What Does the Pens Success Mean for Fleury?

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins just won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks. It doesn’t take too much to see that the Penguins have had a rush of success lately, especially during the course of their postseason play.  Thing is, since usual star goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was sidelined with a concussion, the team has been having all of their success with rookie goalie Matt Murray. Even with Fleury’s return from injury, the goaltender has only played in two playoff games so far, neither of which results in Penguin victories.

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Murray has brought the Pens wins upon wins and has more than proved he is capable of being the team’s primary goaltender despite his rookie status. His success has been so useful to the Pens that even with a healthy Fleury ready to play, the team has yet to give him so much playing time or starting opportunities.

Last season the Penguins would never think to start their backup goalie before their star, but faced with  Fleury’s injury this season the team had no choice but to put their backup to the test.  A test that Murray has passed with flying colors. Murray has won 12 of 16 playoff games this postseason and has posted a .924 save percentage. He has saved 428 of 463 shots and even recorded one shut out.

The just-turned 22-year-old has been an excellent goaltender for the Pens and has done it all at a very low price. With an average annual salary of $925,000, Murray will be a great bargain until he becomes a restricted free agent in the 2017-18 season. Fleury is in year two of a contract extension he signed prior to the 2015-16 season with an average annual salary of $5.7 million and a limited no-trade clause.

There's absolutely no way the Penguins could win the Stanley Cup with Murray in net and go back to Fleury next season, right?

— Adam Herman (@AdamZHerman) May 31, 2016

Not that Murray will ever be a final replacement for Fleury on the team or even in the eyes of the fans, but it would be hard to disregard a player who has been playing well and grabbing wins.  Especially with the Penguins dangerously close to taking home the Stanley Cup, how could one dismiss Murray’s success moving forward? This is the closest to the cup the Penguins have come since taking it home on 2009, with many thanks to Murray’s ability to step up when needed.

There is no telling what this success means for Fleury. Having two very talented goaltenders could be a dream for any team, but when it comes down to games and playing time only one goalie can take that star starter position.