Fleury Trade Has Colorado Looking Good

So much for Theoren Fleury, the man who would be a King but for their unwillingness to rent him from Calgary.

Fleury was sent to Colorado, along with Chris Dingman, for the Avalanche’s Rene Corbet, Wade Belak and future considerations in a Sunday morning deal that had people all over Reunion Arena talking.

And you can imagine the conversations in Denver, where adding Fleury to a team with Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg figures to light up the scoreboard.

The Kings had talked with Calgary General Manager Al Coates about the All-Star winger since August, and as late as three weeks ago, there was an offer for Fleury that was either Yanic Perreault and Pavel Rosa, or two prospects, depending on whom you ask.

Neither Coates nor King General Manager Dave Taylor were telling.

Oh, and Fleury had to sign a four-year, $25-million contract with the Kings.

He wouldn’t, preferring to stay in Calgary until he can become a free agent July 1. He has 30 goals and 39 assists and was plus-18 for the Flames, for whom he is the all-time points leader.

“I just want to stay here,” Fleury said a week ago. “I don’t want to uproot my family in the middle of a season. The best thing that can happen is for me to stay here and help this team get into the playoffs.”

His wife Veronica is pregnant and due to deliver their second child April 8.

But Colorado has designs on more than merely making the playoffs. The Avalanche figures on his being the final piece of a Stanley Cup puzzle, or at least enough to overcome Dallas in the Western Conference.

“Not only am I thrilled to see Fleury in our lineup, but we won’t have to entertain the prospect of seeing him in somebody else’s lineup,” Colorado General Manager Pierre Lacroix said.

The Stars reportedly were also interested in Fleury, though that was disputed Sunday by General Manager Bob Gainey.

“We weren’t involved with Calgary about Fleury,” he said. “We have some ideas and concepts here about how to improve our club, and we have to stay with them.”

But, he added, “everybody can use a great player and he’s a great player.”

One of the future problems for the West is that Colorado has a good chance to sign Fleury, even after he gains free agency.

The Avalanche meet several of his criteria, including being in the Western Conference, which would allow him to play as often as possible at Calgary and be near his family; and deep pockets, because, as much as he says hockey isn’t about money, free agency is and he will command a fortune.

That’s why he’s no longer a Flame. Calgary, competing with the Kings for a playoff spot, can’t afford him.

“The Colorado Avalanche are a much better team today,” Coates said. “Theo’s a great player. We’re going to miss him.”

Dallas has only one game left against the Stars during the regular season but could well see plenty of Fleury and Colorado later. Perhaps in the Western Conference finals.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.