Marc-Andre Fleury: Rising Star or Black Hole?

Many fans and experts expect the Pittsburgh Penguins to do some real damage this season. With a roster packed with more explosiveness than a Chinese fireworks factory, the Penguins ought to run roughshod over much of the NHL. You can only hope and pray that the likes of Crosby, Recchi, Malkin, Sykora, Whitney, Staal, and Gonchar have an off night and score only 3 goals between the lot of them.

Well, after five games, the Penguins sit at 2-3-0, and haven't looked like a very good team. Sidney Crosby is struggling, by his standards, with six points in five games, and last year's rookie sensation Jordan Staal has nary a goal to his credit.

Despite the offensive struggles, the real black hole in the Penguins lineup is in goal, where Marc-Andre Fleury continues his career-long struggle into the stardom that was forseen by Emperor Palpatine. Fleury continues to give out juicy rebounds that even Derek Boogaard could bury, and seems to be guessing more than reacting.

As of now, M-A Fleury sports an awful 4.11GAA and 87.1SV%, numbers that put him near the bottom of the league, statistically. This isn't just a short-term trend dealio, either.

SEASON  GP  W L  T GAA SV%
2003-04 21  4 14 2 3.64 89.6%
2005-06 50 13 27 0 3.25 89.8%
2006-07 67 40 16 0 2.83 90.6%
2007-08  5  2  3 0 4.11 87.1%

Back when the Penguins made Fleury their 1st round draft pick (1st overall) in 2003, management made the short-sighted decision to rush him into the NHL that very fall. 21 games later, he was returned to his junior team, shell-shocked and completely lacking confidence in his game. Marc-Andre developed many bad habits that haven't been ironed out just yet, and took a long time to regain much of his in-game composure.

I realize that goaltenders take awhile to develop, but at what point do the Penguins realize that Fleury isn't likely going to take them anywhere just yet, and get themselves a 1B veteran who can step in? The Penguins have so much invested in Fleury as part of their 'future' that they don't realize they might be wrecking their 'present'. If Fleury can't get himself together before the All-Star Break, it'll be time for the Penguins to find some help.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-19-2007 @ 4:47PM

doogie said...

To be fair, his numbers have gotten better in each of his three seasons. It's not unreasonable to think the can still turn it around and have a good season. Hell, any Flames fan can tell you that 3-4 GAA is standard October Kiprusoff, and that he'll still be a Vezina nominee come season's end. Maybe Fleury's just having a bad start.

10-20-2007 @ 1:24PM

ThePeerless said...

Those numbers are pretty grim, but to give him the benefit of the doubt, it's early. That being said, there is an entirely different -- and more ominous -- set of numbers to look at. Fleury has failed to win a playoff series in his last six tries, covering three different leagues (NHL, AHL, QMJHL). He is 4-17 in that span, with a GAA of 3.77 and a save percentage of .878.

Evewn if he duplicates, or even exceeds last year's performance, there is that lack of big game success lurking.

10-19-2007 @ 4:51PM

Jes Golbez said...

I realize that is very early in the season and the sample size is small, but it's just that Fleury looks so horrible out there. There are bad starts, and then there is letting out really bad rebounds and generally looking lost. These are traits that should have been corrected by now.

Fleury has great reflexes and raw ability, but that's got to be supplemented with some good fundamentals as well. Some goalies just never 'learn', and I hope Fleury isn't one of those guys.

10-19-2007 @ 5:58PM

Some Dude said...

I don't think there is anyone who would place MAF as one of the top goalies in the league right now. Except for some impatient fans, I don't think there's anyone else who expects him to be, really. He is what he is - a 23 year old still learning how to play in the NHL.

The Penguins blueliners aren't exactly solid, either. How many times have we seen opponents keep the puck cycling in our defensive zone for minutes at a stretch?

Finally, I can't find a goalie available through free agency or trade that I would call better than Fleury. Look at Tibault last year - every time we saw him on the ice we knew the game was over before it started.

10-20-2007 @ 3:48PM

justin said...

Fleury can't be to blame for many of the goals allowed. I have never seen a team give up so many quality scoring opportunities. The Penguins defense is build for scoring, and scoring alone. Mark Eaton is the only guy who looks comfortable in his own zone.

10-20-2007 @ 6:22PM

Joy said...

I don't think any reporter out there right now is seeing every game here in Pittsburgh. Fleury's defense isn't there. Any great goalie has to have defense in front of him, and right down Pittsburgh just doesn't have it. I think that this is giving prime opportunity for our wonderful sports media to find Fleury's faults. In reality, he does still have some growing to do, however he is QUICK and can get his game on. Forty wins last season, with another BAD defense, just shows how good he will be.

10-21-2007 @ 1:00AM

10/20/07 vs. Washington

Player of the Game and #1 Star: Marc Andre Fleury

Need I say more?

10-21-2007 @ 11:12AM

mad won said...

Marc was rushed . His career will pay for the short sighted hurrying. He should have spent at least 3 more seasons in the minors developing . Goalies are different from skaters, skill is only 50% of the equation, experience is invaluable and he was deprived of it. The Pens let Hedberg slip away and now they pay. As for the rest of the team, they are plain ferocious and that will show as the season progresses, other goalies will swear they are doing sweeps of downtown Bahgdad wearing yamulkes after they play the Pens.

Medycman said...

Remember this you bunch of hockey neophites, Tom Barrasso did not have Vezina like numbers during the season but came up big in their 2 cup wins. So let the season playout and lets see from there. By the way, what does neophite mean?