Latest update on Marc-Andre Fleury’s next destination

The Minnesota Wild remains positive that it can re-sign goalie Marc-Andre Fleury after bringing in the 37-year-old at the trade deadline. But there is uncertainty. TSN’s Darren Dreger has reported that the Wild - who have just $7.38 in projected cap space - have yet to open contract talks with Flower.

“The conversation hasn’t started between [general manager] Bill Guerin and Allan Walsh, who represents Fleury, but I can tell you that Guerin would very much love to reunite that tandem of Fleury and Talbot for next year,” Dreger said on Insider Trading on Tuesday. “Fleury enjoyed his time in Minnesota with the Wild; it was short but the Wild can see the value of bringing the 37-year-old experienced netminder back.

“But Fleury isn’t prepared to think about that just yet, his family are just fresh back from vacation so there’s enough time for the business side of the game in the days ahead.”

Speaking of his family, last week, Fleury named another NHL destination he’ll considered when he admitted to RDS that that he would consider signing with the Canadiens if there is a chance that Carey Price cannot return.

The future is uncertain for Price in Montreal. He missed most of the 2021-22 following a stint in the players’ assistance program due to substance abuse and then the recovery process of his knee injury. He only played five games and was shut down for a few contests before playing the season finale. Price then revealed in his final press conference for 2021-22 that his knee would not allow him to play a full schedule of games and he needed it to get better before making a decision on playing in 2022-23. Since his comments, there have been talks about potential retirement or the Canadien placing him and his $10.5 million cap hit on the long-term injured reserve.

Fleury would then consider coming to Montreal. Which is another obstacle for the Wild to retain the beloved goalie.
The Wild currently has 18 players players under contract for next season. On top of that, the team faces $12.74 million in dead cap for next season after buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter last summer.

For now, Fleury is focused on his family, and this latest update won’t reassure fans in Minnesota…