Fleury reportedly livid after being hung out to dry in Chicago last night
The Chicago Blackhawks have had an absolute nightmare of a season from both an on ice and off ice perspective, but the real loser in all of this is Marc-Andre Fleury - and let's be honest, Flower deserves better.
The Blackhawks have put forth an embarrassing effort in front of Fleury this season in what was originally supposed to be a massive turn-around season in Chicago. The club's awful 16-23-7 record has the Hawks placed firmly in the sellers market, but in my opinion, they need to stop the bleeding immediately and ship Fleury somewhere that he'll have a chance at competing for a Stanley Cup. They owe him that much.
The Hawks' disappointing season culminated in a humiliating 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, with Fleury being hung to dry by his teammates for all 5 goals before receiving the mercy pull. Fleury was apparently irate, smashing his stick off the wall on his way down the tunnel and to the Hawks locker room, and who can blame him?
Fleury, 37, owns a 14-16-3 record with the Blackhawks this season and if he finishes the year in Chicago, he will likely post his first losing record in 17 years. That simply cannot happen to a goaltender of Fleury's caliber.
If Fleury was willing, I'm sure Leafs GM Kyle Dubas would take him in Toronto in a heartbeat at 50% retained, with the deal being centered around Petr Mrazek ($3.8M for two more seasons) and a pick or a prospect.
Here's hoping that the Hawks find a really good situation for the veteran goaltender and a chance to expand on his legacy rather than continuing to take away from it.
