Has Murray made Fleury expendable

[Ingolo]

With it being such a buyer's market, I could see 2-3 of the vet/rookie tandems getting broken up this summer (Calgary, Dallas, Carolina, and maybe Edmonton should all be looking to add a starter/1b option) and possibly 1-2 more goalie trades near the deadline. The expansion draft is probably going to cause a lot of headaches and uncharacteristic moves to happen before next summer.

That being said, didn't someone on the forums look into the rulings, and find that Pittsburgh can protect both Fleury and Murray due to Murray being under 2 years played? If they are able to protect both, I could see this being a moot point.

[Axeman33]

While I think he's certainly impressed, I don't think the Pens are going to hand over the reigns to Murray just yet. They will simply enjoy owning two very good goalies for at least another season.

[islefan31]

These playoff "backups" have made all their starters look expendable. Greiss/Halak, Vasilevskiy/Bishop and Murray/Fleury

[Goldendelicious]

Sure its brought up the option...but Fleury's NMC makes him non-expendable unless he so desires to leave the team himself.

[2014olympicgold]

Depends what Pitts thinks of Murray. If the rules of protection of younger players comes out that you don’t have to be protected if you’ve played under 80games as a goalie, why would they trade Fleury? Murray has only played 25 games, if Matt Murray is managed to stay under 80 games (or whatever the number is for a goalie that they make up), they don’t need to trade Fleury.

Murray has still only played 13regular season games, he’s looked very good, but who knows if his conditioning is there yet. At best he goes into a 50/50 role next yr, or a 60/40 with Fleury getting 60.

[Crazy Joe Davola]

It's possible that Murray supplements MAF for next season, but I wouldn't put my money on it. IMO, the one way it happens is if a team like Dallas flips one of their vets (Niemi) + a pick/prospect. That way Pittsburgh can have a cheaper and less termed safety net behind a 21 year old.

I suppose they could deal MAF to the Flames for a couple of picks and go out and sign Reimer or Ward to a reasonable contract and offer the chance to "beat out the kid for starts".

However, the most likely scenario is that the two of them are back next year and MAF gets slightly more than 50% of the starts (40-50) but down the stretch it'll be whoever is playing the best. Ala Detroit with Mrazek/Howard.

[Big Baby]

No Chance.

Fleury had a great year and was a big reason for pittsburgh having success, especially early on.

They knew what they had in Murray when they signed MAF to his new contract.

Murray has had a below .900sv% in his last 4 starts. The team in front of him needs some credit for his success.

MAF will play before the end of these playoffs and he will show why he is one of the best, and consistently underrated, goalies every year.

If anything, now would be the time to acquire MAF, on the cheap if any of his owners are in panic mode.

[LawMan]

With it being such a buyer's market, I could see 2-3 of the vet/rookie tandems getting broken up this summer (Calgary, Dallas, Carolina, and maybe Edmonton should all be looking to add a starter/1b option) and possibly 1-2 more goalie trades near the deadline. The expansion draft is probably going to cause a lot of headaches and uncharacteristic moves to happen before next summer.

That being said, didn't someone on the forums look into the rulings, and find that Pittsburgh can protect both Fleury and Murray due to Murray being under 2 years played? If they are able to protect both, I could see this being a moot point.

The rules are far from finalized but everything I have read indicates that "free protect players" will be based on years of pro experience and not NHL games. Most sources state players with 1 or 2 years of pro experience are free protects. Since Murray has played several AHL seasons (pro experience) he will not be a free protect. Again the NHL has not said this directly but that's what most sources seem to indicate. Given that MAF has a limited NTC he is not a mandatory protect, only full NMC's are that.

It's going to be an interesting game of chicken for the Penguins, the expansion draft is coming but only 2 goalies (3 maybe?) will be selected, thus if the Pens think they have the 4th best option maybe they roll the dice. I can see the Pens trying to shop MAF or even Murray for a monster return. If they can get it great, if they only get offered a second maybe they keep both knowing they are in win-now mode. They let the season play out and decide which guy to protect in an expansion draft, If Murray has a 35 start season with good numbers they can expose the aging MAF and if they lose MAF at least they get the contract off the books and can move forward by signing a veteran backup. You never want to lose an asset for "nothing" but if the "nothing" is only a 2nd rounder its easier to swallow IMO.

[rtstr]

Is MAF that much better than Jimmy Howard?

Fleury is exponentially better than Howard. Howard is not very good at all. Fleury is very good.

[Big Baby]

Fleury is exponentially better than Howard. Howard is not very good at all. Fleury is very good.

People love to use the lazy viewpoint that MAF is a bad goalie without actually looking at his #'s and seeing that he's been a top 5 goalie year after year

[JagrBomb]

People love to use the lazy viewpoint that MAF is a bad goalie without actually looking at his #'s and seeing that he's been a top 5 goalie year after year

on Pittsburgh, a top team year after year.

put fleury on Detroit and Howard in Pittsburgh and its a whole different story. not saying either goalie sucks, but their team a goalie plays for can influence their numbers a lot.

only a few goalies like Price can be stellar despite playing for a bad team.

[rataylor22]

on Pittsburgh, a top team year after year.

put fleury on Detroit and Howard in Pittsburgh and its a whole different story. not saying either goalie sucks, but their team a goalie plays for can influence their numbers a lot.

only a few goalies like Price can be stellar despite playing for a bad team.

So on one hand, Pittsburgh is great team so Fleury looks like a great goalie. On the other hand, all anyone can talk about all playoffs is Pittsburgh's D is so overmatched compared to the Rangers, Capitals, Lightning, that's their weakness. So which is it? It can't be both. Not to mention Pittsburgh's weakness on D has been mentioned forever. We're not talking about Fleury's win totals here, his actual numbers. Fleury is a top 10 goalie in this league at worst.

[Big Baby]

on Pittsburgh, a top team year after year.

put fleury on Detroit and Howard in Pittsburgh and its a whole different story. not saying either goalie sucks, but their team a goalie plays for can influence their numbers a lot.

only a few goalies like Price can be stellar despite playing for a bad team.

ok, good point but then you have to agree that the Murray hype is crazy.

Expendable and Fleury should not be in the same sentence

[Axeman33]

An interview with Rutherford about this very topic

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/05/19/...sts-otherwise/

Q: What about the young players?

Rutherford: “They speak for themselves. Those two goalies – you can never have enough good goalies. The Penguins have three good ones now. I feel bad for Fleury. He’s such a great team guy and we’re fortunate that he is. He’s handled this situation like a pro. First class. He’s ready to go when called on.”

Q [from Oxenreiter]: Does this mean he’s history with the organization?

Rutherford: “Absolutely not.”

Take these comments for what they are worth.

[yougo]

on Pittsburgh, a top team year after year.

put fleury on Detroit and Howard in Pittsburgh and its a whole different story. not saying either goalie sucks, but their team a goalie plays for can influence their numbers a lot.

only a few goalies like Price can be stellar despite playing for a bad team.

Have you looked at Pittsburgh defense ? Outside of Letang it is very average.

Fleury was arguably the Pens MVP this season if you ask most of their beat writers. The last time Howard had a better SV% than Fleury is in 2012-13.

Hot take : Fleury will be a borderline hall of game goaltender when his career ends. He's #18 right now in all-time wins and is just 30.