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Report: Flames have contacted Pens about Fleury trade

Pittsburgh Penguins v Colorado Avalanche

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 09: Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends the goal as he had 24 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on December 9, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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Calgary has long been rumored as a potential landing spot for Marc-Andre Fleury -- and now, there are reports that Flames GM Brad Treliving has reached out to discuss the possibility.

From the Sun:

Trading Fleury now is best for everyone involved.

Flames GM Brad Treliving is well aware of the possible fit and, as should be expected from the diligent workhorse, he’s been in contact with [Penguins GM Jim] Rutherford.

The Penguins could use the cap space as they are currently $2.5 million over the $71.4 salary cap, which may very well dip lower, further exacerbating the problem.

In meeting with the media today, Rutherford addressed the situation at hand with Fleury and Matt Murray, the club’s 22-year-old goalie of the future -- and, to be honest, the goalie of the present, given he just backstopped the Pens to the Stanley Cup.

“If it wasn’t for Fleury, we wouldn’t have made the playoffs,” Rutherford pointed out, per DKonPittsburghSports.com. “In a perfect world, [head coach Mike Sullivan] and I would like to keep both Matt and Marc-Andre.”

Earlier in the postseason, Rutherford was more demonstrative in his outlook on Fleury, saying the veteran netminder was “absolutely not” done in Pittsburgh.

Now, though, the reality of the situation may be setting in.

While having a high-quality goalie tandem in Pittsburgh next year would be ideal, it would also be expensive. It’s also fair to suggest Calgary might be Rutherford’s best trading partner.

The Flames don’t have a legit NHL starter under contract for next season and, as the Globe and Mail’s Eric Duhatshek pointed out last month, Fleury -- who’s under contract for two more years at $5.75M per -- could be the ideal “transitional guy.”

“In a perfect world you’d bring in a young guy who can play for you for a long time and grow and mature with your group, but if that guy isn’t available and if you think [goalie prospect] Jon Gillies can be that guy in a few years down the road, then you just need a transitional guy,” Duhatshek said, per Sportsnet. “The acquisition cost for a guy like Fleury… that might just be taking him off your hands, free the money off the books, and it doesn’t cost you a tangible asset off your roster.”

Each year, Fleury submits a 12-team list of teams where he can’t be dealt.

Gotta wonder if Calgary is on it.