At 5 ft 6, Fleury wasn’t supposed to make the NHL, let alone score over 1,000 points in the elite professional league in Hockey. He overcame those odds, and not only was he among the smallest players in the league (at times, he was in fact the shortest), but he was also constantly among the elite. He was scrappy and feisty, and his never-say-die attitude was inspirational to smaller players who wanted to compete. Perhaps with a bit of Napoleon Complex, Fleury was a constant agitator and was a scorer who spent his fair share of time in the penalty box.
Theoren Fleury was not just battling larger foes on the ice. He battled alcohol and drug addictions, and even though he had a very long and productive career, many have said that it could have been extended had he been able to conquer his demons. Currently, Fleury appears to have regained control of his life and, as such, could once again become an inspirational figure. If voters concentrate on his work in the rink and not his problems off of it, the scrappy Saskatchewan native could very well be enshrined.
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