The Chicago BlackhawksWe are moving on Marc-Andre FleuryTrade the netminder to the Minnesota WildMonday, in exchange for a conditional first-round draft selection (it becomes a premier if the Wild reach the Western Conference finals and Fleury has at least four wins in each of the previous two playoff rounds). Chicago also kept 50% of Fleury’s $7million cap hit.
Thanks to the 10 team no-trade lists, Fleury had most of this one’s cards. Let’s now see how the swap went for both sides.
Wild GM Bill GuerinThe final two seasons of Fleury’s playing career were spent in Pittsburgh.
This connection is a bonus. Fleury was keen to travel to a contender, if he would agree to be moved at any point. Minnesota qualifies, despite recent struggles. Fleury has only recently settled his young family in Chicago and it is nice to have a familiar face. Guerin will make sure that the transition is smooth for them.
What is the real question? Can Fleury become Fleury in 2020-21? This answer will determine the success or failure this trade. Wild became the Wild goaltender right after the Fleury deal was revealed. Kaapo Kahkonenwas relocated to San Jose. Fleury is now gone. Cam TalbotAs Minnesota’s goalie tandem Talbot has been inconsistent of late (5-4-0;.883 save percentage; 3.33 GAA).
Fleury’s solid but not extraordinary season in Chicago (19-21-5),.908SV% and 2.95 GAA) is over. Although he’s now 37, some decline can be expected. However, Fleury is also a three time Stanley Cup champion. Vegas Golden KnightsJust four years ago, he reached the Cup Final. He was also a Vezina Trophy recipient last year after a 26-win campaign. Fleury hasn’t received the same support from the rebuilding Blackhawks as he did in Vegas. But the Wild should. This will go a long ways.
Fleury has been a good player even when the Blackhawks are playing poorly. Only reason Chicago was able to get a point in Sunday’s Boston game was the 46-save performance of its goaltender. Fleury still has the potential. Minnesota will need it night after night in the contentious Central Division.
Fleury’s second-round selection feels safe. Fleury isn’t able to solve every problem for Minnesota but there are few league players more loved by their teammates than Fleury. If that pick is made in the first round because the Wild reach the Western Conference finals, Fleury will be a key part of that.
It’s not as though Kyle Davidson had a lot of options. Fleury could have opted to stay in Chicago, be an unrestricted-free agent this summer and leave the Blackhawks empty handed. This is, at minimum, something. And it’s a great something.
After moving Brandon HagelTampa Bay a trade on FridayIt is clear which direction Chicago will be heading and it is not towards another Cup run. Collecting assets is the goal of the game. Davidson could focus on restocking the Blackhawks’ limited cupboards. He already had two first-rounders in the Lightning for Hagel. Now he could get another.
We’ll find out more about actual players later, but Chicago is currently dealing in unknown futures. That makes this trade very smart.