Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury has been through hell and back this last two years, it’s time for him to walk and say goodbye to Pittsburgh. Where’s the 32-year-olds next landing spot?
Pittsburgh Penguins: It’s been six games since the horrific incident has happened in Pittsburgh, a goalie’s worst nightmare, something every goalie growing up never imagines. No goalie would ever wish the awful turn of events that occurred to Marc-Andre Fleury during game three of the Eastern Conference Finals May 17, versus the Ottawa Senators. Fleury got yanked during the 1st period, with 7 minutes remaining.
What very well could have been Marc-Andre Fleury’s last game ever as a Pittsburgh Penguins goes down as one of the worst memories for the 32-year-old. After being thrown into the fire due to Matt Murray’s late injury and scratching and clawing his way through Columbus and
Washington and partially Ottawa, Fleury was no doubt the Penguins best player and a large part as to why they’re in their second straight Stanley Cup appearance. Up until the Ottawa game three blunder, Fleury was posting was some of his most impressive stats through 15 games since 2007-2008, Fleury ended up exiting Ottawa and possibly his last start ever in a Penguins uniform with 2.56 goals against, .924 save percentage, 9 wins and 2 shutouts during his unbelievable playoff run. Fleury posted a 29 save shutout in game 7 to advance against Washington and a 23 save shutout two days before he got shelled against Ottawa in game three.
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Now the controversy behind Mike Sullivan to start Matt Murray in game four can and will be debated for many months, but it’s without saying whether you agree or disagree with the decision, it’s in the past and the way the Penguins have bounced back since the game three loss, Fleury won’t get another opportunity or start for that matter wearing a Penguins uniform. And quite frankly, good, let Fleury walk the man has been toyed with in the Penguins organization for the last two years now and with his type of credibility and supportiveness to his teammates with all his been through, teammates always speak highly of Fleury being the “best teammate”, it’s owed to himself to say good riddance to Pittsburgh and start a new chapter elsewhere. With all that being said, it’s not because Fleury is better than Murray but, Fleury is 32 years old, has served 13 years with the Penguins and deserves a fresh start elsewhere instead of being known as that guy that backed up a 22 year old goalie for two years while the Penguins went onto to win a Stanley Cup(possibly two).
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Now, where is a likely landing spot for Fleury, yes you guessed it. Vegas Golden Knights. It’s been said and talked about since Vegas was an NHL team this season, with the expansion draft rules, and the protecting and non-protecting players. Fleury will more than likely end up on the non-protected list for Pittsburgh for obvious reasons, but Vegas needs a legitimate #1 goalie and where else to look to than a 13-year seasoned veteran, who’s played in 600 plus regular season games and 115 playoff games. With a UFA ending in 2019-2020 and a cap hit of 5.75 million, Vegas would only need to eat that contract for one year until Fleury became a UFA in the following season. The only tricky thing for Vegas to work out is Fleury’s modified no move clause, if they can somehow work around that then for the 2017-2018 NHL season Marc-Andre Fleury will be the Golden Knight’s starting goalie(98.9% chance).