Stakes are high for Stanley

Fisher and Fleury mean a lot to their teams, but this may be their last shot at greatness

This is how long Marc-Andre Fleury has been with the Pittsburgh Penguins: His first season was Mario Lemieux’s last season as a player.

He broke into the league in 2003 and was there as an older rookie in 2005, alongside Sidney Crosby. Now he sits at the end of the Pittsburgh bench, seemingly alone, for what could and should be his third Stanley Cup celebration, and likely his last with the Penguins.

This is how long Mike Fisher has been playing in the National Hockey League: He’s on the short list of those who played before the century changed. He played with those now coaching in the league (Kevin Dineen), those covering the league (Patrick Lalime) and those in management (Daniel Alfredsson).

He is the captain of the Nashville Predators, beloved, respected, admired — and yet he has no contract beyond the end of this month. He may not get another one. This shot at the Stanley Cup is really his first legitimate chance in years and probably his last legitimate chance, all at the same time. There is so much at stake for Fisher and the Predators, no room for error — and in Fisher’s case, no time to waste.

These are the personal stories of the Stanley Cup. It is all about team at this time of the year, not necessarily about individuals, but when you strip the veneer away, there are so many people with so much on the line and so few games left to play.

The Stanley Cup was in the building Sunday. The Nashville Predators hoped it would not be taken from its box. Pittsburgh had a plan worked out beforehand that the Cup would be presented first to captain Crosby, then passed in a pre-determined order.

It’s possible the plan was to pass it to longtime teammate and friend Fleury. They won’t be teammates for very much longer.

Fleury is in one of those difficult positions. He is a veteran with a no-movement clause in his contract, which by rule of the law means he would have to be protected in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft later this month.

But Pittsburgh will have to work something out with Fleury because it can’t possibly lose starting goaltender Matt Murray for nothing. Fleury has to be party to all of this, because, really, he is in control of his own destiny, however he and his agent choose to play this out.

Vegas could claim Fleury and have the veteran as its starting goaltender next season or, more likely, Vegas general manager George McPhee will already have worked out of a deal for Fleury — with the goalie’s consideration — that would find him a new home.

One story going around has Fleury winding up as the Calgary Flames’ goaltender. Earlier, during the final, a broadcaster who grew up in Western Canada was known to be selling Fleury on the better points of Calgary.

Fleury still has a yearning to play and succeed. He was a huge part of the 2009 championship team. He played a large role this spring when Murray was injured and he was forced to play. Had he not faltered just slightly against Ottawa, he might still be playing now.

But head coach Mike Sullivan made a hard call in the Conference finals to go back to Murray in goal and it has paid off handsomely for the Penguins. Now Fleury, the most popular player in his locker-room, maybe the most internally beloved Penguin of all time, waits for this championship to be won, waits to celebrate and the difficulty of moving on.

All is unclear with Fleury. It is less clear with Fisher. He wants the grand opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup. The story of Nashville has been unlike any hockey story in recent history. The story of Nashville would get a whole lot better should Fisher be able to hoist the Cup in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, have a parade and then become a part of Nashville history forever: He and his wife, country star Carrie Underwood, two icons together, staying the city, always representing something.

The Predators haven’t confirmed they want Fisher back next season. He was paid US$4 million this year — a good NHL salary for someone in his situation. Management is whispering they aren’t sure if anyone in hockey would sign him for much and they aren’t sure he would want to move elsewhere.

“He’s a huge part of our team,” Predators defenceman Roman Josi said. “He’s a huge part of this organization.

“I think he really carries the things this organization cares about. Since I’ve been here, he’s been a great example for me. He does the right things, says the right things. He means a lot to the organization.”

Sunday could be Mike Fisher’s last NHL game. He isn’t calling it that. It could be Marc-Andre Fleury’s last time as a Penguin. He isn’t saying.

The Stanley Cup was there to be won, and two teams, two individuals, are so deserving of a championship.