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Marc Andre Fleury has become the NHL's highest paid bench doorman.
Fleury hasn't seen the ice in a Pittsburgh Penguins game in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The way things are going for Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Finals, Fleury likely won't see his old crease into training camp in September. That is, unless he is traded at the NHL Draft in June in Buffalo.
The Penguins lead the Tampa Lightning two games to one in the ECF and very well could have a three games to none stranglehold on the Bolts right now.
Matt Murray, the 21 year old fresh faced kid has stolen the crease away from "The Flower":
Jeff Zatkoff was a soothing remedy for when Fleury suffered a concussion in the stages of regular season.
For all intents and purposes, Fleury is wearing a ball cap and opening the door for the D-men to exit and enter ice surface for $5.75 million. That is Fleury's salary cap hit for the next four seasons.
On the flip side, Murray is earning a microscopic $625,000 salary until he becomes RFA in Nuly 2017.
Do the math. Fleury's days are numbered in The Burgh.
Right?
Pens GM Jim Rutherford wants Fleury conspiracy theorists to pump the brakes.
Rutherford, one of three nominees for NHL GM of the year, was asked Thursday if Fleury is leaving Pittsburgh for another opportunity to be the starter.
"Absolutely not", Rutherford said.
"You can never have enough good goalies," Rutherford said.
"The Penguins have three good ones now. I feel bad for Fleury. He’s such a great team guy and we’re fortunate that he is. He’s handled this situation like a pro. First class. He’s ready to go when called on."
Reading between the lines, Rutherford is saying that Murray is head coach Mike Sullivan's go-to keeper, until further notice. Murray has earned the trust of Sullivan, who coached the kid in AHL Wilkes Barre. Sullivan obviously has a level of comfort with Murray in his net more so than he does Fleury, who is healthy and ready to play at any given time.
Fleury has been with the club since being drafted first overall in 2003, and he backstopped the club to a Stanley Cup win in 2009. He's recovered from a concussion that kept him out early on and is able to serve as Murray's backup, but head coach Mike Sullivan is sticking with the rookie, who has the look of a bona fide No. 1 goalie.
Right now, "Flower" is powerless.
Sullivan seemingly respects Fleury's body of work, having won a Stanley Cup for Dan Bylsma in 2009. That was then. This is now. Seven years later, Fleury is relegated to confidence man for Murray.
What. Have. You. Done. For. Me. Lately?
Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, Fleury has started 48 playoff games for the Pens. In those games he has complied a 22-26 record with a 3.00 GAA. In his last six playoff appearances (2009-10 to 2014-2015), Fleury's save percentage has been: .891 (knocked out second round, 13 games), .899 (knocked out first round, 7 games) .834 (knocked out first round, 6 games), .883 (knocked out first round, 5 games), .915 (knocked out second round, 13 games), and .927 (knocked out first round in five games).
Since winning the Cup in 2009, "Flower" has been known to wilt under the intense heat, anxiety, adversity, and bright lights associated with the Stanley Cup playoffs.
There was a fleeting moment in Game 2 when Mike Sullivan mouthed "Be Ready" (to take the net from a failing Murray) at the beginning of the second period after Murray allowed the Bolts to score goals.
Sullivan resisted the urged to yank Murray for his anemic play early in Game 2. The kid responded with a spectacular second half of that game.
The rest is history.
Fleury is now 31 years of age. He has term and years left on his contract. The Pens would have to eat a portion of his $5.75M, however, there will be more than a few teams excited to add Fleury this summer. There is also the possibility of Fleury being exposed in the upcoming expansion draft.
My gut tells me that Rutherford pumped Fleury's tires on Thursday in order to create a buzz around the veteran goalie. Smart NHL GMs know a bluff when they see and hear one. I think Rutherford is content to stay with the Murray-Zatkoff model now and in the near future.
Rutherford didn't draft Fleury. Nor did he extend him with a ginormous contract extension with a hefty $5.75M AAV. Ray Shero did.
Rutherford won't say it publicly, however, he will be looking to move Fleury in the not too distant future.
**
Buffalo Sabres forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Samson Reinhart are heading to Moscow for a quarterfinals showdown with Jake McCabe, Hudson Fasching and Team USA at the IIHF World Championships.
O'Reilly and Reinhart assisted on goals in Canada's 6-0 curb stomping of Sweden on Thursday.
With the win, Canada advances to the semi-final against the United States. Three of the four semi-finalists are from Group B that played in St. Petersburg.
Canada rebounded nicely from its first loss of the tournament in the past two years against Finland in the final game of the Preliminary Round. Canada dominated Sweden by owning the puck and applying heavy shot pressure to goalie Jakob Markstrom (Vancouver).
***
Steven Stamkos skated again with his teammates on Thursday following their 4-2 loss in Game 3 on home ice to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.
This Eastern Conference Finals series could easily be 3-0 by Pittsburgh. The Lightning, without injured starting goalie Ben Bishop, have struggled to find their offensive production.
Stamkos did not skate with the Bolts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Pens now lead the best of seven series two games to one. Game 4 puck drop in Tampa on Friday night.
Bolts captain Steven Stamkos, he of the recent blood clot surgery, spoke after the practice.
On Thursday, a hopful yet guarded Stamkos informed media that his health status remains the same. Meaning, don't call us, we'll call you.
Stamkos told media he probably won't get an 100% green light or 100% red light to resume play. Stamkos said he doesn't want to risk his health. His head coach Jon Cooper referred to Stamkos as being in a "holding pattern".
Stamkos said that it's looking like he may not play at all in the playoffs.
Stamkos has been hoping to be cleared to resume play. He says that he feels fine and is not laboring at all during his team workouts.
It's been status quo regarding Stamkos' condition. Like the movie "Groundhog Day", it's same stuff, different day.
However, Stamkos added a new wrinkle on Thursday when he said that he may not play again in the 2016 playoffs.
"There's still a real possibility that I won't play at all in the playoffs."
So, what gives?
Stamkos is still on the same injectable blood thinner therapy that he was prescribed when he underwent successful surgery on April 4 to remove a blood clot on his right collarbone.
At that time, team doctors gave Stamkos a 1-3 recovery period.
A pending UFA on July 1, has Stamkos played his last game for the Tampa Lightning?
Is Stamkos preparing his mind and body for an inevitable departure from Tampa?
If this is in fact Stamkos' last stand in Tampa, he will be remembered as a prolific offensive manufacturer. His last game for the Bolts might be his March 31 game versus Montreal where he was held pointless in 21:04 TOI.
Stamkos finished second in scoring on the Lightning this season. He scored 36 goals and added 28 assists in 77 games played.
In 569 career regular season games, Stamkos has scored 312 goals and added 250 assists for 52 points.
In 48 career playoff games, Stamkos has scored 15 goals and chipped in 20 helpers.