What's the Trade Market For Marc-Andre Fleury?
After a rough start to the season, Marc-Andre Fleury has settled in as the Chicago Blackhawks' starting goaltender. NBC Sports Chicago's Charlie Roumeliotis observed the 36-year-old netminder won six of his last eight games heading into Thursday's contest with the Montreal Canadiens, sporting a 1.74 GAA and .944 save percentage during that stretch. He shut out the Canadiens 2-0 for his 500th career win.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports Blackhawks interim general manager Kyle Davidson and the front office is still evaluating their roster. While no decision has been made about Fleury's future, she speculates they could be open to trade proposals.
Kaplan observes it's a complicated situation. Fleury is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July and carries a 10-team no-trade list. He also moved his family to Chicago last summer after being traded by the Vegas Golden Knights. She indicated the Blackhawks don't know yet what the market will be for Fleury.
It's safe to assume Fleury's trade value will rise as long as the defending Vezina Trophy winner maintains his current level of performance. His stock could skyrocket if he's selected for Team Canada and backstops them to a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Fleury's considerable postseason experience will be attractive to contenders seeking help between the pipes. Maybe the Blackhawks reunite him with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Perhaps the Colorado Avalanche come calling if Darcy Kuemper continues to struggle. Kaplan observed some speculation suggesting Fleury would be a good fit with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Blackhawks could peddle Fleury leading up to the March 21 trade deadline depending on their position in the standings and whether he intends to test next summer's free-agent market. Their asking price could be at least a first-round draft pick.