It’s November 1, and Arizona and Chicago have yet to win a hockey game. These are epic bad starts to a season for sure, and it would be nothing short of miraculous for either team to make the playoffs at this point.
There are players on both squads with expiring contracts, but only one player who could literally spell the difference between raising a Cup or another playoff exit full of disappointment. Probably the best playoff performer of the past decade. The biggest difference maker at the biggest position: Marc Andre Fleury.
Who needs him?
It’s really hard to tell about injuries of course, but you have to look to the teams with the most talent, but also the most at risk from potentially “iffy: goaltending…
#1. Edmonton
This one is easy. To win a Stanley Cup you need a Stanley Cup team with a Stanley Cup Goalie…The Oilers have one side if that and this year’s 6-1 start is truly postitioning them as a contender. MAF would make them THE favorite to win it all.
#2. Colorado
For all the talk that Kuemper is as good as Grubauer the reality so far has been mixed. The currently aren’t in a playoff spot as of November and I don’t think anyone would have predicted that scenario
#3 Minnesota
The Wild are a great team and Talbot has been very good, but he is not in the same air as MAF. The Wild have a history of goalies not winning for them in the playoffs.
#4 Pittsburgh
The Penguins are playing well despite all kinds of injuries to key player, so you have to believe they will be a serious threat when Crosby and Malkin really get it going. Fleury is loved in this market and by the players. This could be a very perfect storybook ending…
Of course injuries in Vegas, Carolina, or Toronto would open up even more interesting scenarios… You know Chicago won’t let him go for cheap, but I can’t help but feel I will be writing a lot about MAF over the next three months…
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