RALEIGH — It goes without saying that the next few weeks and months are going to be the biggest of Haydn Fleury’s still very young professional hockey career.
On perhaps the very best blue line in the NHL, Fleury has to stand out and prove that he’s worth being in the top-six on a nightly basis. If he can do that, he’ll stay in Carolina. If he can’t, there’s a very real possibility that he will be playing with another organization now that he is no longer waiver exempt.
Through the first two days of training camp, the now 23-year-old former first-round pick has looked different — though, not in appearance.