The Chicago Blackhawks seem destined to offload star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at the trade deadline this season, and they should receive a ton of interest in the veteran. A handful of contending teams could use an upgrade in net, and they'd be hard-pressed to find a more talented goalie available at the deadline than Fleury.
Any team looking to acquire the 37-year-old would be doing so under the pretense that he would be a rental acquisition. Fleury is set to hit free agency this offseason, and is making $7 million this season. That could make finding a trade partner more difficult, as teams may be hesitant to offload much of their future assets for a short-term rental. Additionally, Fleury has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract, which could also make working out a deal more difficult. Despite that, with the deadline inching closer, teams with Stanley Cup Finals aspirations may just be willing to pull the trigger and meet the Blackhawks' demands for the star goalie.
With all that in mind, here are the three best landing spots for Marc-Andre Fleury at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline
3 destinations for Marc-Andre Fleury at 2022 NHL trade deadline
The Oilers have absolutely no problems scoring goals. With the likes of Evander Kane, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman in attack, Edmonton scores goals in bunches. The struggles for the Oilers stem from the defense, however, which is why adding a top-tier goaltender such as Fleury would be such a big move for the team. With 70 points through 60 games, the Oilers have surrendered 192 goals this season, third-most in the Pacific Division. They've scored 200 themselves, getting by games with their offensive prowess.
The goalkeeping tandem of Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith has proven unfruitful. Both surrender an average of more than 3 goals per game, something which could prove costly come the playoffs. If the Oilers think they have a shot at the Cup this season, upgrading at goalie would be a huge move.
The Avalanche are one of the most well-rounded teams in the NHL. The only area they aren't elite is in between the net, where the duo of Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz has been serviceable. Despite neither of the two surrendering more than 3 goals per game, Kuemper and Francouz both benefit from the elite defense playing in front of them. With the likes of Cale Makar and Devon Toews leading the charge defensively, the Avalanche have conceded 170 goals, far more than the elite defensive teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes (139) and New York Rangers (154).
Adding Fleury to the mix in a trade with the Blackhawks could get the Avalanche the goaltender they need to push them over the top. The team shouldn't have any trouble running away with the Central Division, which could give them some cushion to allow Fleury to get comfortable with his new team, should they make a move for him. This feels like Colorado's year, but they'd be remorseful if poor goaltending prevented them from winning it all.
There's hardly a team in hockey with a more glaring need at goalie than the Maple Leafs. Toronto's struggles in net have been apparent for everyone to see, especially lately. Despite a shutout win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs have surrendered a total of 14 goals in their prior three matches, all of which came against weaker teams, including the Kraken, Sabres, and Coyotes. While the offense has been on point of late, the defensive struggles are worrisome for a team with title aspirations.
Jack Campbell's red-hot start to the season is a thing of the past, and he's no longer looking like a potential Vezina Trophy winner. So, why not demote him in favor of the previous winner of that award, and a three-time NHL champion? The fit is clear to see, and recent results further suggest that Campbell isn't the goalie to lead this team to a championship. The Leafs should absolutely be trying to land Fleury from the Blackhawks at the deadline.
Follow Us
Subscribe