When the Penguins announced this morning they had signed goaltender Matt Murray to a three-year contract extension, the immediate reaction was that it was another step towards Marc-Andre Fleury’s eventual departure from Pittsburgh.
One man who didn’t share that viewpoint, though, is the one who will ultimately be tasked with making that decision.
“The focus seems to be on what happens with Marc-Andre, but let’s let this play itself out first,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said after the team’s morning skate. “Let’s not just presume that Marc is automatically out. He’s been the franchise goalie here, he is a terrific person, he’s a terrific player and I think that assumption, we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves.