Haydn Fleury Bio
Haydn Fleury is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 8, 1996, in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Fleury was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2014 NHL entry draft. Over the course of his career, he has also played for the Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, and Tampa Bay Lightning, establishing himself as a reliable defensive presence at the professional level. His professional career began in 2015, and he has continued to contribute in both regular-season and playoff settings throughout his time in the league.
Early Life and Background
Haydn Fleury was born and raised in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, a small town that has produced other notable hockey players. Growing up in this tight-knit prairie community, Fleury was surrounded by hockey culture from an early age. He became familiar with fellow Carlyle native and future NHL veteran Brenden Morrow, who was playing junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks while Fleury was still a toddler. Morrow reportedly babysat the young Fleury, and the two would later cross paths in the Under-17 tournament exactly 17 years apart, highlighting how deeply hockey runs through the community.
Fleury developed his game through local minor hockey before advancing to the Western Hockey League (WHL). His size and skating ability made him a promising prospect from a young age, and his steady progression through junior hockey drew the attention of NHL scouts. These formative years in Saskatchewan helped shape the defensive foundation that would later define his professional career.
Path to Hockey
Fleury took a significant step in his development when he was selected by the Red Deer Rebels in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. He quickly became an important player for the Rebels and was named an alternate captain on November 8, 2013, reflecting his leadership qualities at a young age. His strong play in the WHL established him as one of the top defensive prospects heading into the 2014 NHL entry draft.
Projected as a top-10 pick, Fleury was selected seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, making him the second defenceman taken in that draft. On August 7, 2014, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Hurricanes, beginning the formal transition from junior standout to professional prospect. He continued his development with the Red Deer Rebels before making the jump to professional hockey.
Haydn Fleury Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Fleury returned to the Red Deer Rebels for the 2014–15 WHL season following his NHL draft selection. On November 5, 2015, he was named an alternate captain for Team WHL at the CHL Canada/Russia Series, further demonstrating his standing within Canadian junior hockey. After a first-round playoff elimination, Fleury joined the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, on an amateur try-out. On April 12, 2015, in the Checkers’ final home game, he made his professional debut and scored a goal in a 4–3 victory over the Rockford IceHogs.
During the 2015–16 season, Fleury attended Hurricanes training camp before being reassigned to the Rebels. He helped Red Deer advance to the 2016 Memorial Cup, where the team reached the semi-final before losing to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Fleury was recognized for his strong performance by being named to the 2016 Memorial Cup All-Star Team. These experiences in junior hockey prepared him for full-time NHL duty the following season.
NHL Debut and Hurricanes Era (2017–2021)
Fleury began the 2017–18 season with the Carolina Hurricanes and made an early impact at the NHL level. On October 26, 2017, in just his eighth NHL game, he earned his first NHL points with two assists in a 6–3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After recording six assists in 39 games, he was briefly reassigned to the Charlotte Checkers on January 25, 2018, but was recalled just three days later. Once the Hurricanes were eliminated from post-season contention, Fleury was assigned to the Checkers to assist in their 2018 Calder Cup playoff run.
The 2018–19 season saw Fleury again begin with the Hurricanes on opening night, though he was reassigned to the Checkers on October 17 before being recalled on October 31. On November 23, 2018, he suffered a concussion in a game against the Florida Panthers and was placed on injured reserve on November 29 before being activated on December 2 ahead of a game against the Los Angeles Kings. On July 16, 2019, the Hurricanes rewarded his development with a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.
In the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Fleury continued to play a third-pairing role with the Hurricanes but managed only one goal in 35 regular-season games. On April 12, 2021, he was traded at the deadline to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jani Hakanpää and a 2022 sixth-round draft pick, ending his time in Carolina.
Anaheim, Seattle, and Tampa Bay Years (2021–2024)
Fleury’s stint with Anaheim was brief, as on July 21, 2021, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL expansion draft. The move reunited him with his younger brother, Cale Fleury. After his inaugural season with the Kraken, Fleury became a free agent and signed a two-year, $1.525 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 13, 2022. He spent two seasons with Tampa Bay, contributing in a depth defensive role and gaining valuable experience in a Stanley Cup-contending organization.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2024–Present)
On July 3, 2024, Haydn Fleury signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets as a free agent. The deal brought another experienced defenceman into the Jets’ defensive group, giving the team additional depth and versatility. Fleury joined a competitive Jets roster looking to build on its recent post-season success and solidify its standing within the Western Conference.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Fleury’s career was his seventh-overall selection in the 2014 NHL draft, his first NHL points against the Toronto Maple Leafs in October 2017, and his selection by the Seattle Kraken during the 2021 expansion draft, which allowed him to play alongside his brother Cale. His Memorial Cup All-Star Team selection in 2016 also stands out as a highlight of his junior career.
Haydn Fleury Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Fleury comes from a family with strong hockey ties. His connection to the sport began in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, where he grew up around the game and knew fellow Carlyle native Brenden Morrow, an NHL veteran who once babysat him as a toddler. The two later competed in the same Under-17 tournament exactly 17 years apart, a unique coincidence that reflects the tight-knit nature of hockey in small-town Saskatchewan.
Personal Life
Haydn Fleury has a younger brother, Cale Fleury, who was selected 87th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL entry draft. The two brothers briefly played together with the Seattle Kraken in 2021–22, fulfilling a longtime goal of sharing an NHL roster. Beyond his family ties to the sport, Fleury continues to be recognized as a steady, team-first defenceman at the professional level.
2025 Season Performance
Haydn Fleury entered the 2025 season as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, continuing in his role as a depth defenceman capable of playing on the penalty kill and in shutdown matchups. His experience across multiple organizations, including the Hurricanes, Ducks, Kraken, and Lightning, made him a valuable addition to the Jets’ defensive corps as they pushed for another strong playoff campaign in the Western Conference.
Throughout the season, Fleury provided steady defensive play and veteran presence on the back end, helping Winnipeg manage injuries and lineup adjustments. His ability to log reliable minutes in a variety of situations contributed to the team’s overall depth, an important factor in any long post-season run.
Looking ahead, Fleury remained focused on solidifying his role within the Jets organization and continuing to contribute to a competitive roster. With his contract status and consistent play, he positioned himself as a dependable option for Winnipeg’s defensive group as the franchise pursued its championship aspirations in 2025.