Wild GM Bill Guerin reveals plans for Marc-Andre Fleury
Is the veteran goaltender going to be dealt?
HockeyFeed
Minnesota Wild veteran goaltender recently moved past his boyhood idol Patrick Roy for 2nd place on the NHL's all-time win list for goaltenders, but could the future Hall of Famer soon be on the move as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches?
Right now, the playoffs are anything but a sure thing for the Wild, who started the year in a massive slump that resulted in the firing of head coach Dean Evason. And despite improvements on the ice, the team remains hot and cold.
A report surfaced recently from NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun that Fleury could be a prime trade candidate for a team looking to acquire goaltending depth, given the fact that he's on an expiring deal.
But right now, Wild GM Bill Guerin believes that Fleury simply wants to focus on playing hockey rather than what the next few months hold.
"I think 'Flower' just wants to focus on his team right now and his play," Guerin told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "We'll see how it goes and then we'll have the appropriate conversations."
Essentially, it's too early to talk about a trade.
"It's just too early for that, and I'm not ready, and I'm sure 'Flower' isn't ready, to have that conversation, either," Guerin said.
According to LeBrun, it's going to be an inevitably necessary conversation that Fleury will need to have with his agent should the Wild find themselves slipping out of playoff contention by the time the NHL Trade Deadline rolls around.
"Fleury has to have that discussion in the next couple weeks with his agent, Allen Walsh," LeBrun said. "They have a full no-move (clause) and it's up to Walsh and Fleury if he goes anywhere before the Deadline, we don't know the answer to that yet. But there are some obvious teams to think about. Toronto tried to trade for him two years ago - different GM, but nevertheless, the Leafs still have question marks in net. Edmonton, how about a mentor for Stuart Skinner? New Jersey, they haven't had saves all year. Carolina, how about a mentor to (Pyotr) Kochetkov?"
Recommended articles:
