Marc-Andre Fleury could be exactly what the Tampa Bay Lightning need.
Marc-Andre Fleury could be exactly what the Tampa Bay Lightning need.
The Tampa Bay Lightning's goaltending was not up to par on Saturday night. They suffered a devastating 9-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. The workload was split two periods to one for Andrei Vasilevskiy, who allowed six goals on 22 shots in the first two frames.
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Jonas Johansson was put in for the third period, with a lopsided 6-1 score for the Panthers. He only faced eight shots - but three of those found the back of the net.
It's been a weird year for Lightning goaltenders this year. Vasilevskiy started the year injured, so Johansson had to play a lot off the hop. He played 17 of the Lightning's first 20 games. While he only won eight of those games, he did everything he could to keep the team afloat.
Before this season the most games he had every played in an entire NHL season was 15. This year he has played 24 games, holds a 10-7-5 record with a 3.54 goals against average (GAA) and a .886 save percentage (SV%).
While Vasilevskiy is not doing bad overall, he's stats are lower than what we have come to expect for him. Arguably the most important stat for Vasilevskiy this year - 19 wins in 31 games. His stats might not be the best, but he's giving his team a chance to win every time he's in the net.
That's where Minnesota Wild netminder Marc-Andre Fleury could come into play. To have another meaningful run at the Stanley Cup they will need to have two goalies who could steal games - and Fleury is one of the best at doing that.
His warm personality would be an asset to any locker room for a team making a serious push for a cup. Everyone on the Lightning could benefit from having him be a part of the team.
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Fleury's name has been on the trade market lately, as he is set to become a UFA after a two-year, $7-million contract with the Wild ends this year. He has a full no-movement clause he would have to waive himself in order to be traded.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Fleury met with his agent, Allan Walsh, and discussed what may happen by the March 8 trade deadline.
Right now, Fleury doesn't want to go anywhere, since he still has faith in the Wild to make the playoffs. The Wild are on a hot streak, having won seven of their last 10 games, and have averaged 3.5 goals per game in that time.
Right now, the Wild are third-last in the Central Division They will have to keep it together if they want to make the playoffs, starting in exactly two months. They are four points out of the last Wild Card position in the Western Conference.
If things go south fast and word gets out that he wants to move to a contender, the Lightning shouldn't be shy about acquiring the future hall of famer's services.
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