On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Rob Rossi of Upgruv: Marc-Andre Fleury didn’t expect to be with the Penguins this season. He has never asked for a trade after it became apparent that Matt Murray was the No. 1 goalie in Pittsburgh. Fleury on handling being a backup.
“One day at a time,” Fleury said, shooting a look those familiar to him would agree suggested he would rather not discuss this matter.
“I come to the rink. I try to have a good practice. I try to battle.”
The St. Louis Blues have had goaltending issues all season, but Fleury would be hard to fit under their salary cap.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Stephen Whyno: Blues GM Doug Armstrong on if he feels like his job is on the line: “It should be. It should be every day. It’s pro sports. You’re hired to be fired.”
Lou Korac: Blues coach Mike Yeo: “Jake’s our goalie and Jake’s our goalie of the future.”
The Fourth Period: The chances of the Blues trading pending free agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk are good, and would be higher if he would sign an extension with the acquiring team.
The Maple Leafs, Sabres, Oilers and Lightning have all shown some interest in Shattenkrirk.
“I’ve kind of been in the position where I’ve known that something could happen all year, so it really doesn’t change my mentality too much,” Shattenkirk told reporters earlier today, adding that his focus is on the Blues and that will only change if he’s traded.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Armstrong on what he expected after not bringing back David Backes and Troy Brouwer this year.
“That’s a great question,” Armstrong said. “And what I tried to do over the summer was look at this franchise in 2020, 2021, 2022, knowing that the players that we have to sign moving forward.
“I made a decision that I thought was best for this team long term. And that’s the business I’m in. I can’t look at what would have been easiest for me but what was best for the franchise.”
