(Photo : (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)) ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 02: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild tracks the puck in opposition to the Calgary Flames within the second interval at Xcel Energy Center on January 02, 2024 in St Paul, Minnesota.
Goaltending is all the time a sizzling commodity within the NHL, and because the commerce deadline approaches, Minnesota Wild veteran Marc-Andre Fleury may very well be in demand for a workforce trying to shore up its crease.
The legendary veteran is nearing the tail finish of his storied NHL profession, however the three-time Stanley Cup champion may have a push for one final ring in him if the Wild select to maneuver him.
Minnesota has gone 7-2-1 in its final 10 video games, and nonetheless finds itself two spots out of the Western Conference Wild Card image as groups like Nashville and Calgary have been sizzling as nicely.
The Wild sit 4 factors behind the Predators with a recreation in hand, however even when they have been to beat out Nashville, they’d additionally must high a couple of different groups which can be within the combine as nicely.
With that in thoughts, it may make quite a lot of sense for the Wild to hitch the vendor facet of issues forward of March 8’s NHL Trade Deadline. Fleury’s destiny is completely as much as himself, as he has a no-movement clause in his contract.
He has said that it’s his desire to stay in Minnesota, however that stance may all the time soften if the suitable scenario presents itself. But if that is not the case, groups must look elsewhere for assist in purpose.
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NHL Trade Deadline: Marc-Andre Fleury
Contract Situation: Expiring after this season at a $3.5 million cap hit.
Season Stats: 12-10-3 with a .899 SV% and a couple of.92 GAA
Possible Destinations: Carolina, Colorado, Edmonton
If Fleury goes to be satisfied to maneuver his no-movement clause, it must be to go to a scenario the place the probabilities at profitable the Stanley Cup are excessive.
The 39-year-old would doubtless be focused as an insurance coverage coverage greater than as an answer to begin video games within the playoffs.
Those two standards actually slim down the record of locations Fleury would even think about all the way down to Carolina, Colorado, and Edmonton. Those groups have respectable choices in place proper now in Pyotr Kochetkov, Alexandar Georgiev, and Stuart Skinner respectively, however all are an harm away from having to begin a sub-optimal candidate within the playoffs, and none of these three guys have lengthy monitor data of succeeding within the postseason.
So the chance to get a hoop and the lowered stress of not having to be relied upon exist virtually completely in these three spots.
Fleury has received a hoop as a starter (2009) and two as a back-up (2016 and 2017). All three of these got here with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the latter two he was behind teen Matt Murray who emerged out of nowhere on the time to ship two improbable postseason runs.
Fleury was completely a beginning stage goaltender then, and he is slightly below the cusp of being that now.
If groups are in search of somebody who they’ll belief to present them strong goaltending and be able to go if wanted within the playoffs, and if Fleury is prepared to make the bounce away from Minnesota, a commerce may come collectively rapidly that may very well be very useful for Fleury and the buying workforce.
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