It's been widely speculated that the Minnesota Wild would begin selling off some of their assets as they felt that they are not in playoff contention. That thinking is beginning to shift as NHL insider Pierre Lebrun reported that general manager Bill Guerin may be changing his mind.
The Wild currently sits 7th in the Western Conference with 41 points which has them six points out of a playoff spot. It would be a tough road for the Wild to climb back into the race and many teams are heating up across the West. Guerin is playing his cards close to his chest while he waits to see what happens.
Meanwhile, one player in particular who will bring lots of interest will be veteran goaltender Marc Andre Fleury. Many feel that this will be his final season in the NHL but with the experience and the Stanley Cup wins that he holds, he would certainly give a team that veteran goaltender presence they need.
Fleury is also a fierce competitor and still has a desire to win a Stanley Cup. If the Wild cannot get their season together I would expect him to approach Guerin and give the green light to waive his no move clause. A contender would gladly bring him aboard.
While teams seemed to be holding off on asking if he's available, I would think general manager Ken Holland would be on that list of managers to call. A player like Fleury could be all the Oilers require to help stabilize the back end and give Stuart Skinner a much-needed breather as they prepare for the stretch run.
POLL | ||
Should the Oilers trade from Marc Andre Fleury? | ||
Yes - He will be what they need | 203 | 62.5 % |
No - Too old | 122 | 37.5 % |
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