#119 - Theoren Fleury

Theoren Fleury (Murillo Pyramid Rank = #119)

Adjusted Stats

1988-1989   Cgy*      37 GP   12 goals   17 assists   29 points     0.78 PPG
1989-1990   Cgy        82 GP   27 goals   30 assists   56 points     0.69 PPG
1990-1991   Cgy        81 GP   47 goals   48 assists   95 points     1.17 PPG
1991-1992   Cgy        82 GP   30 goals   36 assists   66 points     0.81 PPG
1992-1993   Cgy        81 GP   28 goals   55 assists   83 points     1.02 PPG
1993-1994   Cgy        81 GP   37 goals   42 assists   79 points     0.97 PPG
1994-1995   Cgy        80 GP   51 goals   51 assists   102 points   1.27 PPG
1995-1996   Cgy        80 GP   45 goals   49 assists   94 points     1.17 PPG
1996-1997   Cgy        81 GP   31 goals   40 assists   71 points     0.87 PPG
1997-1998   Cgy        82 GP   31 goals   59 assists   91 points     1.11 PPG
1998-1999   Cgy/Col  75 GP   47 goals   62 assists   109 points   1.45 PPG
1999-2000   NYR      80 GP   17 goals   55 assists    72 points     0.90 PPG
2000-2001   NYR      62 GP   33 goals   49 assists    83 points     1.33 PPG
2001-2002   NYR      82 GP   28 goals   46 assists    74 points     0.90 PPG
2002-2003   Chi         54 GP   14 goals   24 assists    38 points     0.71 PPG

Adjusted Playoff Stats

1988-1989   Cgy*      22 GP    4 goals    5 assists      9 points      0.43 PPG
1989-1990   Cgy        6 GP      2 goals    3 assists      4 points      0.70 PPG
1990-1991   Cgy        7 GP      2 goals    4 assists      6 points      0.85 PPG
1992-1993   Cgy        6 GP      4 goals    6 assists     10 points     1.64 PPG
1993-1994   Cgy        7 GP      6 goals    4 assists     10 points     1.40 PPG
1994-1995   Cgy        7 GP      6 goals    6 assists     12 points     1.77 PPG
1995-1996   Cgy        4 GP      2 goals    1 assist       3 points      0.72 PPG
1998-1999   Col        18 GP     5 goals   13 assists    19 points    1.04 PPG

Career - 1120 GP, 478 goals, 663 assists, 1142 points, 1.02 PPG
Career-Highs - 51 goals (94-95); 62 assists (98-99); 109 points (98-99); 1.45 PPG (98-99)
Avg. (15 seasons) - 75 GP, 32 goals, 44 assists, 76 points, 1.02 PPG
Peak Avg. (93-01) - 78 GP, 37 goals, 51 assists, 88 points, 1.13 PPG, 0 Cups

Playoff Career - 77 GP, 31 goals, 42 assists, 73 points, 0.95 PPG
Playoff-Highs - 6 goals (94-95); 13 assists (98-99); 19 points (98-99); 1.77 PPG (94-95)

Accolades - None
All-Star Teams - 1-time 2nd-team
1-time Stanley Cup Champion

Because of his size, Theoren Fleury had to work doubly hard just to make it to the NHL. He had to overcome the adversity of being stereotyped and bullied. That's what makes it more tragic that in the end, after all that hard work, the biggest factor that prevented Fleury from achieving even more success was himself. He is known now as a cautionary tale for substance abuse...we shouldn't forget how successful a player he was.

Since Fleury has been in the spotlight for such a long time for all the wrong reasons (the Graham James scandal resurfacing, his tell-all book coming out), I had forgotten how young he was when he retired. Fleury was only 34 when he retired, still relatively productive and with 475+ goals and 1100+ points in his career at right-wing. If he had stuck around for a few more years, he'd have surefire Hall-of-Fame numbers. Of course, that could never be...Fleury retired at the height of his substance abuse problems.

I have huge sympathy for anyone who suffered under that abusive sleaze Graham James. It clearly scarred Fleury for life, leading to his alcohol and drug problems. However, part of what made Fleury so dynamic was his unpredictable edge: for such a short player, he endeared himself to fans and teammates by playing a physical, combative style despite the fact that he was usually at least six inches shorter than the people he was battling.

Fleury was a rookie on the 1988-1989 Flames, one of the most stacked teams assembled in the post-Oilers era. He wasn't counted on to be "the man", but still chipped in with 9 points in 22 playoff games. It was in 1991, when some of the other Flames like Joe Mullen had moved on, that Fleury started taking over the team. He scored 47 goals and 95 points in 1990-1991 and began to emerge as one of the most reliable, consistently durable (remarkable given his size) right-wingers in the league.

Why isn't he ranked in the Pavel Bure area? Well, in his peak years, from 1993 to 2001, the Flames never made it past the first round (and often missed the playoffs). It was only when he was acquired as a rent-a-player for the Avalanche that he made it to the Conference finals. Contrary to what many believe, Fleury's tenure with the Rangers was successful from an individual point-of-view but not from a team one. Like so many, he was part of the underachieving Rangers' squads of the early 2000s. However, in 2000-2001, he was fourth in league scoring when he abruptly left the team with twenty games left to check into the league's substance abuse program.

That's the story of Fleury's career: he overcame so much, accomplished a hell of a lot, but in the end could have been even greater if he hadn't been wrestling with his own personal demons. Should he be in the hall-of-fame? I say yes...the accomplishments are still impressive, and like Martin St. Louis, Fleury was one of those players who became a fan favourite because he gave hope to everyone who was under six feet tall. He has the iconic moment in which he scored an OT winner against the Oilers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSRFLUBgvzc), and even though he may not have been integral to it, Fleury does have a Cup championship. Most importantly though, it seems as if Fleury has overcome his addictions and rejuvenated his life. A hall-of-fame induction would be the perfect capper to his redemption.