The Edmonton Oilers with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations and a glaring need in net, may be the siren call that brings Marc-Andre Fleury back from retirement. But when will Edmonton decide?
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Oilers are playing a calculated waiting game to make a move for Fleury.
The organization has reportedly given Goaltender Connor Ingram a trial period of either 30 days or 10 games, whichever comes first before he becomes waiver eligible.
This window will be Edmonton’s evaluation period and a chance to determine whether Ingram can provide the stability they desperately need.
Marc-Andre Fleury’s return has Oilers written all over it per Seravalli
Should Ingram falter during this stretch, the Oilers will face a critical decision point. While many analysts have focused on potential trades for goalies like Alex Lyon, Seravalli suggested that they would go for the 40-year-old Hall of Famer who retired just months ago.
“I’d have to think that one name the Edmonton Oilers are thinking about today in this circumstance is Marc-Andre Fleury,” Seravalli stated on Sports 1440. “If he’s gonna come back, it’s gonna be with a team that has an authentic chance to win, and that has the Oilers written all over it.”
There’s clear mutual interest. Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, revealed that five teams called on July 1 this year inquiring whether the legendary netminder would consider unretiring.
Insiders suggest there’s a 70% probability that Fleury returns to the ice likely in the new year. That timeline aligns perfectly with Edmonton’s needs as the Oilers navigate their goaltending crisis with Tristan Jarry sidelined until the New Year.
Edmonton also represents everything Fleury would want in a comeback destination. The Oilers possess an elite offence led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they’re playing at a championship level and they have authentic Stanley Cup aspirations. For a competitor like Fleury who has always been motivated by winning, joining a contender would make the physical grind worthwhile.
At least cap reality makes sense this time
The path to a Fleury reunion isn’t without significant hurdles of course. Edmonton’s salary cap situation presents the most immediate challenge.
With only $613,000 in available cap space, the Oilers are in one of the tightest financial positions in the league. Acquiring a starting goaltender with a traditional starter’s salary would require creative maneuvering in trade or LTIR gymnastics.
However, this is where Fleury’s unique situation creates opportunity. As a player coming out of retirement midseason, he could theoretically be signed for league minimum which would fit comfortably within Edmonton’s cap constraints. This financial flexibility is precisely what makes the scenario viable when other goaltending options remain prohibitively expensive.
The physical concerns are more difficult to dismiss. When Fleury left Pittsburgh after his ceremonial preseason appearance in September, he was visibly limping with a bad hip. His own words had hinted at the toll that NHL hockey takes on a veteran body.
However, if Edmonton could offer Fleury a role similar to what he played in Minnesota so he doesn’t shoulder the full workload but provides stability and mentorship, the physical demands might become manageable.
There is competition of course
Edmonton isn’t again operating in a vacuum. Other teams have checked in on Fleury’s availability according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. The longer Oilers general manager Stan Bowman waits to make a move, the more competitive the pool becomes.
If another contender swoops in with an attractive offer, Edmonton could find themselves on the outside looking in.
The urgency is also compounded by the current goaltending situation. Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has confirmed that Jarry’s injury will keep him out until the New Year at minimum. That places enormous pressure on newly called up Connor Ingram during this critical stretch of the season.
After all, every game matters in the NHL’s compressed standings, and goaltending instability can derail even the most talented teams.
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Fleury’s legacy considerations will weigh in Edmonton’s favor
For Fleury, he already owns the second-most wins in NHL history. He has already won three Stanley Cups. He has already claimed a Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender. His Hall of Fame induction is assured the moment he becomes eligible.
What could motivate him to risk that legacy by coming back? The answer might be simpler than we think. The love of the game and one more chance at glory.
If he believes he can still perform at a high level and if a team like Edmonton offers him a realistic shot at a fourth Stanley Cup ring, that might just prove irresistible.
The coming weeks will prove decisive. As Connor Ingram’s trial period progresses, the Oilers’ management will gather crucial data. Can Ingram provide adequate goaltending? Is Pickard capable of carrying a heavier load? Do they need to pursue external options?
If the answer to that final question is yes, all eyes will turn to Marc-Andre Fleury. Seravalli suggested that he’s tracking the situation closely, monitoring whether the legendary goaltender will indeed come out of retirement and whether Edmonton makes sense as his landing spot.
The hockey world has seen comeback stories before. Patrick Roy returned from retirement. Dominik Hasek did it twice. Martin Brodeur considered it. But each situation is unique and Fleury’s would carry its own set of circumstances and motivations.
For Oilers fans, the possibility represents a dream scenario in adding a future Hall of Famer with championship pedigree at league minimum salary to bolster their Stanley Cup push. For Fleury, it represents a chance to write one final chapter in an already legendary story.
As Seravalli noted, if Fleury returns anywhere it will be with a team that has an authentic chance to win. The Edmonton Oilers, with their superstar core and championship window wide open, have exactly that written all over them.
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