TSN analyst Jamie McLennan recently stated that the Boston Bruins could be a dark horse in the Marc-Andre Fleury sweepstakes. He noted Tuukka Rask’s sudden retirement may spark them to look for another goaltender, and there isn’t a better one currently available than the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Although it would be fantastic to see the future Hockey Hall of Famer on the team in theory, I believe that he shouldn’t be one of their trade targets.

That is not to say that Fleury wouldn’t be a very good addition for the Bruins. After a very poor start to the season, Fleury has since bounced back well. In 36 appearances, he has a 16-17-3 record, 2.88 goals-against average (GAA), and .910 save percentage (SV%). He would provide them with more reliability in goal, but when looking at their current roster, that isn’t their biggest need. Thus, now doesn’t feel like the right time to acquire him. Let’s discuss each reason why.

Bruins Have Other Needs to Address

The Bruins have been linked to several different centers, and it is not hard to comprehend why. After losing David Krejci this past summer, they still haven’t found an acceptable replacement. Although Erik Haula has worked well between Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak, an upgrade is needed if they hope to go a deep playoff run this spring. Thus, big-name players like J.T. Miller, Tomas Hertl, and Claude Giroux make more sense to target than Fleury.

The Bruins do not possess the strongest depth at right wing, either. Although Pastrnak is once again playing at an elite level, their scoring at that position after him drops off dramatically. Although nobody can question Craig Smith’s effort, he also only has six goals and 10 assists in 41 contests. With totals like these, it is fair to argue that he may be better suited for the third line. Other wingers like Nick Foligno, Curtis Lazar, and Oskar Steen also aren’t answers for the top six. Thus, right wing is another position they should focus on far more than goaltending.