The Oilers Missed Out Not Trading For Marc-Andre Fleury

I have to say, the Edmonton Oilers made out quite well from the trade deadline. Trading for impact third line winger Derek Brassard and the smooth skating Brett Kulak. Despite the success, there is one trade that the club could have made that would have sealed the deal for a deep post-season run, Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

If the Edmonton Oilers are truly “all in” this season, a first round pick should have been relatively easy to part with for a true elite goaltender in Fleury who is a clear upgrade on the Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen tandem the team is currently running. With the condition on the Wild’s pick being if they make the conference finals and Fleury wins 4 games in the first two rounds, I bet Chicago would’ve been all over a 1st with no conditions.

This Oilers team has one of the deepest forward groups I’ve ever seen, and our defense has looked solid at times as well meaning that this is really the first time where the Oilers have been one piece away. Since being traded, Fleury has won 3 of his 4 starts posting a .930 save percentage and a 2.30 goals against average. For comparison, the Oilers are at a combined .900 in the 9 games since the deadline allowing 3.33 goals per game. Despite lacking the cap space to re-sign Fleury next season, this Oilers team is poised to make a deep run and even one year of Fleury makes them a true cup contender.

The last time the Oilers traded for a true #1 goaltender at the deadline, Dwayne Roloson brought an 8th seeded Oilers club to game 7 of the cup finals. Only time will tell if the tandem of Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith can carry a deep Edmonton club far into the playoffs, or see more playoff disappointment for the storied franchise.