Vegas Golden Knights Trade Marc Andre Fleury, But Stanley Cup Odds Stay The Same

The Vegas Golden Knights are experiencing some changes, but they still remain a Stanley Cup contender according to betting odds.

On Tuesday, the Knights traded Marc Andre Fleury, the 2021 Vezina Trophy winner and fan favorite, to the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights have acquired forward Mikael Hakkarainen and in return, they have relieved the team of the goaltender’s salary.

Despite a significant trade involving a goalkeeper who assisted the Golden Knights in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018, the team’s future odds have remained the same.

Big deal, no change in the odds

This deal significantly affects hockey fans in Las Vegas, but it doesn’t shift the betting odds. Marc Andre Fleury is not in the same league as Aaron Rodgers. The speculation about his future and his actual trade didn’t stir up as much drama as the continuous saga of the Green Bay Packers quarterback.

Circa Sports hasn’t altered the Golden Knights’ odds. The team’s chances to win the Stanley Cup remain at +590 following the trade. On the other hand, the likelihood that Vegas won’t secure the NHL championship trophy stands at -980.

Jeff Davis, the assistant sportsbook manager at Circa Sports, conveyed the following to PlayNevada:

“I believe that the move could reduce their cost if we decide to proceed with it. It enables more cap space to recruit a more prominent forward. The price difference between Fleury and Lehner in a single-game scenario is negligible, not exceeding a few pennies.”

The line movement remains stagnant across all Nevada sports betting apps. The odds for the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup next season are still at +650 on BetMGM, identical to when the 2021-2022 championship futures were first announced earlier this month.

Face of the Vegas franchise sent packing

The Vegas Golden Knights chose Marc Andre Fleury in the 2017 expansion draft, with the Pittsburgh Penguins offering a second-round draft pick to the Golden Knights for the goaltender.

Fleury rapidly rose to popularity and became the icon of the Vegas Golden Knights. Known affectionately as “Flower” by his fans, he spearheaded the team to an unparalleled achievement of reaching three Western Conference championship games in a span of just four years. This feat is unmatched by any other NHL team.

Fleury quickly rose to iconic status in Las Vegas. His numerous shutouts often led to fans getting free donuts, adding to their enjoyment of the game. Fleury also found pleasure off the ice, relishing life in Las Vegas and raising his family there. His popularity even led to the creation of Bark-Andre Furry, a Jack Russell Terrier that became an unofficial mascot for both Fleury and the Golden Knights.

It would be an understatement to assert that Fleury played a critical role in establishing the popularity of the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. He had a desire to conclude his career in Las Vegas. Rumors circulate that Fleury might not join the Blackhawks, and is even contemplating early retirement, which would mean leaving his $7 million salary unclaimed.

Looking ahead for Vegas Golden Knights

Robin Lehner is set to be the primary goaltender for the Golden Knights in the upcoming season’s initial match. BetMGM lists the Golden Knights as -290 favorites in their match against the newly formed Seattle Kraken. The predicted total goal count is 5.5, with a bias towards the under, indicating that most bettors are wagering on a lower score.

During the 2020-21 season, Lehner started in goal for the Golden Knights in 19 games. He recorded a 13-4 score during the regular season and a single shutout. Lehner maintained an average of 2.29 goals-against. Alongside Fleury, he won the Jennings Trophy for permitting the least number of goals in the NHL that season.

Despite Lehner having a robust regular season, his performance during the playoffs was less notable. With a record of only 1-2 as the Golden Knights pursued their inaugural Stanley Cup, Lehner’s effectiveness diminished. His goals-against average surged to 3.62 over the course of those three games.

Davis from Circa Sports, while contemplating the future, expressed that it “seems like the start of a genuine endeavor” to acquire Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres. The center’s agent is anticipating a trade to happen any day now.

It appears that the Golden Knights are not finished making moves this summer.