Marc-Andre Fleury's Agent Reveals Who Stopped Blockbuster Trade to the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Retired NHL goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury almost got to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the deal was shot down by an overzealous executive.
Marc-Andre Fleury has officially retired from the NHL after a career that spanned over 20 years.
Overall, Fleury will go down as a Hall of Fame goalie who has three Stanley Cups and numerous other accolades to boot.
However, for Leafs fans, he will forever be a "what could have been" as the team almost traded for him all the way back in 2022.
Marc-Andre Fleury almost played for the Toronto Maple Leafs
During the most recent episode of "Agent Provocateur" with Allan Walsh, Fleury's high-profile agent revealed that the Leafs and Fleury trade was exceptionally close to becoming a reality.
As Walsh describes, Kyle Dubas was motivated to make it happen and was making all sorts of promises for Fleury to be the starter.
"It was 'Allan, Marc-Andre Fleury would step into the Toronto Maple Leafs as the number one goalie. And our expectation would be that he carries this team... we're brining him in to be THE guy.'"
However, Brendan Shanahan eventually put the kibosh on the deal, much to the chagrin of Dubas, Fleury, and Walsh.
"Dubas... is crestfallen in his voice. I could tell that something was very wrong. And, he said, 'Allan, I don't know how to tell you this, but I went upstairs to get approval, and this trade has been nixed. It's not happening.'"
As we previously reported, the trade was supposed to involve the likes of Matthew Knies, who was not an established star at that point. Furthermore, the Leafs would have received Brandon Hagel as well, who is now a star with Team Canada.
To Toronto:
Brandon Hagel
Marc-André Fleury (extended)
To Chicago:
Matthew Knies (rights)
Petr Mrázek
2022 Toronto 1st (top 10 protected) (Rinzel)
2023 Toronto 1st (top 10 protected) (Cowan. Nadeau?)
Brandon Hagel
Marc-André Fleury (extended)
To Chicago:
Matthew Knies (rights)
Petr Mrázek
2022 Toronto 1st (top 10 protected) (Rinzel)
2023 Toronto 1st (top 10 protected) (Cowan. Nadeau?)
This is one of the greatest what-ifs in the history of the Maple Leafs. It is truly unfortunate that we never got such a legendary goaltender on the team.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 502 ANSWERS Marc-Andre Fleury's Agent Reveals Who Stopped Blockbuster Trade to the Maple Leafs Do you believe Marc-Andre Fleury would have been good with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| YES | 311 | 62 % |
| NO | 191 | 38 % |
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