The trade deadline frenzy got off to a nice start Monday when the Colorado Avalanche sent two pieces to the Anaheim Ducks for Josh Manson. In Chicago, the Blackhawks are set to join the ranks of sellers as new general manager Kyle Davidson starts in on the rebuild that he recently promised. Front and center among any discussion of the Blackhawks’ deadline plans is Marc-Andre Fleury, who sits as arguably the best goaltender (potentially) available in the next few days.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN gave his thoughts on Fleury Tuesday, explaining that though he still would bet that the goaltender doesn’t move before Monday’s deadline, it’s now close to a 50-50 shot. It’s unclear what kind of market there even is for Fleury at this point, but Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic write that Chicago’s price tag is actually a first-round pick, perhaps even with an additional prospect attached. That’s a pretty hefty fee for a netminder who was acquired for essentially nothing in the offseason and would certainly be considered a coup for the new management group.
Obviously, that price change is due to the fact that an acquiring team no longer has to carry Fleury’s full $7M cap hit this season, especially if the Blackhawks are willing to retain a portion. As we saw Monday with the Manson trade, the fact that the deadline is so late in the season, combined with a 50 percent salary retention, can make a player cost very little against a contender’s cap.
The question for many will be: What does Fleury actually bring to the table? The 37-year-old goaltender is the reigning Vezina winner but has been extremely inconsistent this season behind a struggling Chicago defense. In 43 games, he has a .908 save percentage and has allowed almost a full goal more per game than his career-defining 2020-21 campaign.
Likely a Hall of Fame goaltender when he finally hangs up his pads, there’s no one who questions the experience and character that Fleury brings to the table. Not only does he rank high on the regular-season goaltending lists, but he’s also played 162 games in the postseason, winning three Stanley Cups. Perhaps one more shot at a championship would be interesting for him – and it does sound like it’s up to him where he’ll go or whether he’ll move at all – but the Blackhawks aren’t going to just give him away without getting something of real value.
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