Marc-Andre Fleury linked to the Maple Leafs in resurgent trade rumour!

It has been recently reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the Toronto Maple Leafs are exploring the goalie market, especially since Ilya Samsonov has been struggling through 14 games this season.

For tonight’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators, the Maple Leafs will trust veteran Martin Jones in net while Samsonov keeps working on with coaches and gaining some confidence back.

However, the latest trade chatter might not help that confidence as Andrew Forbes of the Hockey Writers is stirring up some trouble with a resurgent trade rumour that links Toronto to beloved goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. He points out how last season, the Maple Leafs were linked to the Minneola Wild netminder and how, as we grow closer to the trade deadline, Toronto could explore that option again and maybe, this time, pull the trigger.

Forbes reminds fans how Fleury almost ended up woth the Leafs back in March 2022 when he was part of the Chicago Blackhawks:

“During the 2022 NHL trade deadline, reports surfaced that the Maple Leafs and then-general manager Kyle Dubas had been in talks with the Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Davidson on a trade that would land Fleury and forward Brandon Hagel for multiple first-round picks, Matthew Knies and Petr Mrazek.”

We all know that the transaction never materialized, especially since then-GM Dubas did not want to give up Knies in any trade. However, Fleury did say that he would have accepted a trade to the Maple Leafs back in 2022, but finally ended up in Minnesota where he then signed a two-year contract. The deal holds a no-movement clause.

What about now, Flower?

Fleury is no longer a starting goalie in Minnesota and has put up a 6-5-2 record in just 13 games. The Maple Leafs could get him to come to Toronto if they promise a better role in between the pipes and also offer the 39-year-old a chance at another Stanley Cup championship…

Wild GM Bill Guerin would probably ask quite a bit in return for the veteran goalie and, as Forbes points out, the Maple Leafs cannot mortgage the future to acquire Fleury.

There is a good chance the Maple Leafs pull off a move in net ahead of the trade deadline, and therefore, fans will need to keep an eye on their options, which include the beloved goalie in Minnesota…

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