PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury feared the worst when his coach wanted to speak with him early Wednesday.

Instead of sending him to the AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, coach Michel Therrien told Fleury he will be with the Penguins for the rest of the season.

Fleury’s contract makes him eligible for about $3 million in bonuses if he appears in 25 games with the team. Fleury played in his 23rd game on Sunday.

“It’s a relief not having to worry about getting sent down again,” Fleury said.

Fleury, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2003, is 5-13-3 with a 3.19 goals against average and .901 save percentage for a team that is last in the Eastern Conference.

When right wing Ziggy Palffy retired Wednesday, his three-year, $13.5 million contract came off the team’s books. But coach Michel Therrien called it a coincidence, saying Palffy’s decision wasn’t related to Fleury’s future.

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“We wanted him to concentrate on his game,” Therrien said. “Take away all of the distractions. I’m more than happy for him and for our hockey team.”

With veteran goalie Jocelyn Thibault likely out for the season with a hip injury, Therrien said playing time for Fleury and Sebastien Caron will be based on performance.

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Also Wednesday, the Penguins acquired defenseman Eric Cairns from the Florida Panthers for a sixth-round draft pick. The 6-foot-6, 241-pound Cairns had one assist in 23 games this season.

He has nine goals, 32 assists and 1,090 penalty minutes in 429 career NHL games with the Rangers, Islanders and Panthers.