Give us a coach who is half as defensively conscious as Hitchcock and fleury will be better. I'd say change the coach before the goalie
- drummer829

Fleury wasn't bad this year, he was ABYSMAL. Last year, he had the worst playoff numbers since Jim Carey (yeah, remember him?). Like I said, the defense hasn't been great by any stretch, but his numbers are more than the defense, he was killing himself pretty well.

I doubt Anahiem would want to take another goalie back... that would mean us trading Fleury to someone and then trading for someone. They wouldn't part with Gibson and Hillier has health issues and Fasth has had only one good, short season. As much as an undrafted college star would be great if he worked out, I'm not overly comfortable with that myself
- ChrisMS

Miller is the answer. The obvious choice i'd say. He wants out. Buffalo needs to refresh their roster.

A little shock, with some "I can't believe this"mixed in.

The reason Fleury was benched is because he stopped saving the obvious shots. No coach can fix that.
- Gunner Staal

I will admit he gave up some softies, but there were just as many stupid turnovers during that isles series. Elliot, Smith, Crawford, and some others are looking like all stars right now because of their solid defensive games

The reason Fleury was benched is because he stopped saving the obvious shots. No coach can fix that.
- Gunner Staal

I've often said that MAF's biggest problem is his confidence. He shouldn't be fragile at this point in his career. Do you think he'd be tougher mentally if he got a little more help in front of him? This is a serious question, not sarcasm. I know you're a coach.

I can't see Fleury going anywhere. Unless it was a trade for another goalie like Miller or Halak or something. Maybe Markstrom in Florida? Pens don;t really have another option. Vokoun has played great and I can;t stand people describing him as a journeyman... if he wasn't stuck on awful Florida teams for years he would be considered a HOF goalie. Besides that though, he showed his age last year on Washington during a full 82 game season. We can't trust him to stand up for a whole season. An then what about after next year? I think Fleury stays. In Shero I trust and I'm sure he will do something damn awesome to try to right this ship.
- ChrisMS

Shero will have to do something if he moves Fleury. Maybe Hartzell (or Zatkoff) can be the long term solution (plus they drafted 2 last year), but you need someone at least short term. Best case scenario Vokoun gets you like 45-50 games, but you can't rely on unproven rookies for 45% of your games.

You might be stuck with grabbing a journeyman like Dan Ellis or Al Montoya to help out.

It sucks, because you can count of Fleury to be competitive and play a lot of regular season games, but is it worth having him take up $5 mil of cap space if you have zero confidence in him in the playoffs next season?

For the last couple of weeks, my thought was that there is no way Fleury is back, but based on the alternatives, I think we might see him back next season.

Who knows, if he plays well, and Hartzell looks really promising, maybe you move Fleury at the deadline, or just keep him and plan on Vokoun starting playoff game #1. I don't know... Shero has some tough calls this summer.

I've often said that MAF's biggest problem is his confidence. He shouldn't be fragile at this point in his career. Do you think he'd be tougher mentally if he got a little more help in front of him? This is a serious question, not sarcasm. I know you're a coach.
- madmike71

He flips and flops around too much. He needs to be more reserved and let the play come to hm more.

I've often said that MAF's biggest problem is his confidence. He shouldn't be fragile at this point in his career. Do you think he'd be tougher mentally if he got a little more help in front of him? This is a serious question, not sarcasm. I know you're a coach.
- madmike71

Honestly, I think he's shot at this point. In game 1 this year, he posted a shutout. He then proceeded to let, what, 14 goals in 3 games? As soon as 1 puck gets past him, it seems like he's done.

Miller is the answer. The obvious choice i'd say. He wants out. Buffalo needs to refresh their roster.
- Orpik44

Miller would be interesting. How much per year? One of the advantages of moving Fleury would be salery cap relief. Its going to be hard to keep certain players next year unless a salery like fleury, martin, orpik, etc are moved. going to be an interesting off season.

I've often said that MAF's biggest problem is his confidence. He shouldn't be fragile at this point in his career. Do you think he'd be tougher mentally if he got a little more help in front of him? This is a serious question, not sarcasm. I know you're a coach.
- madmike71

Goalies are a strange breed. Better play in front of him would certainly assist confidence, how could it not? But at the end of the day he needs to self reflect and understand that he can only do what he can do, and that includes making the nickel and dime saves 10 times out of 10. He needed to understand letting those goals in are mentally deflating to the team, which in turn leads to the tight mistake prone play that we have seen.

Nobody would beat him up if he only gave up the 5th goal the other night, but the 4th and 6th ones were so unacceptable its tough to ignore.

Couple the bad goals with some of the flukiest unfortunate bounces I have ever seen and you have a perfect storm of confidence being shot. I know I would be asking questions at that point to myself.

A new environment could be just the cure for him. It really does stink, he was a terrific Penguins and amongst the easiest to root for that ever wore the black and gold.

2010-2011 Fleury almost carried the Penguins to the #1 seed on his back. that was the year that Crosby and Malkin did not play the 2nd half of the year and Staal was out 1st half of the year.
- Gunner Staal

But then he really struggled in games #5 & #6 when they had a chance to close out the Lightning. Oddly, he played well in game #7, but by then, Tampa had a ton of confidence.

For the last couple of weeks, my thought was that there is no way Fleury is back, but based on the alternatives, I think we might see him back next season.

Who knows, if he plays well, and Hartzell looks really promising, maybe you move Fleury at the deadline, or just keep him and plan on Vokoun starting playoff game #1. I don't know... Shero has some tough calls this summer.
- rival22

I dont think he would be a deadline deal asset. I think if he gets moved, it will be over the offseason.

But then he really struggled in games #5 & #6 when they had a chance to close out the Lightning. Oddly, he played well in game #7, but by then, Tampa had a ton of confidence.
- rival22

Yeah, and that pretty much sums up Fleury the last few years. His poor play caused a hole to dig out of. He was great in Game 7, but clearly his fault why there was a Game 7 (not completely, that roster was dog sh*t)

Honestly, I think he's shot at this point. In game 1 this year, he posted a shutout. He then proceeded to let, what, 14 goals in 3 games? As soon as 1 puck gets past him, it seems like he's done.
- jmatchett383

That's the main difference between him and Vokoun. That first Bruins goal last night was a greasy one, it went off a defensman's skate and in. Vokoun didn't let him phase him, and play strong the rest of the way. If Fleury lets that early goal in, he goes to the zoo for the rest of the night.

One interesting variable with any potential trade now is the ability to retain salary or absorb salary. Seems like a nice extra variable for Shero to work with.

Honestly, I think he's shot at this point. In game 1 this year, he posted a shutout. He then proceeded to let, what, 14 goals in 3 games? As soon as 1 puck gets past him, it seems like he's done.
- jmatchett383

I can understand that sentiment, but he got peppered in the Isle series. The play in front of him was horrific. Of those 14 goals, only 2 or 3 would have been considered soft. I just can't lay all the blame on the tender when the play in front of him was even more atrocious.

Regardless, I can't ignore his lack of confidence at this age.

Shero will have to do something if he moves Fleury. Maybe Hartzell (or Zatkoff) can be the long term solution (plus they drafted 2 last year), but you need someone at least short term. Best case scenario Vokoun gets you like 45-50 games, but you can't rely on unproven rookies for 45% of your games.

You might be stuck with grabbing a journeyman like Dan Ellis or Al Montoya to help out.

It sucks, because you can count of Fleury to be competitive and play a lot of regular season games, but is it worth having him take up $5 mil of cap space if you have zero confidence in him in the playoffs next season?

For the last couple of weeks, my thought was that there is no way Fleury is back, but based on the alternatives, I think we might see him back next season.

Who knows, if he plays well, and Hartzell looks really promising, maybe you move Fleury at the deadline, or just keep him and plan on Vokoun starting playoff game #1. I don't know... Shero has some tough calls this summer.
- rival22

Its tough to say we could move Fleury at the deadline... remember, if we, as a (hopefully) playoff team don't want him, why would another team want him? Moving him when his value is at it's lowest is tough. If he is stellar nest season, we would want to keep him and hope he plays well in the playoffs, if he plays poorly, who would want him?

I doubt Anahiem would want to take another goalie back... that would mean us trading Fleury to someone and then trading for someone. They wouldn't part with Gibson and Hillier has health issues and Fasth has had only one good, short season. As much as an undrafted college star would be great if he worked out, I'm not overly comfortable with that myself
- ChrisMS

Hiller only has 1 yr left on his deal and from what I understood his vertigo issues were solved. Anaheim wouldnt take a goalie back, I agree on that. It would take moving Fleury elsewhere and then looking to flip those pieces---kind of like trading Staal and moving those pieces this past deadline. Hiller to me might be worth the risk/reward depending on what we would have to give up. He was a pretty good goalie prior to his health issues, and even then seemed to rebound a good bit this season. Not a sure fire solution to our issues but possibly one worth kicking the tires on. I like it better than Ryan Miller.

Well...

If in fact MAF is done in Pittsburgh, he'll be considered a reclamation project with not much value. I guess it will be considered a gain in freeing up his salary.

I can understand that sentiment, but he got peppered in the Isle series. The play in front of him was horrific. Of those 14 goals, only 2 or 3 would have been considered soft. I just can't lay all the blame on the tender when the play in front of him was even more atrocious.

Regardless, I can't ignore his lack of confidence at this age.
- madmike71

I don't know...there's soft goals and then there are some of the ones he let up.
- In game 3, he basically kicked a corner dump into the net for the GWG.
- In game 4, he (somehow) ended up on the side of the net, looking at the corner, and allowed the puck to be shot off of him and in
- The along-the-ice trickler in Game 4 is up there with the Tommy Salo vs. Belarus goal as one of the worst ever.

You know its bad when your best d-man for the series has been Engo.

Not very many goalies that I can remember have won a cup and than dropped off the face of the earth as far as consistency goes. Usually when a goalie wins a cup, that cements his future career. Even if he doesn't win another one, he still is considered a solid goalie in the league.

Cam Ward
Niemi
Osgood
Quick
Thomas
etc

Weird. I honestly can see MAF being a back up on some team in the NHL in 5 years ala Andrew Raycroft. Psychologically the guy looks completely messed up. Too bad cause he has all the tools still.

Hiller only has 1 yr left on his deal and from what I understood his vertigo issues were solved. Anaheim wouldnt take a goalie back, I agree on that. It would take moving Fleury elsewhere and then looking to flip those pieces---kind of like trading Staal and moving those pieces this past deadline. Hiller to me might be worth the risk/reward depending on what we would have to give up. He was a pretty good goalie prior to his health issues, and even then seemed to rebound a good bit this season. Not a sure fire solution to our issues but possibly one worth kicking the tires on. I like it better than Ryan Miller.
- Rawdog9755

I like Hillier better than Miller too. I would love to see a deal with Florida for Markstrom though... let him simmer with Vokoun next season then boom. We might have to sweeten the pot to get him, but I could see it as a possibility. What teams would be interested in Fleury? NJ? EDM? Phx if smith signs somewhere else? Tampa? Maybe get bishop or lindback back as part of the deal?

Trading Fleury seems to be a topic but come on we most likely failed to reach the cup finals with this roster and all of the talent on it. What needs to change?

They shouldn't need puck moving Dmen because they have skilled forwards??
- canadianpenfan

so you're saying the oilers needed paul coffey?