As the situation continues to play out in Chicago with Marc-Andre Fleury it is looking like things could end with the reigning Vezina Trophy winner suiting up with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks think Marc-Andre Fleury will play for them. But it’s not an easy decision. So, what’s the Flower thinking?
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However, the sources said, Fleury had inquired with “those who’d know” about Blackhawks ownership, management and coaches — a sign, the sources believed, that Fleury has softened his stance of not wanting to play in Chicago.

The hang up at the moment appears to be his lack of not trade/movement clause. Fleury does not want to be traded mid-season. He would have to take the word of Blackhawks ownership and Stan Bowman. A team who isn’t sitting atop the mountain of morals and ethics at the moment.

Fleury’s trust level of the Blackhawks will likely factor into his final decision. It is thought Fleury would want at least the assurance from Blackhawks management that he is not traded during the 2021-22 season. With Fleury being in the final year of his contract, he might be seen as a moveable piece at the trade deadline if the Blackhawks fall out of the playoff race, as they have in recent years. The Blackhawks traded Robin Lehner, Fleury’s Vegas teammate, at the deadline during the 2019-20 season. If Fleury did temporarily relocate his family to Chicago, he would not want to uproot them again after only a few months.

As for the Penguins they are down to 2.5M in cap space with Zach Aston-Reese and Radim Zohorna to sign. Those two contracts will effectively eat up the rest of the space. Even if the Blackahawks were looking to make a deal they would have to take some salary back. Perhaps, in theory this could be where Marcus Pettersson is invovled with a trade. Afterall, the Blackhawks just traded their legendary left defenseman, Duncan Keith. Except, Chicago already has the newly signed Jake McCabe and Calvin deHaan eating up Petterrsonesque cap hits. Chicago is technically over the cap at the moment.

It’s beginning to look more and more like Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith again. Cool.

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