Marc-Andre Fleury, Dominik Simon and what we’re hearing on Penguins free-agency – The Athletic
2.
Fleury’s preference is to start for his next club, which is why Minnesota and Carolina emerged as early preferred landing spots. However, Fleury would make an exception to again play in Pittsburgh, and he has expressed a fondness for Jarry to several close friends.
5.
Several former Penguins teammates have reached out to Fleury in recent weeks to gauge his interest in returning to Pittsburgh. Fleury told those players he would welcome a return and that finding a place where his wife is comfortable raising their three children is a top priority. Though they loved Las Vegas and are doing research on other cities where Fleury believes he could land,
Fleury has repeatedly referred to Pittsburgh “as home for us” in messages with former teammates.
6.
There is “a lot of interest in Fleury,” multiple league sources said. However, people around the NHL believe the Vegas-Fleury relationship has soured to the point that Golden Knights are finding it difficult to trade him. Fleury’s contract contains a clause that allows him to block a trade to 10 teams, and it is believed he can update that list on the first day of the new league year, which is Friday. Fleury wants to trust the management of his next team, one league source said.
Though they picked Murray over him a few years ago, Fleury still holds Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan in high regard — and any misgivings would have been alleviated by his ties to Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux and captain Sidney Crosby.
7.
Lastly, neither Fleury nor the Penguins would want to break up for a second time. Fleury would want an extension that guaranteed that he would finish his career in Pittsburgh and the Penguins would require his willingness to be paid like a No. 2 goalie on that contract, according to multiple league sources. The possibility of a 2021-22 schedule also being truncated because of a late start to next season is also a factor in the Penguins’ interest in Fleury.
8. To sign Alex Pietrangelo in free agency, Vegas must make moves to clear cap space. Trading Fleury would be one of those moves.
Alex Pietrangelo to Vegas: Golden Knights trade Nate Schmidt to sign top free agent – The Athletic
After the Schmidt trade, the Pietrangelo signing leaves Vegas $124,105 over the cap ceiling.
It appears the Golden Knights are attempting to move veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury ($7 million salary cap hit), and now they could get under the $81.5 million cap even if they are not able to move Fleury without retaining any salary. Bumping up AHL goaltender Oscar Dansk and his $700,000 cap hit to the backup role behind Robin Lehner would give Vegas a significant cap savings next season.
The Golden Knights still have plenty of work this offseason, but this signing was the centerpiece. It will reshape the way this team looks on the ice this upcoming season and bolsters their chances for another deep playoff run with a bonafide star defenseman.