Among active goalies in the NHL. He hasnt really had the best year this year and for a former #1 pick i think you can say its kind of dissipointing.
Where do you think he ranks currently among goalies and what do you think his future with the penguins is.
2007-11-20 09:05:22 · 6 answers · asked by Conan 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
While it is disappointing for me because I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan and I want to see both the team and Marc-Andre Fleury win, I think people have too high of expectations.
I know Fleury was picked 1st overall, but do draft picks always perform according to their draft number? Alexandre Daigle (1st overall) was a huge disappointment. Henrik Zetterberg (210th overall) is looking to be a huge overachiever. I mean, Martin Brodeur was picked 20th overall---is someone honestly going to say they expected or expect Fleury at any point to be better than Brodeur at his best, simply because Fleury was drafted as a higher pick than Brodeur?
Another reason high expectations are ridiculous: this is only Fleury's SECOND full NHL season. That's right, last season was his 1st full-time NHL season. A season in which he did manage 40 wins, which puts him up there with Tom Barrasso (as far as wins go).
Which reminds me... "Cam B" mentioned that Fleury's stats can't be great with such an offensive-minded team. He also mentioned that Fleury's GAA will probably stay around 3. I remember another offensive-minded Penguins team whose goaltender's GAA was around 3!
Tom Barrasso:
1990-91 Season
GP-48 W-27 L-16 T-3 SO-1 GAA-3.59
Playoffs GP-20 W-12 L-7 SO-1 GAA-2.60
1991-92 Season
GP-57 W-25 L-22 T-9 SO-1 GAA-3.53
Playoffs GP-21 W-16 L-5 SO-1 GAA-2.82
I'm in no way saying Fleury is Barrasso. I'm just saying that you can't always make a clean-cut prediction based on the facts.
Obviously, Fleury doesn't rank too high this season, thus far. It might be the same way in the future as far as stats go, but he might have more wins. Like last season. Currently, the team has faith in Fleury. How well he does this season will probably decide his future, given that it's time for him to sign a new contract.
2007-11-20 10:08:15 · answer #1 · answered by Erica 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think that Marc-Andre Fluery would rank 20-30 among starting goalies this season. That said, he has a lot of up-side even if that isn't with the Penguins.
Goaltenders typically take longer to develop and Fleury hasn't exactly been nurtured into the starting role. I have never been a fan of throwing goalies to the wolves and putting them into a pressure-laden starting role too soon. I think that Fleury would have benefited from another season in the AHL or the opportunity to play as a back-up to a seasoned veteran for an entire NHL season.
His numbers may be down this season, and may not be stellar behind an offense-minded Pens team, and while it has been pointed out that draft position is not a guarantee of success, I do believe that Fleury is a NHL caliber goaltender and will come into his own, just give him time to develop.
As for his future with the Pens, I can't see them trading that kind of talent, but if they did, rest assured there would be more than a few teams willing to welcome him with open arms.
2007-11-20 19:29:26 · answer #2 · answered by tboneund 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Marc-Andre Fleury is definitely underrated at this point in the season. In fact, the entire Pittsburgh Penguins team has been disappointing. Even with his great abilities, I do not believe that Fleury will ever be a top 5 goalie.
Pittsburgh's team is too offensive-minded for Fleury to have great stats. Regardless of his skill, his GAA will probably stay around 3, because Pittsburgh relies on offensive firepower for wins.
Currently, Fleury probably ranks about 20th-25th among goalies, and looking at the way Sabourin has been playing, might be traded or become the backup goalie, however I doubt either of those scenarios will occur. and he will remain Pittsburgh's starting goalie.
I agree that, even considering the fact that he is on the Penguins, Fleury has had an off-year. Of course, like Emery, he was one of my picks in my Fantasy Hockey draft... Seriously... Stop asking questions about goalies. They depress me.
2007-11-20 17:21:52 · answer #3 · answered by Mother Pucker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you see him play in the World Junior Championships for Team Canada while he had the flu? He was throwing up into a bucket in between whistles and he still won MVP of the tournament even though his team lost!
I am by no means a Penguins fan. In fact, I hate that whiny little Crosbaby (I'd take Malkin or Staal over him any day). But after seeing Fleury's performance in the Juniors like 4 years ago, I'd say he has potential.
2007-11-20 21:05:46 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Ralph B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly think he has the best physical talent of any goalie in the NHL right now. What he needs to work on is positioning, and rebound control. He also needs to be a little more confident, which is hard to do when the defense in front of you is always giving up scoring chances, and when your offense isn't producing as well as they are capable of. But his reflexes are absolutely lightning-fast. They truly are almost cat-like.
2007-11-20 18:40:39 · answer #5 · answered by N/A 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I just watched the Toronto Sports Talk Show (OTR) with Michael Landsberg and his guest was Eddie Olczyk.
He thinks Fleury is one of the best goalies on the planet
2007-11-20 20:10:19 · answer #6 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋