Marc-Andre Fleury back on trade block despite Vezina win!

This week started off on a high for veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who  was finally crowned the winner of the Vezina Trophy, after 17 seasons in the National Hockey League, three Stanley Cups, and a career year at age 36. The Vegas Golden Knights goalie was chosen by the league’s general managers as the award finalists along with Philipp Grubauer of the Colorado Avalanche and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The veteran netminder, who won this year’s Jennings Trophy alongside teammate Robin Lehner for fewest goals allowed in the regular season, finished the season with a .928 save percentage and 1.98 goals-against average. 

But then, the week got worse. It has now been rumoured that Flower could be placed back on the trade block by the Golden Knights, who are suspected to use his latest win as a selling point on the market. 

ESPN’s Grew Wyshynski pointed out how a Fleury trade would enable the Golden Knights to gain some salary-cap flexibility. Per Cap Friendly, Vegas has $75.4 million invested in 18 players, with $12 million tied up in their goaltending. Fleury carries an annual average value of $7 million, but Wyshynski suggested that he might be easier to move with a year left on his deal and coming off a Vezina Trophy win.

Even an insider from Vegas shared that view, seeing that Lehner is under contract for four more years. He thinks it’s time they move on from Fleury, who was once again at the centre of another “goalie controversy” in the semi finals against the Montreal Canadiens in which Vegas was eliminated. 

We all know how team owner Bill Foley has publicly stated he didn’t want Fleury traded and how Flower, who carries a 10-team no-trade clause, expressed his wish to retire in Las Vegas.

But things change, and people change their minds… 

Fleury could change his, knowing how badly his former team, the Penguins, want him back in Pittsburgh. Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review believes the Golden Knights could consider absorbing part of Fleury’s salary and that it shouldn’t cost the Penguins more than a third-round pick.

This is a lot of information to take it, but most importantly, this is a lot for Flower in less than one week!