Sticking with Murray as Fleury trade rumblings heating up
Penguin coaches had always wanted by mid-to-late January to have things settled where there was no question who the Penguins No. 1 goaltender was going to be from here on out for the rest of the season.
They’ve stayed true to that mindset as the team is now rolling with Matt Murray who will make his sixth straight start, meaning Marc Andre Fleury will go at least 17 days between starts if he were to start Tuesday night.
“We’ve liked what Matt has done here,” Sullivan told reporters today in Boston. “We feel like he’s on a little bit of a roll. We just thought it made sense to stay with him.”
— The Penguins have no set asking price as they are aggressively trying to trade Marc Andre Fleury and want to do so well before March 1. Clubs, though, that have spoken with the Penguins have a pretty good idea of what they’re willing to consider.
Among them:
1. The Penguins have been open to moving Fleury for a veteran player with term to fill a need, either a defenseman or a forward with speed that makes sense. The Fleury – Hamhuis talk was out there last month but has cooled of late.
2. The team is said to at least being open minded to keeping 20-25% of the cap hit in return for a high draft pick or high-end prospect, one Eastern Conference executive said earlier this month.
Another scenario league executives believe the Penguins would jump at that might be a head scratcher to some: [hide]
3. Trading Fleury for nothing more than a late round pick, one executive mentioned a 5th rounder, if a team is willing to take on all of Fleury’s remaining salary. They’ve signaled to at least one team of this, a source says.
Sounds crazy for a goaltender of Fleury’s caliber?
Not necessarily in this goaltending market.
This is one reason the urgency is picking up from Rutherford, other execs say. “Jim wants to get a jump on things and make the first move,” an executive said of the current goaltending market that is pretty much a logjam.
Opening up this cap space would make the Penguins scary dangerous going into March 1 and open up key cap space for next summer with Murray’s cap hit increasing and others like Justin Schultz in line for a significant raise.
Question remains, though, if a team emerges willing to take on the full portion of Fleury’s salary even at such a low cost.
Will be an interesting next couple of weeks with the Penguins said to have such an open mind on returns for Fleury.
Weighing Backup Options
The Penguins take pride in Wilkes Barre/Scranton being an annual contender in the AHL. If the Penguins are successful in trading Fleury, they prefer to keep the goaltending situation the same in Wilkes Barre and let Tristan Jarry continue to develop.
The team has been scouting multiple options in the event Fleury is traded and they don’t get a goaltender back in the Fleury trade.
There’s been discussions about a reunion with Jeff Zatkoff who has been awful in Los Angeles.
Lineup Buzz
Patric Hornqvist opting to make the trip to Boston, will play tonight after being listed as day-to-day yesterday.
The forward lineup decision tonight now centers on whether the Penguins dress Jake Guentzel at center or not.
If they do, Tom Kuhnhackl draws in. If not, Carter Rowney figures to dress.
Guentzel is a natural centerman and it would be his first NHL game down the middle.
“He’s a good center and he can play both [center & wing],” Sullivan said of Guentzel. “I think one of Jake’s strengths is his hockey IQ. He sees the ice well and he’s a solid 2-way player.” [/hide]
I may be wrong here but I’ve yet to hear or read about any kind of violence, threats, or any nonsense at the march for life.
thats because the media is not covering it …only marches led by the agrieved and disenfranchised.
Hey sammich, Schultz establishing a career high and pacing for 60 points. “Hasn’t done much since he got here” lol… member when sammich said that? I memeber…
Schultz is the best dman currently on our roster and scoring at great clip. We also got him for what, a 3rd? Leave it to that moron to trash a great trade. And as far as the goaltenders go, Ryan Wilson puts it best on his article today. It basically shames everything that came out sames greasy fingers, as well as the other chuckleheads that think we should trade Murray.
Yup… oddly I said virtually the same thing at the bottom of this page lol
Like it or not boys fleury has 14 years under his belt I doubt Murray will have 14 years in the NHL
Which means he will play at least 15. Remember you wanted st Louis then he retired? By your logic, we should go after Gionta and scrap both goalies for Ryan miller.
#Thornton2017deadline… do it JR
the pens will get a 5th round pick and retain the maximum amount allowed if they want to move st.backup.
Which is why they should trade Murray instead. They would still have over 6 million tied up in goalie and get nothing in return. You’re better off trading Murray, getting a good piece back and getting the same performance between the pipes. In 2 years turn the net over to Jarrey and Gustavsson. You finally get it.
Very good dusty I agree for once pens can still win games with fleury Murray doesn’t seem to be able to play 80+games he will be injured or mentally tired
You guys are hopeless. What has led anyone to believe Fleury should be anywhere near the net in important games right now? He has a mediocre record and horrible numbers. He has been abysmal pretty much all season and on the decline in general. So you want to trade away a top young goaltender with a low cap hit to keep an aging veteran who isn’t as good with a cap hit nearly twice as much? All of this while our star players are nearing the end of their prime, this providing a short window to win. Not to mention… Read more »
Fleury also played under Clown DB. Not Murray
He was playing under DB last year when he lost his job? When he played horrifically in the playoffs? When he lost his job again this year after more than enough chances to solidify his position? After he’s gotten thoroughly outplayed the entire year? Another clueless comment from a clueless person living in a clueless part of the world.
He lost his job last year because of injury you dumb Democrat. but you wouldn’t know that because your hockey only starts in April
Aside from the fact that the whole April thing is a pathetic attempt at an insult, he got hurt last April anyway dipshit. Again, please stop embarrassing yourself.
Ok, you obviously can’t seem to do the math. Here are the 2 scenarios. Fleury (5.75) + backup (1) + good return from murray trade…..or Murray (3.75) + Fleury (1.5) + backup (1) + nothing on a trade return. Your cap hits are 6.75 with Fleury while getting a top D in return or 6.5 with Murray and playing with the same shitty D and getting a pick and a “prospect” in return maybe. There isn’t any cap savings by keeping Murray over Fleury.
We need gaydogg now for the stats department
First off, that hit doesn’t kick in until next year, which would leave us with much more money this year at the deadline. Secondly, and what no one here seems to grasp, is that this team has a far better chance at making a run with Murray as opposed to Fleury. Bottom line is that this team has a nice window and fleury is dead weight at this point. The only reason Habs fan sam wants him in net is because he’s French-Canadian. I’m done trying to explain this. It’s like trying to teach a 6 year old politics.
Politics HA! Watching American politics is like watching a soap Opera
Nope, now a dusty is right again. Man, what a day.
you’re killing it today, fat fingers. keep up the good work.
I’ve changed my mind. TBJ is right.
“Or mentally tired” – Has played like 60 NHL games lol. You are just as if not worse than yoda lol
60 in one season?
No you fucken retard like 60 career games, he has only played 39 regular season games. It means he is still progressing in his development to play that much. Guy is a few years removed from Juniors, only played 40 game his 1st year in the A and has only played as a NHL pro for a short period. A lot, if not most, tenders will ease into the 60+ game role. He is only in his 1st full season and that started with injury. He is still splitting time with 5.75 million dollars… well except recently as the team… Read more »
Shit, I can’t believe I agree with Dusty. Except, you’re not going to get the same performance in goal. But it won’t matter. Add the right pieces and not even Fleury could screw it up.
what about the meltdowns in 2010, 2011, 2012 and last year in round 3 game 5?
2010 they ran into a hot goalie… as did Washington, MAF was not great but gave the team a shot to win. If Sid and Geno could have contributed like Cammelleri did with timely offnce this would not be a conversation. 2011 Crosby and Malkin were missing, they relied on Staal, Neal who did zip on arrival (or anytime in April) and Kovalev. 2012 full on melt down, MAF played horrible hockey but in typical fashion you also seem to ignore the FACT that the entire squad melted down nightly. When they didn’t they won games. Last year round 3…… Read more »
*Game 5 OT loss
I’m glad you don’t run the team Dusty. Stick to your Bill Guerin is mean posts.
There is no market for Fleury. Trade Murray. Win now.
trading a 22 year old with a low cap hit who already won a cup and has a huge upside over an established clown is silly.
Keeping them both is silly. Fleury gets you nothing. Murray gets you a top pairing dman
If we traded Murray, we could get more than a to pairing dman. And we can’t win now with Murray? I thought we just won last year with him? Maybe I’m mistaken.
They are not going to win the cup with the same roster as last year. They need dman help. I don’t want to trade Murray but he’d bring the biggest return.
They’ll lose in the 2nd round with this roster. Terrible defense and the others in our division got better.
Funny, people felt the same way last year lol. Add another top 4 to the group and they would be much stronger than they were last season. Schultz alone has replaced Lovejoy in a way that two Lovejoys probably could not accomplish on the ice together. Maatta comes with the same questions yes but Cole has also been a lot better. Add a top 4 and you have a stronger back end in 17 than you did winning the cup in 16. On top of that Sheary has established himself as a legit NHLer. Guentzel gives us further scoring insurance… Read more »
I know your hockey only starts in April so did Murray’s last year that’s why he was winning at the end we saw he was tired. This kid has size and positioning that’s about it no speed or agility and definitely not a star caliber as fleury. His idol was Alex auld
What low cap hit? His low cap hit goes away in 6 months. They’re gonna be stuck with this overtated stiff. The guy never bails them out making a big save. Good positioning and that’s it.
Murray is quickly approaching Big Ben as the most overrated athlete in Pittsburgh.
What looks like a Canadian, lives near Canadians, thinks they are Canadian but have nothing in common with 25 million Canadians?
The assholes in French Canada!
Hey sammich… why don’t you dumb fucks learn actual French? Don’t you think it’s quite rude that you heathens butcher a Romance language but act just as, if not more, sanctimonious than the people do in the area that spawned the language?
None of the goals Murray let in was his fault Yoda
Fleury Traded yet?
Too bad the PP specialist is injured, Crosby blew it there… Malkin probably scores
Yes Sullivan… was clearly Sheary killing that first line Pp lol
Pens look a little off again here… interestingly enough Malkin was hurt early vs StL and they looked like shit… no Malkin tonight and same shitty look lol
Good thing Hornqvist showed up… someone tell Sid there is a game on. I think he figured this was a one period thing
Fake news. Fake canadian
Yes dip shit.. this is the news. Shouldn’t you be telling French Canada to try to wear deodorant
That’s what makes you a fake canadian. You dare to shower.
Mind blown… sammich is finally right about something
Murray looks good again tonight. 4 unanswered. Pens need 5 to win again.
“Something, something double standard… something, something MAF abused my pink sock” – yoda
Yoda must be proud
Crosby winning 5 of 18… dammit Rust you know how hard it is to work with positive possession when you consistently start plays defending?
Sully happy with Murray’s games so he is okay with that 3-0 lost. I really hope pens trade fleury. And get fuckedd next year and see his worth then along with Yoda. Murray will be again injured and will mentally be tired to play too games and will be exposed then
You’re too mentally tired to be a contributing member of society, so your opinion is worthless. Nice to see you’re now actively rooting against the team that you claim to root for. You’re the definition of a bandwagon. I can’t blame you though. French pu$$ies such as yourself need to look to American teams to win at something.
He’s always been a Canadiens fan… he’s just here for the Crosby while claiming everyone else is. Kids fucken confused, for instance, he keeps referring to me as a fake Canadian when everyone in this country knows that French Canada isn’t really Canada. Hated by the real Canadians and the real French… no wonder sammich is so surly, universally disliked lol. The French are in fact assholes!
Wat?
Sure looked like it last spring, not!