Minnesota Wild trades for Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury
Evgeny Svechnikov #71 and Cole Perfetti #91 of the Winnipeg Jets work to get the puck past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period at United Center on March 20, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. ((Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS - The NHL trade deadline expired at 2 p.m. Monday, but Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin didn't waste any time to make a splash as the franchise tries to make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Wild announced Monday it acquired Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for a conditional 2022 second round pick. The pick turns into a first round draft choice if the Wild advances to the Western Conference Finals, and Fleury is the goalie of record for at least four games in the first and second rounds combined.
The Wild also dealt back-up goalie Kaapo Kahkonen to the San Jose Sharks in a separate deal for defenseman Jacob Middleton. The moves mean that Fleury and Cam Talbot are the Wild’s goaltenders moving forward. Guerin said Monday afternoon he started talking with the Blackhawks a few weeks ago about Fleury. The two were once teammates.
Wild owner Craig Leipold arranged for a jet to pick Fleury up in Chicago, and he'll be in uniform as Talbot's back-up against the Vegas Golden Knights Monday night at Xcel Energy Center.
"This is a great team. I think they’re built for the playoffs. I think Billy did a good job putting this team together. I’m just going to try to do well and help win some games," Fleury told reporters shortly after arriving in Minnesota.
Kahkonen was on the ice for the Wild’s morning skate Monday, but was pulled off once the trade became official. Middleton has three goals and six assists in 45 games for San Jose this season. He's a plus-3 for the season, and has logged 69 penalty minutes along with 89 hits and blocked shots as Guerin adds another physical defender to the lineup.
Fleury is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. In 928 career games, he has 511 wins, a 2.57 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. He’s made 162 playoff starts, with 90 wins, a 2.53 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
"He’s a veteran guy, he’s accomplished a lot so everybody wants to do right by him. It’s no secret, I know Flower very well. He’s had a lot of playoff success, I think he can help all of us. That experience is key. We just want him to come here and play, be himself. It’s not all on him," Guerin said.
Fleury played in 45 games for the Blackhawks this season, going 19-21-5 with a 2.95 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. He’s 37 years old and is set to become a free agent after the season.
He likely wanted to finish the 2021-22 season with a playoff contender, as the Blackhawks are 14th in the Western Conference at 53 points and are in a rebuilding phase. Guerin admitted he's taking a risk with team chemistry by adding Fleury, but feels it's worth it to chase a Stanley Cup.
"But when the players that we acquired became available, you’re thinking how can they help our team?" Guerin said. "I’m so confident in the group that we already have, they they’ll welcome these guys. It made sense to do them."
Guerin was asked how Talbot handled the news of Fleury coming to the Wild. Talbot has been the primary starter when healthy, and is 24-12-1 on the season with a 2.92 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. He was also an All-Star this season. Talbot was one of the first to reach out to Fleury after the trade.
"We're all after the same thing here. There’s no room for petty bull****. We’re on a team together and we’re trying to win. Cam’s an unbelievable teammate and I know he’s going to be awesome," Guerin said.
The Wild just beat the Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center and is in the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference at 76 points. They’re one point behind the St. Louis Blues for the No. 3 spot.
In addition to trading for Fleury and Middleton on Monday, the Wild has added forwards Nicolas DesLauriers and Tyson Jost in the past week. We'll soon find out what it all means in terms of getting to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and making a run.
"I’m not sending a message to anybody but our own team. I do believe in this group. Talking to each and every one of them, they’re all-in too," Guerin said.