Marc-Andre Fleury reportedly waives his no-move clause for expansion draft purposes

The Penguins are just days out from winning their second Stanley Cup in a row. Reality, however, may start to climb back in for fans now that the expansion draft is near.

Monday afternoon, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported that goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has waived his no-move clause for the expansion draft back in February. This followed a report by Boston area writer Jimmy Murphy on his blog Murphys Law stating the same information.

Multiple NHL sources – one very close to the situation – have confirmed to Murphy’s Hockey Law that Fleury agreed to waive his modified no-movement and no-trade clauses for the June 21 NHL Expansion Draft well in advance of the 5 PM Monday deadline for all NHL teams to submit a list of players who have done the same with all such clauses.

The Penguins are in a rough spot with their goaltending approaching the expansion draft. With Fleury’s no-move clause, Pittsburgh would have to protect the 32-year-old at the risk of losing Matt Murray. The Penguins could buy-out Fleury, but that move would have implications on Pittsburgh’s cap.

If Fleury has waived his no-move clause, that sets the Penguins on an easier path. Pittsburgh can protect Murray, while Fleury gets taken by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. It’s a very likely possibility that Fleury doesn’t end up in Vegas when everything is said and done this offseason, as the Golden Knights could flip him to another team.

What is becoming more clear, however, is that Fleury has likely played his last games as a Pittsburgh Penguin.