Insider Doubles Down on Marc-André Fleury Return Rumors

Is Marc-André Fleury really considering an NHL comeback? That’s the question hockey fans have been asking in recent days as speculation surrounding a potential return from the—potential—future Hall of Famer has picked up steam.

Part of the buzz stems from Tristan Jarry’s injury, which has forced the Edmonton Oilers to rely on Connor Ingram and Calvin Pickard for the time being. Add in the fact that the league has reached the holiday break—with nearly half the season already in the books—and it’s no surprise Fleury’s name has resurfaced. TSN insider Pierre LeBrun hinted as far back as the preseason that this was something worth monitoring.

Fellow insider Frank Seravalli has since added fuel to the fire, expressing strong confidence that a comeback could actually materialize. When appearing on The Kevin Karius Show on Monday, Seravalli pegged the chances of Fleury returning at 70 percent.

Seravalli said:

“I think he’s got the itch to keep playing, and I think for a guy who has really made a home in Minnesota, there’s no room for him there with Wallstedt and Gustavsson. So if he’s going to come back, it’s going to be with a team that has an authentic chance to win, and that’s got the Oilers written all over it… 70/30. I know he wants to play,”

On Tuesday, Seravalli was back on the show and doubled down, reaffirming that Fleury is itching to get back into an NHL crease sooner than later.

“My inclination is that Fleury has the itch. No one’s announcing his comeback or anything like that. The first part starts with him. But last week he played in an outdoor game in Aspen, Colorado. The week before that, he was on the ice with the Minnesota Wild scratches. A couple of months ago, he played in a preseason game with the Penguins… It certainly seems to me that there’s an itch that’s waiting to be scratched,”

The 41-year-old posted a 14-9-1 record with a 2.93 goals-against average, .899 save percentage, and one shutout in 22 starts last season for the Minnesota Wild, proving he’s still very much capable of being a quality backup option.

Marc-André Fleury Is a Low-Risk, High-Reward Move

While he may no longer be in Vezina Trophy form, a fresh and rested Fleury would quite honestly be one of the better backup goaltenders in hockey. He proved as much last season, and even if a comeback doesn’t go perfectly, the downside would be minimal. Any contract would come at a low cost, making the potential reward far outweigh the risk for a team willing to take the chance.

Edmonton has been the team most consistently linked to Fleury, so how Connor Ingram and Calvin Pickard perform over the next few weeks could quickly determine whether there’s a clear fit for both sides.

Montreal has also been floated as a possible landing spot, but the list of suitors likely won’t end there. As injuries inevitably pile up around the league, unforeseen opportunities could emerge for contenders in need of goaltending help, and Fleury would almost certainly be among the first names to receive a phone call.

With that in mind, if the Oilers are serious about adding the three-time Stanley Cup champion to the mix, there’s a strong case for getting ahead of the market sooner rather than later, because you can never have too many goalies in today’s NHL.

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