He won't want to be anything other than a starter, which he has the opportunity to in Calgary. Plus, he's Canadian, there's no way he'd hate to come here.
- BobHartley

True. As much as he doesn't want to leave (has a home, raising family there and genuinely likes living there) he won't want to play second fiddle to anyone let alone a goalie who made everyone forget about him in the playoffs and I don't blame him. I think at this point - other than maybe a handful of teams - he'll pretty much take a stating job anywhere.

He's a good guy and outside of a few myopic detractors, he's still well liked in Pittsburgh and I hope when he hangs em up, he returns to settle there. Maybe take a job in the organIzation.

Just read in jj's blog that the the cap will most likely be going up to 74mil. Not sure how reliable that is, but good news if true.

Just read in jj's blog that the the cap will most likely be going up to 74mil. Not sure how reliable that is, but good news if true.
- dr_soiledpants

If Fleury wants to be the number one goalie in Pittsburgh it's still his job to lose. It's almost impossible for an up and coming goalie to supplant an established number one who's still playing well. The only reason he can't be the number one in Pittsburgh is if he can't play at a number one level any more and there's no reason to believe he can't.

Everyone seems to forget that Fleury was the Pens best player during the regular season last year and the biggest reason the season wasn't a write off before the coaching change happened. Murray played well in the playoffs but wasn't anything more than solid. The Pens were the superior team in all 4 series and didn't need much more than solid from their goalie.

It's also fairly risky to hand over your number one job to a goalie based solely on one playoff run. It's easy to get up for playoff games every other night with minimal travel. How's he going to handle the regular season grind?

If Fleury wants to be the number one goalie in Pittsburgh it's still his job to lose. It's almost impossible for an up and coming goalie to supplant an established number one who's still playing well. The only reason he can't be the number one in Pittsburgh is if he can't play at a number one level any more and there's no reason to believe he can't.

Everyone seems to forget that Fleury was the Pens best player during the regular season last year and the biggest reason the season wasn't a write off before the coaching change happened. Murray played well in the playoffs but wasn't anything more than solid. The Pens were the superior team in all 4 series and didn't need much more than solid from their goalie.

It's also fairly risky to hand over your number one job to a goalie based solely on one playoff run. It's easy to get up for playoff games every other night with minimal travel. How's he going to handle the regular season grind?
- Hunkulese

If you heard what Rutherford said about the situation, it's pretty clear he plans to trade him.

If you heard what Rutherford said about the situation, it's pretty clear he plans to trade him.
- dr_soiledpants

Yeah, but it's not up to Rutherford. Rutherford gave him a NMC.

Yeah, but it's not up to Rutherford. Rutherford gave him a NMC.
- Hunkulese

Limited NMC... NMC have not proven to be a significant challenge in the past...

Yeah, but it's not up to Rutherford. Rutherford gave him a NMC.
- Hunkulese

It's limited. He can pick 12 teams that he doesn't want to go too and I believe Rutherford already has that list already. If the flames were on that list I don't think there would be all of these rumors. The flames have a good group and with goaltending can make a playoff push, fluery I'm sure can see he would be the clear number one and be on a competitive team

Limited NMC... NMC have not proven to be a significant challenge in the past...
- rmull905

He can choose 12 teams he won't go to which makes it pretty effective if he wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Yeah, but it's not up to Rutherford. Rutherford gave him a NMC.
- Hunkulese

He can be traded to 18 teams. To think he won't accept a trade is very short sighted. MAF has been a class act. Absolutely nothing points to him being a Richard, and forcing the Pens into that kind of situation. Just think for a moment. Fleury forces Rutherford to keep him, then they must protect him in the expansion draft. Vegas almost certainly takes Murray. They would be extremely stupid not to. Now with Murray gone, fleury is the most hated man in Pittsburgh. Not an ideal situation.


Press conference announced for 1030 this morning.

If Fleury wants to be the number one goalie in Pittsburgh it's still his job to lose. It's almost impossible for an up and coming goalie to supplant an established number one who's still playing well. The only reason he can't be the number one in Pittsburgh is if he can't play at a number one level any more and there's no reason to believe he can't.

Everyone seems to forget that Fleury was the Pens best player during the regular season last year and the biggest reason the season wasn't a write off before the coaching change happened. Murray played well in the playoffs but wasn't anything more than solid. The Pens were the superior team in all 4 series and didn't need much more than solid from their goalie.

It's also fairly risky to hand over your number one job to a goalie based solely on one playoff run. It's easy to get up for playoff games every other night with minimal travel. How's he going to handle the regular season grind?
- Hunkulese

Which brings us back to the whole expansion draft thing...

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: " It's time for Marc-Andre Fleury to go"

http://www.post-gazette.c...o-go/stories/201606160194

My take is that Rutherford wants to be sure that keeping both goalies is impossible before he decides. So he may wait until the exact terms of the expansion draft are known.

There's also a poll with this article which shows 54% want Fleury to go, 36% want him to be the starter and 10% want him to be the backup.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: " It's time for Marc-Andre Fleury to go"

http://www.post-gazette.c...o-go/stories/201606160194

My take is that Rutherford wants to be sure that keeping both goalies is impossible before he decides. So he may wait until the exact terms of the expansion draft are known.

There's also a poll with this article which shows 54% want Fleury to go, 36% want him to be the starter and 10% want him to be the backup.
- itwasin

Exactly, I don't think there is any benefit in holding on to MAF until the last minute. He should take advantage of the Murray high Pits is on and trade him now while popular opinion is on Rutherfords side.

If MAF has a poor season/gets injured then his value goes down and they might be stuck with him (therefore losing Murray).

If MAF is playing lights out like he was at the start of last season then popular opinion shifts and trading him becomes more difficult and this becomes a big distraction in the room. Also it's not like his value is going to get any higher if he plays well next season, it's a buyers market.

It's lose lose for the Pens to keep him, time to thank him for his service and move on.

Sure MAF has a NMC.....but things change when he loses his spot. It's a very different situation now than when they gave him that.

Besides, NMC prevent teams from trading the player IF the player doesn't want to go.....if the player wants to go the NMC can be waived easily.

Sure MAF has a NMC.....but things change when he loses his spot. It's a very different situation now than when they gave him that.

Besides, NMC prevent teams from trading the player IF the player doesn't want to go.....if the player wants to go the NMC can be waived easily.
- The-O-G

It's also limited, he can give a list of teams he won't go to but if they find a buyer that isn't on his prohibited list then he doesn't have a choice in the matter.

It's also limited, he can give a list of teams he won't go to but if they find a buyer that isn't on his prohibited list then he doesn't have a choice in the matter.
- Saskabush

Not a Falmez fan. At all. But if I were a free agent goalie or center iceman I would be hella interested in going to Calgary. Lots of solid pieces in key positions, potential is there.

Not a Falmez fan. At all. But if I were a free agent goalie or center iceman I would be hella interested in going to Calgary. Lots of solid pieces in key positions, potential is there.
- Jeropotato

Yeah it's not like we're the 2010 Flames anymore, this is a good place to come in and compete, especially if you have more than 1 or 2 years left in the tank. Just like McDavid will suddenly make free agents consider playing/living in Edmonton, no matter how much of a poop show it was before Mcdavid.

Not a Falmez fan. At all. But if I were a free agent goalie or center iceman I would be hella interested in going to Calgary. Lots of solid pieces in key positions, potential is there.
- Jeropotato

Not centermen, there is plenty there, and Janitor is about to light the world on fire on his way to ROY.

I am hopeful the Goalie situation is resolved before July 1. FAs may sign for a discount after knowing The Chosen One is mopping up this year.

Not centermen, there is plenty there, and Janitor is about to light the world on fire on his way to ROY.

I am hopeful the Goalie situation is resolved before July 1. FAs may sign for a discount after knowing The Chosen One is mopping up this year.
- FLflames34

- Jeropotato

Career 0.75 PPG in the AHL

Career 0.75 PPG in the AHL
- Saskabush

Haha, whopping 8 games. Better lock him up max term.

Haha, whopping 8 games. Better lock him up max term.
- Jeropotato

I am interested in seeing what he has this year though. Could make the potential loss of Backlund a little easier to absorb.

I am interested in seeing what he has this year though. Could make the potential loss of Backlund a little easier to absorb.
- Saskabush

All joking aside, The Janitor is a legit prospect, just maybe picked a bit high. Will he be the steal of the draft? Doubtful. poop draft on the high end but some good D-Men picked earlier, and Tanner Pearson picked after.