Marc-Andre Fleury hints at a comeback, confirms he has offers from two teams

Could we see a comeback for the ages?

Minnesota Wild insider Michael Russo recently caught up with newly-retired goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who hinted at a possible NHL return.

“Last year, I was done, in my head,” Fleury said. “But being home and not having that goal to get something, try to go win something, it’s not easy.”

“I still miss it,” Fleury said. “I still miss playing, miss the boys, miss the compete, trying to have a goal of winning. The feeling of winning a game. I miss that for sure.”

That quote raised Russo's eyebrows a bit and prompted him to ask if a comeback is in the cards?

While Fleury wouldn't commit to a return, he did drop the news that at least two teams have asked him about returning.

“Probably not,” Fleury said when asked if he'd entertain an NHL return. “A couple teams asked. But I just said, ‘No.’ It’s tough for some reasons.”

What's clear though is that Fleury wants to be back in the game in some way and that he's open to opportunities. Wild GM Bill Guerin, a former teammate of Fleury's in Pittsburgh, has given Fleury an unlimited hall pass to the team's executive suite so that he can cozy up to management and coaching staff.

In fact, Fleury just traveled to Arizona to be part of the team’s midseason organizational scouting meetings, where he got to hear and add his two cents on lots of proprietary information.

He’s also taken the ice multiple times with injured Wild players to prep them for returns throughout the season.

“Billy said come whenever,” Fleury said. “I get to meet the scouts, player development, the coaches. It’s good to see that side of the business, right? Then maybe next season I can fit somewhere.”

Did Fleury just acknowledge a different type of comeback? He may not be under a standard playing contract, but a comeback to the Wild seems likely. As things stand now, he's taking his time deciding what exactly he sees in his future as far as coaching and/or management goes, even though he brushes off the idea of being an NHL head coach.

“I’m no coach, you know,” he said, smiling. “I could help younger guys, younger goalies. We’ll see.”

I would say that an on-ice role in player development seems perfect for the affable Fleury. Just imagine you're a young prospect or a rookie goalie in the NHL and you have a (future) Hall of Famer at your disposal. It seems like a perfect fit, at least from my perspective.

Stay tuned. A Fleury NHL comeback seems likely at this point... it's just a matter of role and personal fit.