3-Time Stanley Cup Champ Becoming Trade Candidate

 

He can’t be rolled out there for 60+ starts like in the old days, but three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury can still be a solid 1B for a playoff contender. And given the state of the Minnesota Wild this season, it seems like the veteran netminder could be on the move come the trade deadline.

That’s the word from NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun on TSN’s Insider Trading.

I know there are some teams waiting for the appropriate time to wait to reach out to Wild GM Bill Guerin to ask him what’s going on there. I reached out and asked him about Fleury’s future, and he acknowledged that, yes, if they fall out of the playoffs, he expects teams to call and he expects (then) to have a discussion with Fleury.

The 39-year-old goalie, however, does have a full no-move clause. So, as LeBrun notes, it’ll be up to him to have a conversation with his agent if teams come calling. But, he warns, “He’s not gonna waive (his NMC) to be a backup who doesn’t play.”

Some potential contenders who could give Fleury the run he's looking for include the New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The other caveat here is that Guerin hasn’t quite waved the white flag yet on the season, still holding out hope for the Wild to make a second-half run and get into playoff position. If that happens, of course, Fluery won’t be going anywhere.

The Wild are currently 18-20-5, in 7th place in the Central Division, and six points back of the final Wild Card spot out West. 

The ageless wonder has started 19 games this season for the Wild, and is still proving his worth, even in his 20th season, with a 2.97 goals against and an .897 save percentage.

The NHL's second all-time winningest goaltender, Fleury has 552 career wins in 1,007 games, with a 2.59 career GAA and a .912 Sv%. 

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports