With 25 wins, Marc-Andre Fleury leads the NHL. His respectable 2.27 goals against average and.917 save percentage put him in the top statistical categories of starting goaltenders.
For another goalie, those stats and currently stellar play would have garnered serious Olympic consideration, entry into the Vezina trophy conversation as the league’s top goaltender and trust from organization and fans alike.
Except perhaps the misplaced trust of the Penguins organization, however, Marc-Andre Fleury has received none of those accolades.
And for good reason.
The numbers that really matter are this: A losing record (14-16), a cumulative .863 save percentage and an incendiary 97 goals against in the four years and 31 playoff games since winning the Stanley Cup.
Few things are as humiliating to a starting goalie than watching most of the game, or games, from the bench. Few things rattle a team’s confidence in a starting goaltender like watching bad goals pile up. In Fleury’s case, since going 16-8 in the post season en route to winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, he has served more softies than Dairy Queen.
Fleury’s playoff numbers aren’t just bad, they’re catastrophic. Many teams would have gone a different direction after a few playoff debacles. In fact, the Penguins were forced to turn to back up Tomas Vokoun during last seasons run the Eastern Conference Final. Fleury did see a sports psychologist this past offseason. The team also asked him to do so last year, but he declined. One would think the most recent request was less suggestive and more demand.
As the Penguins enter the second half of the NHL season, it is…meaningless. Absolutely, utterly and completely meaningless. When you have the world’s best two players, an expensive defense corps and Stanley Cup experience, more is expected. The regular season is only a means to the end. Art Ross trophies, Hart Trophies, sellouts and even division titles are relatively empty. Even a first or second round playoff defeat will be a failure.
The Penguins chose to go with Fleury this season despite the playoff failures. Given his contract expiration after next season, he is most likely out of opportunities. If he performs to an elite level into the summer, he’ll start talking contract extension. If he tanks, again, he’ll most likely need a good realtor.
One could argue Fleury has been the victim of poor defense. One could argue that coach Dan Bylsma has failed to modify his system, allowing teams like the Islanders and Flyers to attack the Penguins game from the breakout; true. One could further argue Bylsma’s near refusal to match lines in the playoffs has created an insurmountable disadvantage in the post season; very true.
One cannot argue that Fleury has not only failed to make difficult saves, he’s also failed to make the expected saves during the postseason. As it seems more than likely backup goalie Vokoun’s career is over due to his pelvic blood clot, the Penguins will be faced with a monumental decision at the trade deadline: To keep current back up Jeff Zatkoff and rely exclusively on Fleury or acquire a playoff capable back up, appearing to hedge their bet on Fleury and potentially planting doubt in the shaky netminder.
You can skip claims that Zatkoff could be that guy, regardless of what his very limited regular season numbers are.
If the Penguins are truly serious about winning the Cup, they absolutely must acquire a playoff capable back up goalie such as Anaheim’s Viktor Fasth, Florida’s former cup winner Tim Thomas or even higher profile back up James Reimer in Toronto must be considered. Fasth and Reimer have long-term starter potential.
The going rate to acquire another team’s back up, who has potential is approximately a second round draft pick, though a few desperate teams could up that price this year.
Regardless, the Penguins must pay anything short of a ridiculous price.
For the 29 year old Fleury, this year’s post season will present a pressure the long heralded former number one overall pick has never faced — a last chance. The next 38 games, beginning tonight in Edmonton, will be about going through the motions. The season that begins after that will dictate the future of the organization and a few jobs could be riding on Fleury’s ability to harness his immense ability, including his own.
