Marc-Andre Fleury may end up playing with the Penguins beyond 2014-15, but for now his contract status is on hold. Penguins GM Jim Rutherford commented on contract negotiations, stating that he’s not in any hurry to get a deal done, but he’s confident that Fleury is Pittsburgh’s goalie.
Rutherford’s comments, as seen on Trib Live, reveal some interesting information about the future of Pittsburgh’s crease.
“I’m not in a hurry to do a contract with him. I think he’s one of the most talented goalies in the league. From my point of view, he’s our goalie. There’s no reason why he can’t be our goalie for a long time.”
Rutherford is preaching patience and has said all of the things which need to be said in order to avoid an uncomfortable situation. Still, you always have to wonder when negotiations unfold like this. Fleury may wreck nerves, but he usually gets the job done. The Penguins may be waiting to see how Fleury performs in 2014-15 before making another long-term commitment. Unless a stronger candidate emerges, it’s highly likely Fleury will in fact receive a new contract. If he disappoints and the Penguins think they can upgrade, then those future negotiations may never take place.
Thankfully for Pittsburgh, Fleury’s agent Allan Walsh is apparently on the same page as Rutherford. He mentioned that Fleury wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but he’s trying to stay focused on the year ahead and not the distant future.
Will Fleury end up with a new deal in Pittsburgh? The answer to that may rely on his play in 2014-15.
