Agent for Marc-Andre Fleury Reveals Who Nixed High-Profile Trade to the Maple Leafs

Details of a failed blockbuster trade between the Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks, which would have seen goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury don a Maple Leafs jersey, were released earlier this week.

However, we now have a unique perspective on the deal from the guy who was calling the shots behind the scene, and he had some very juicy things to say about how Fleury would have been utilized by the Maple Leafs, and the reason the deal with the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline in 2022 fell through.

On his Agent Provocateur podcast, Allan Walsh confirmed the trade was all but completed, and he had been assured by then Toronto GM Kyle Dubas that Fleury would not just be the team's starter, but "the guy" to carry the team through the end of the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2021-22.

So, what happened? Walsh said Dubas told him in a phone call that an agreement had been reached with Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, and he would hear from him again. Two hours later, Dubas called Walsh back to give him some bad news.

While he is never mentioned by name, the person "upstairs" who nixed the trade was most likely Brendan Shanahan, who was told his contract as President of the Maple Leafs would not be renewed earlier this week.

Why it was axed was never explained to Walsh. That year, the Maple Leafs went on to lose in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs after being up three games to two at one point. Toronto's goaltender for the series was Jack Campbell, who had an abysmal .897 save percentage, and a 3.15 goals against average.

The nixed Fleury trade was likely one of a long list of questionable decisions that ultimately led to the long-time team president being dismissed earlier this week. Now, all we can do is ponder this trade that could have been, but never was.