*Photo from CBS Sports*
Flower power is on his way to the state of hockey. The Minnesota Wild have acquired G Marc-Andre Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick, according to Pierre Lebrun of TSN. Both teams have confirmed the trade.
Fleury was excited to join the Wild, saying that "I think just the chance to get in the playoffs, to battle to get there, to battle to go in. That's why we all play in the end. It's something also with Minny, there's also my family, which is going to stay in Chicago, Minny isn't too far away. Obviously they have a great team, they're very solid defensively, they have a lot of big guys and they play well. Good opportunity for me and hopefully things work out."
This season is the last of a 3 year, $21 million deal that Fleury signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, so he is a pending UFA. If the Wild reach the western conference finals in the playoffs, and Fleury accounts for 4 wins across the first two rounds combined, the second round pick turns into a first. Otherwise, Chicago gets a second rounder.
Wild GM Bill Guerin said of Fleury that "He's an incredible athlete, he keeps himself in great shape. He's a tremendous goalie, a future Hall of Famer. He has a good history of winning. I think our team and our market will love Flower just like everywhere else he's been. We're really excited to have him."
This season, Fleury has gotten the majority of the starts for the Blackhawks. He has a 19-21-5 record, with a 2.95 GAA and .908 save percentage, recording 4 shutouts in 45 starts. In his career, which includes 3 Stanley cup wins, Fleury has a 511-297-2 record, with 71 shutouts and a 2.57 GAA and .913 save percentage, across 903 starts.
His 511 wins ranks first among active NHL goalies, and is ranked 3rd all time among goalies, trailing Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. In 162 career playoff games, Fleury has a 90-70 record with a 2.53 GAA and .912 save percentage, with 16 shutouts.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said that "We are in a better position today at the upcoming draft than we were yesterday. In a short time with the Blackhawks, Marc-Andre made quite an impression on our fan base and in our locker room. We appreciate his willingness to work with us on finding a deal that worked for everyone. The Blackhawks wish him and his family the best in Minnesota."
In Minnesota, Fleury will become a tandem with fellow veteran goalie Cam Talbot. To make room for Fleury, the Wild dealt Kaapo Kahkonen to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for D Jacob Middleton.
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