Fleury Returns, Penguins Carry 3 Goalies

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Feb 24, 09:40 PM | Hype this story!

As the Pittsburgh Penguins battled the San Jose Sharks in a rather monotonous game, Marc-Andre Fleury was seen wearing a smile in Mellon Arena for the first time in at least two weeks.

“It seems like forever since I’ve played in a game here and I’m looking forward to having a chance to play again,” Fleury said to the Canadian Press.

That’s because the 23-year-old goaltender today finished a rehabilitation stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton “Baby” Penguins of the AHL, which saw him earn a 3-2-0 record, 1.41 goals-against-average and .950 save percentage.

While Fleury didn’t dress for the game today, it is logical to assume he will start sometime this week, and possibly as early as Tuesday against the New York Islanders.

To make room for Fleury on the 23-man NHL roster, the Penguins re-assigned forward Conner James to the “Baby” Penguins. Forward Nathan Smith also was placed on waivers and has until tomorrow to clear. If he does, he will be join James in the AHL.

Now, that leads to the interesting part of the equation.

Goaltenders Dany Sabourin and Ty Conklin have remained with the Penguins, bumping the number of goalies from two to three.

The most logical reason behind this is that general manager Ray Shero and his staff fear losing a goalie through waivers.

That means an extra roster spot must be given to an extra goalie, something that is rarely done in the present-day NHL.

With that being said, the 3:00 p.m. trade deadline also serves as a date allowing teams to carry more than 23 players. Once the deadline passes, there is no roster limit, so long as a team remains below the salary cap.

After Tuesday, carrying three goalies will be a non-issue, and would allow the team to keep its goaltending depth in case Fleury re-injures his ankle or one of the other goalies is unable to play.

There is also the possibility that one of the goalies is traded, though this seems unlikely, as Shero has stated the importance of having goaltending depth, especially in the playoffs.

The general also said Fleury is the long-term solution for this team.

“The plan is for him to be here for a long period of time,” he said to Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I don’t see that changing.”

With that being said, it appears the starting job is Conklin’s to lose for the remainder of the season.

“I can’t worry about that,” Fleury said.

Comments

  1. spiker97

    Feb 24, 11:30 PM

    I would really like to see the Pens sign Conklin to a one to two year deal, keeping Fleury and Conklin as the tandem going forward.

    This idea {if it is being pursued} also would free up Sabourin to be traded elsewhere in the NHL that he could be used by the trade deadline, perhaps for a lower draft choice or maybe some type of blueliner. If Sabourin does get traded, they will probably try and sign Conklin sooner than later.

    If that doesn’t happen, the Pens will keep the three goalies and hopefully offer Conklin a contract by July 1st. That would probably solve the goaltending “problem” for a season or two.

    I see Fleury starting one of the next two games, probably the Boston one at the earliest, Atlanta at the latest. I agree that the starting job is Conklin’s right now to lose – if that happens.

    I don’t see the Pens making any big blockbuster trades in the next couple of days either – right at this minute. That may change, but not as of right now.

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Feb 25, 08:49 AM

    Spiker, thanks for the comment. I would agree that Conklin should be locked up for at least a year, and no more than three. Having Conklin and Fleury as the duo, in my opinion, would push both to be their best and could have a very positive effect.

    I have my doubts, however, that Sabourin will be traded, unless Shero finds another depth goaltender for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. As we saw last year with the addition of Nolan Schaefer and this summer with the addition of Sabourin and Conklin, Shero likes to have depth in goal, and it was demonstrated this winter just how important that depth can be.

    Lastly, I have my doubts Sabourin has has trade value worth much more than a sixth or seventh round pick. He’s an average backup at best, and he has proven that, when given additional ice time, he just can’t handle the load.

    If I had to guess — and that’s all this would be — I would say that Shero might try to sneak Sabourin through waivers Tuesday when general managers have bigger fish to fry.

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