Penguins send Fleury to minors

— -- PITTSBURGH - Marc-Andre Fleury, the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NHL draft and the Pittsburgh Penguins' starting goalie at the beginning of that season, was reassigned to the team's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) farm club Saturday.

The move means Sebastian Caron will begin the season as Jocelyn Thibault's backup in Pittsburgh. The Penguins traded for Thibault two months ago to become their starter. Caron was the Penguins' primary starter in 2003-04, going 9-24-5 with a 3.74 goals-against average.

The Penguins want Fleury to play regularly rather than sit the bench in the NHL, especially with Thibault expected to get the majority of the starts. Pittsburgh will close exhibition play Sunday night against Washington before opening the season Wednesday at New Jersey.

Fleury went 4-14-2 with a 3.64 goals-against average with Pittsburgh in 2003-04, splitting time between the Penguins - the NHL's worst team that season - and his junior team in Canada. He was 26-19-4 with a 2.52 goals-against average at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season.