The Edmonton Oilers are playing better hockey in recent weeks. They have won eight of their last 11 games. Edmonton is now 19-13-6 and sits first in the Pacific Division. Their offense continues to lead the way, with captain Connor McDavid leading the league with 67 points. Additionally, their power play ranks first in the league at 34.3 percent.
Despite the wins, goaltending remains a concern. Edmonton allows over three goals per game, and its defensive play is average. The team knows this could be an issue later in the season. That concern has now helped restart talk around Marc-Andre Fleury.
During a segment on NHL Now, former goalie Devan Dubnyk addressed the Fleury buzz. Dubnyk said the idea of Fleury’s return would excite the league.
“I’d love it,” Dubnyk said. “I think it would be awesome. League would love it. It’s fun.”
He also stressed this would not be a symbolic return. In his view, Fleury would only come back to play meaningful games, and competing for a starting role would matter.
“He’s a competitor,” Dubnyk said. “I don’t believe he would be coming back… [if] right scenario is not backing up. I think it’s going to be as the or at least the chance of being a starter, but also have a chance of winning a cup, and he’s got three already. To me, that is what this would have to be.
“Off the top of my head, I mean, the Edmonton Oilers would have to be one. There would have to be one, because that has cup aspirations, and he theoretically could be the guy there.”
Dubnyk also mentioned another team. He pointed to the Montreal Canadiens, who are worth $3.4 billion per Forbes, as a possible destination. Montreal has goaltending questions of its own. The move would also carry personal meaning for Fleury, because he is from Quebec and grew up watching the Canadiens.
“The other one, I probably have to think – the Montreal Canadiens,” Dubnyk said. “Well, that’s where he’s from. That probably is a boyhood dream of his to be a Montreal Canadien, and they have some goaltending issues…”
Edmonton Oilers’ need for a goalie like Fleury
Edmonton Oilers want to win now, and they recently traded for Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, they had to move their former primary goalie, Stuart Skinner, who played a role in their two Stanley Cup finals trips.
The move was meant to fix their issues in the net. That plan stalled when Jarry suffered a lower-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve and could miss weeks now.
With Jarry out, the Oilers are using Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram. The net feels uncertain again, and that uncertainty keeps outside options in focus, especially one like Fleury. He owns three Stanley Cups and has 575 career wins.
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Edited by Ankit Kumar