The Penguins lock up Fleury for another four seasons
- Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins sign Marc-Andre Fleury to four year contract extension worth $23 million, a $5.75 million salary cap hit.
- Penguins: GM Jim Rutherford.
“I believe in Marc-Andre Fleury, as the team does,” said Rutherford, a former goaltender. “He’s won before and he will win again. We’re very pleased to have him signed long term.”
- Renaud Lavoie: The deal comes with a no-movement and a limited no-trade clause.
The 29-year old Fleury was drafted 1st overall by the Penguins in the 2003 NHL draft.
Fleury is in the final year of a seven-year, $35 million deal, a $5 million cap hit. His salary for this season is $5.75 million.
Some thoughts from the media:
- Corey Pronman: “A few thoughts on Fleury, at first his contract may seem overpriced and it probably is to a degree, but let us account for a few things. The cost of a marginally competent UFA starting goalie into the future starts at a 5MM mark or near it. That’s the going rate. Fleury’s performance last year, on an output level, was at the 2-3 win level, which translates to an 8-9MM salary. I’m not suggesting he’s worth that or even close probably, because of the abundance of the goalie market and volatility of the position. There is a good stat argument that he’s a very low-end starter based on the last few years total, and road, even-strength Sv%. There is also a scouting component to the merit side of a Fleury analysis that even our most sophisticated metrics don’t 100% cover. The term and cap hit are not ideal, but it’s not horrible. If it wasn’t him, they would be paying almost as much for someone close to him. Prices have gone up 20% since his original contract, but his AAV increased 15% w all UFA years, which is likely indicator of perception.
- Shelly Anderson: “Keep in mind that MA Fleury will be 34 when contract extension expires. Hardly over the hill for a franchise goalie.”
- Josh Yohe: “The Penguins are better on Fleury and also don’t believe anyone else out there is better. It’s pretty much that simple.”
- Nick Cotsonika: “So instead of making Fleury earn an extension and keeping their options open, the Pens make him live up to one and are stuck if he fails.”
- Patrick Kearns: “When will teams wise up on goalies. I get that almost 6 million is an average cap hit, but this is getting dumb. Stop paying goalies that.”
- Jimmy Murphy: “Penguins will likely take heat on Fleury extension but I applaud it. He has been better than many say and unfairly made a scapegoat!”
- Adam Proteau: “The Pens could’ve made Fleury earn that extension with a strong playoff. Now, in a weird way, they’ve put more pressure on him than ever.”
- Craig Custance: “Fleury $5.75 million cap hit very reasonable. Comparables Varly, Lehtonen, Crawford, Miller, Ward, Bishop, Schneider all higher.”
Performance chart by @stat_sam: Here’s how Fleury ranks vs. the rest of the league since the start of 11-12 (5v5, w/in 1 goal, min TOI = 2400 mins)
