Fleury recalls Chara and Weber as hardest shooters he faced
Marc-Andre Fleury identified Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber as the two players with the hardest shots he faced during his career. He said a shot from either to the stomach leaves a lasting impact. Both defensemen won multiple hardest shot competitions.
Fleury's 21-season career spanned an era when slap shots from the point carried particular danger. Chara's record-setting 108.8 mph blast in 2012 capped five consecutive hardest-shot titles, while Weber's 108.5 mph effort in 2015 nearly matched that mark. Their combined dominance of the event stretched across roughly a decade of NHL hockey.
Weber's 2010 Olympic shot that tore through netting demonstrated the raw force these defensemen generated. Fleury's recollection of feeling stomach shots "for a while" underscores how goaltenders absorb impacts that fans rarely appreciate from the stands. All three players have since retired, with Fleury recently honored by the QMJHL Hall of Fame.
Fleury's comments could deepen fan appreciation for the physical toll goaltending takes, potentially shifting how younger audiences view the position's demands. The story may also reignite discussion about shot velocity records and the players who defined that era of power hockey. For teams evaluating defensemen, it serves as a reminder that elite shooting remains a lasting differentiator, though its measurable impact on game outcomes may be debated.