The Toronto Maple Leafs are doing their due diligence to improve their team any way they can before the NHL Trade Deadline hits at 3pm est on Monday, March 21st.
Kyle Dubas had give his vote of confidence to Toronto Maple Leafs goaltenders, Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek last week and suggested that the team had room for only one more major move that would most likely be for a defenseman.
However, with Campbell sitting out with a rib injury and Mrazek’s consistent failures in net, TSN Inside, Pierre LeBrun, recently stated that the Leafs had at least inquired about Fleury with Chicago.
LeBrun also tweeted that he believes the asking price for Marc-André Fleury will be a “1st RD pick (or 1st RD level prospect) and maybe a mid-round pick.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Competition for Marc-André Fleury
The Chicago Blackhawks are limited to where they can trade Fleury as he has a 10 team no movement clause in his contract. There also aren’t many teams looking for a rental goaltender right now, and his $7 million cap hit is a tough one for many teams to swallow.
The only teams rumoured to be interested in Fleury besides the Toronto Maple Leafs are the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. However, rumours suggest that the Washington Capitals may be on Fleury’s no trade list due to their rivalry with his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If Fleury did return to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it would most likely be in a back-up roll as Tristan Jarry is having an amazing season with a .922 save percentage. I’m not so sure Pittsburgh would pay such a hefty price when Jarry is playing so well.
The Edmonton Oilers have needed a quality goaltender for years, and they may be an elite goaltender away from becoming contenders. Fleury may be interested in a Stanley Cup run with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but Edmonton is barely in a playoff spot and have recently expressed confidence in Mikko Koskinen.
Marc-André Fleury Trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs
There’s still a good chance that Marc-André Fleury could make his way to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have the best chance at winning out of the teams interested in Fleury, so they may be the most willing to go all in on a trade, and Fleury is most likely interested in the team that will give him the best shot at winning another Stanley Cup.
I don’t know if anyone is willing to give up a first round pick for Fleury, but here’s what I would offer:
The Chicago Blackhawks need a goaltender for next season as both Fleury and Kevin Lankinen are pending UFA’s, and they may be willing to take a chance on Petr Mrazek returning to form next year. Lankinen has also had a terrible season.
In order for the trade to work, Chicago would most likely have to take on Mrazek’s $3.8 million salary and retain half of Fleury’s salary. The Toronto Maple Leafs would end up gaining $300,000 is cap space.
This obviously isn’t Chicago’s asking price for Fleury, but it seems like a buyer’s market for goaltenders right now, and Petr Mrazek does still have some value, so it may be close enough. The Blackhawks acquired Fleury for Mikael Hakkarainen (an ECHLer and former 5th round pick), so they’re still making off like bandits.
If the Leafs acquire Fleury, I could see him splitting games with Jack Campbell for the rest of the regular season once Campbell returns from injury, and the hotter goalie will take the helm going into the playoffs. Even if Campbell returns to form, Fleury is great insurance if Campbell gets hurt again.
The Toronto Maple Leafs definitely seem more interested in a defenseman than a goaltender right now, so making a trade for a goalie might only work if the cap hit is neutral or in their favour. I’m excited to see who they can acquire ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.