The Pittsburgh Penguins recently announced that legendary goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will return to the organization on a professional tryout (PTO) contract. The signing and pre-season event does not mean Fleury is coming out of retirement or making an NHL comeback, but that won't stop fans of the Edmonton Oilers from making assumptions and connecting some dots.
Fleury will practice with the Penguins on September 26 and play parts of the preseason exhibition game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 27 at PPG Paints Arena. From there, he'll likely go back into retirement mode. But, will the short-term return spark his interest in another NHL run in 2025-26?
If so, the Oilers would certainly be among those teams with interest in his services.
There were reports not long ago that Fleury was already being contacted about a return. His agent, Allan Walsh, said that Fleury had not changed his mind at this point, but five teams had reached out about a potential comeback. It's not clear if the Oilers were among them.
That said, Edmonton could be a natural fit if circumstances align. With Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard forming the current tandem, a mid-season shakeup could open the door for a veteran presence. Edmonton has been linked to several different goalie rumors, from Arturs Silovs to John Gibson to Carter Hart.
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Fleury would be a short-term, fairly reliable, and potentially high-reward move to help stabilize the crease or even elevate the Oilers’ Stanley Cup chances if goaltending struggles arise.
Any return would likely require meaningful playing time—Fleury wouldn’t take a backseat role or serve as a third-string insurance option. That's why a deal like this might have to wait until well after this PTO with the Penguins and the Oilers determining how their goaltending will hold up to start the year.
If Edmonton’s netminders falter, the timing could be ideal, especially if Fleury's appearance in Pittsburgh gets the netminder excited about one more potential run.
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