Are the Edmonton Oilers trying to coax Marc-Andre Fleury out of retirement?
The Edmonton Oilers are attempting to freshen up their goaltending, and a retired NHL legend could be in their sights.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman has already made the big move of swapping out Stuart Skinner with Tristan Jarry with a trade earlier this month. Now, the team could be looking to upgrade at the backup position by finding a new goaltender to replace the struggling Calvin Pickard.
Recent AHL call-up Connor Ingram will be getting a shot to do that over the next couple of weeks, but Edmonton could be looking at other outside options. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last week about the Oilers’ interest in Buffalo Sabres netminder Alex Lyon, but the team might be setting their sights a little higher.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently speculated about Edmonton potentially trying to coax Marc-Andre Fleury out of retirement for one last shot at another Stanley Cup.
“I’d have to think that one name the Edmonton Oilers are thinking about today in this circumstance is Marc-Andre Fleury,” Seravalli said on Monday’s edition of the Kevin Karius Show. “I think he’s got the itch to keep playing… If he’s gonna come back, it’s gonna be with a team that has an authentic chance to win, and that has the Oilers written all over it.”
After the roster freeze is done could the #LetsGoOilers go after a certain goaltending legend? @frank_seravalli gives it a good chance.
Presented by @mrrooteredm pic.twitter.com/Dv52PdXpS0
— Sports 1440 (@Sports1440) December 22, 2025
Fleury retired from the NHL last season and turned 41 in November. There has been no inkling that he would return to action, especially after having played in one last symbolic preseason game with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in September.
The notion seems a bit ridiculous, but TSN’s Pierre LeBrun backed up the speculation by saying that teams have reached out to Fleury to gauge interest. Though the Oilers were not explicitly mentioned in this report.
“Probably not surprising, but hearing that some teams have checked in on Marc-Andre Fleury to see if there’s any chance at all he would consider playing again,” LeBrun reported.
“Again, not surprised teams with goalie needs would want to check on it.”
Probably not surprising but hearing that some teams have checked in on Marc-Andre Fleury to see if there’s any chance at all he would consider playing again. Again not surprised teams with goalie needs would want to check on it.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 23, 2025
You can’t say that Fleury doesn’t have the resume to be a solid backup goalie in the NHL, even at his advanced age. He put up decent numbers in each of his last two seasons with the Minnesota Wild, and it’s unlikely he’ll go back there considering the success of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt.
There is a good chance he would be a significant upgrade on both Pickard and Ingram despite not having played a single game this season. He also wouldn’t cost assets to acquire and would likely sign a one-year deal that expires at the end of the season.
If the interest is mutual, Fleury might be the most low-cost, low-risk option available for the Oilers to fully transform their goaltending tandem.
This is, however, dependent on whether or not the NHL legend has any interest in returning. That much has not been reported as of now, and this speculation could all be for naught if Fleury is comfortable leaving the pads hung up.
Still, the fact that there is so much noise around the possibility is interesting and will be something to monitor in the Alberta capital after the holiday trade freeze lifts on Dec. 28.