The Golden Knights' goalie situation got stickier Saturday when the agent for Marc-Andre Fleury tweeted artwork depicting his client being stabbed in the back with a sword.
The agent, Allan Walsh, did not add commentary to the detailed illustration, but then he didn't need to: He believes the team has betrayed a three-time Stanley Cup champion in favor of deadline acquisition Robin Lehner, who has become the Knights' No. 1 goalie in the postseason.
— Allan Walsh (@walsha) August 22, 2020
Sources told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that the Knights spoke with Fleury on Saturday and that they're "satisfied this will not be an issue as they pursue the Stanley Cup." Vegas will begin its second-round series vs. Vancouver on Sunday in the Edmonton bubble.
MORE: Second-round playoff bracket, TV schedules
Fleury, 35, has played just twice in the 2020 postseason: a round-robin game vs. the Blues and Game 3 of Vegas' first-round series vs. the Blackhawks. Lehner has posted a 2.44 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in six games, winning five.
Vegas has been to the Stanley Cup playoffs in all three of its seasons, and Fleury was in net when the expansion club advanced to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final vs. the Capitals. He won three Cups with the Penguins.
Fleury is signed through the 2021-22 season with a $7 million average cap hit.
Hockey media, seeing an opportunity to make jokes about Fleury, league discipline, officiating and even Vegas' game ops, were razor-sharp on Twitter:
See? Even that went right through him. https://t.co/4NvXjcsjE9
— Steve "Dangle" Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) August 22, 2020
One game according to source at @NHLPlayerSafety. https://t.co/iOKr9LUnCe
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 22, 2020
These Vegas pregame ceremonies keep getting more and more elaborate. https://t.co/rPF9i6PXap
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 22, 2020
Worst part of this is the refs didn’t call anything because it was overtime. https://t.co/k5fZ0FfmqX
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) August 22, 2020
There was also one serious comment from a former teammate of Fleury's:
If you were my agent, I would make you delete this post! As much as I would Fleury in net, do you really think this distraction is good for the team??? They have a chance for the Cup and you’re doing this...? Disappointing Allan!!! https://t.co/xHZaHdxjIt
— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) August 22, 2020
