard.
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