NHL Rumors: 3 Goalies Being Discussed on Trade Market

While there's been a number of different trades lately across the NHL, not many have included goaltenders. It's been decades since a goalie was dealt at the trade deadline and led their new team to a Stanley Cup victory. If anyone's going to pull it off in 2021-22 it could end up being one of these three netminders:

Marc-Andre Fleury

The Flower, Marc-Andre Fleury is one of the nicest guys in the NHL. His career is loaded with accolades and every single one deservingly so. Fleury has gone through quite a bit over the last couple of seasons. After an expansion draft selection, he became the original face of the franchise for the Vegas Golden Knights and spent four seasons with the team. Along with the team success, last season he was the Vezina trophy winner and was promptly got traded for a player nobody's heard of and who was then released not long after by the Golden Knights. This all for Fleury coming after winning three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and essentially being let go in favor of Matt Murray. The Penguins fan base was calling for a mulligan not long after.
As for for Fleury this season, he sits with a 2.90 goals against average and a .909 save percentage in 44 games this season. Any trade is going to come down to his approval and there's been a few teams discussed including the Toronto Maple Leafs who rejected a trade offer from the Blackhawks that included forward Brandon Hagel. Along with the Leafs the Minnesota Wild have been in contact and general manager Bill Guerin is using his Penguins connection with the goalie as leverage.  

Petr Mrazek

The Maple Leafs have goaltending issues as Jack Campbell is currently on the shelve with a rib injury and backup Petr Mrazek has not played well in his place. Mrazek signed a three-year deal in Toronto and not even a full season into the deal finds himself on the waiver wire. A tell tale sign general manager Kyle Dubas was trying to trade him and couldn't find any takers. He was included in the talks for Fleury, but now sits in limbo. We'll see if something can materialize before Monday's deadline.

Semyon Varlamov

The New York Islanders have been eerily quiet as the trade deadline approaches and it's likely general manager Lou Lamoriello pulls a rabbit out of his hat. The team has discussed Semyon Varlamov with the Edmonton Oilers and reportedly couldn't get the veteran netminder's approval for the move. There was a brief rumor about the Colorado Avalanche but that's disappeared as there really isn't a goaltending need for the Avs. The Washington Capitals appear to be one of the only teams to watch on this front. There's a chance we see a reunion for Varlamov and the Caps. He's signed through next season at $5 million and if Washington is in play here, look for Ilya Samsonov to be heading the other way.
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