With veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury signing a three-year contract
extension with the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, the team has established
short-term stability in net, which is essential for a club in win-now mode. But
 possibly the most significant outcome of the re-signing is that the memorable
career of a former three-time Stanley Cup champion will most likely conclude in
 the state of Nevada. The Golden Knights locking down one of their cornerstone
franchise players is significant, and here are some takeaways from his
re-signing..Goaltending Situation Is Solidified

If Fleury did not receive the extension, then his contract would have been
entering a contract season this upcoming campaign. Given that the 33-year old
netminder proved he is still a legitimate starter, there is a strong
possibility that a bevy of teams would have been ringing Vegas general manager
George McPhee';s phone to inquire about a trade for Fleury. Furthermore, the
native of Sorel, Que. would have been hotly pursued on the free-agent market
because of his skill set, veteran leadership, and likely more reasonable price
compared to other potential 2019 UFA goalies such as Pekka Rinne of the
Nashville Predators and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets.Vegas
Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is coming off a 29-win regular season
in his first campaign with the team. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire
via Getty Images)

All of those potential concerns evaporated quicker than rain in the Nevada
desert heat with Fleury';s re-signing. Vegas has the 14-year veteran under
contract until the 2020-21 season, meaning the Golden Knights will not have to
worry about finding an immediate replacement in the crease. And given the way
Fleury played in his debut season as a Golden Knight, it is beneficial. The
former Pittsburgh Penguin was 29-13-4 in 46 games played last season, which was
 coupled with a 2.24 goals-against average. In 20 postseason games, Fleury
earned 13 wins and single-handedly won a chunk of games in Vegas';s run to the
Final.

The stability in net is integral for a team of Vegas'; stature. Given the
talent all across their roster and their relatively young collective age, the
potential championship window for the Golden Knights could last anywhere from
three to five years. Having a viable option in the crease with loads of playoff
 experience for at least three of those years is vital if Vegas to bring Lord
Stanley';s mug to the southwest U.S. Furthermore, it gives the team a chance to
 develop another young goaltender that can seamlessly replace Fleury as the
starting netminder.Fleury';s Career Likely Ends in Vegas

For any goalie to perform consistently well in year 14 in the NHL is quite
admirable. The wear and tear of playing in net for over a decade can take a
toll on one';s body, but Fleury proved last season he still has some juice left
 in the tank. However, all good things must come to an end, and at 33 years of
age, the conclusion of his career is closing in.

By the time Fleury';s new contract expires, he will be 36 and coming off his
17th season in the league. Given that he will be out of his prime once the
2020-21 season draws to a close, hanging up the skates will likely be the
wisest choice for Fleury at that point. Is it rare for netminders to play in
their late-30s and into their 40s? No, and it is occurring right now with
38-year-old Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers, who is set to enter his
20th NHL season.By the time Fleury';s newest contract expires, he will be 36
years old and will have finished his 17th season in the NHL. (Stephen R.
Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports)

But there is a solid chance Fleury could add another championship ring to his
hand by the time his contract expires. If that is the case, it would not be
shocking for Fleury to want to retire after hoisting the Stanley Cup for a
fourth time. Potentially going out on top should sound very appealing for any
player closing in on two decades in the NHL.His Legacy in Vegas

The concept of Fleury not retiring as a Pittsburgh Penguin would have been seen
 as dumbfounding a few years ago. The veteran netminder was a mainstay with the
 black-and-gold from the beginning of his tenure in Pittsburgh in the 2003-04
season. However, Fleury calling it a career in Vegas became a strong
possibility with this contract extension.

Although his stint with the Golden Knights will under be five years by 2020-21,
 Fleury will be seen as a legend in the Vegas area if he decides to retire as a
 Golden Knight. His performance in the regular season this year was one thing,
but the sights of Fleury standing on his head in the 2017-18 postseason will
always be engrained in the minds of Golden Knights fanatics. And with the
33-year-old staying in the desert for three more years, it';s possible more
memorable moments are made by Fleury for Vegas fans to cherish.Vegas Golden
Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and left wing James Neal celebrate a win.
(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

One thing he will always be remembered for in Vegas is that when the expansion
roster was chosen, he was the most recognizable name. In a crowd of
lesser-known players, Fleury stood out as the star entity and was quickly
marketed as the face of the franchise. That will always stick for Golden
Knights supporters.

The amount of seasons left in Fleury';s career is truly an unknown. What is
clear is that Vegas';s goaltending situation is secure for the next handful of
years.

And if the long-time netminder does retire with Vegas, don';t be shocked to see
 his name physically etched in Golden Knights allure.

The post 3 Takeaways From Fleury';s Contract Extension appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.05-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)