Fleury will need to stand tall in the net for Minnesota

With his ever- present smile, tireless approach and long list of accomplishments in the net, Marc-Andre Fleury has always embraced a heavy workload.

The Minnesota Wild sure haven’t shied away from leaning hard on their new — and 37-year-old — goalie. After arriving in a deadlineday trade in March and resigning with the Wild in July, the guy everyone calls “Flower” is still fully abloom as he begins his 19th season in the NHL.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin initially planned to bring back both Fleury and Cam Talbot, who made the All-Star team and went 13-0-3 in his final 16 regularseason starts before being benched in favor of Fleury for the first-round playoff series against St. Louis.

The Wild lost in six games, after Talbot got the cold start in the elimination game and gave up four goals on 26 shots.

Guerin changed his mind, though, after signing Fleury to a two-year, $7 million contract.

Realizing Talbot’s frustration from the lack of postseason action, he didn’t want to risk any tension or discontent. Talbot was traded to Ottawa for Filip Gustavsson, who will be the No. 2 goalie while top prospect Jesper Wallstedt gets more development in the AHL.

Kings

After making the playoffs last season for the first time in four years, coach Todd McLellan thinks the easy part is done for Los Angeles in its rebuilding project. “Now comes living up to expectations,” said McLellan, who is beginning his fourth season. “We have to accept that responsibility to step up every day. Expectations are high within our locker room and organization.”