Fact remains that MAF diehards are clutching to this "Without Fleury, no 3 cups"
Penguins success seems to be largely predicated on reducing Fleury's impact. Observe the team's outcomes during the Crosby-Malkin era:
2006-2007: Lost in the first round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2007-2008: Lost Stanley Cup final (Fleury injured, shares net with Conklin and Sabu)
2008-2009: Won Stanley Cup final (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2009-2010: Lost in second round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2010-2011: Lost in the first round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2011-2012: Lost in the first round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2012-2013: Lost in the EC Finals (Fleury is replaced by Vokoun early in the playoffs)
2013-2014: Lost in second round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2014-2015: Lost in the first round (Fleury is unquestioned starter)
2015-2016: Won Stanley Cup Final (Fleury injured, replaced by Murray shortly before playoffs)
2016-2017: Won Stanley Cup Final (Murray is starter, replaced Fleury in ECF)
Every time Fleury was replaced in some capacity, they made it at least as far as the ECF. The first Stanley Cup also looks like a weird outlier here; every other year that Fleury was the unquestioned starter, the team didn't make it past the second round.
Dude held the Pens back for ten years. Anyone who misses him does so for reasons other than hockey.
Now, Mods, please euthanize my thread. I didn't start it to be another stinking Fleury thread.