Quebec goalkeeper Marc-André Fleury changes his address for the second time in less than a year, because this time, the Chicago Blackhawks sent him to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, where he will have the opportunity to play in the playoffs.
• Read also: All transactions in the NHL
This is what various sources, including the Daily Faceoff site, have reported. The Hawks got a second-round pick in return that could become a first-round pick if the Wild wins two playoff rounds and Fleury earns at least four wins.
The Illinois team previously acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights at the end of July.
Holder of three Stanley Cup rings – all with the Pittsburgh Penguins – Fleury certainly already has a place in the Hall of Fame. With a record of 511-297-2-85, he is third all-time in wins.
The athlete from Sorel also signed 71 shutouts in 928 career games with the Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights and Blackhawks. He won his first Vezina Trophy with the Nevada club last year.
“The last 24 hours have been more stressful. In Chicago, we weren’t close to the playoffs, but here I have the chance to get back into the race and go a long way with another team. It’s really fun for me, it’s a new challenge, commented Fleury to the TVA Sports channel. The hardest part is leaving my wife and kids behind, as they will be finishing their school year in Chicago. But we will try to find a way to make it work by the end of the season.
Moreover, the presence of Bill Guerin, a former teammate, as general manager of the Wild, should not harm the goalkeeper.
“It makes things and communication easier. That’s not bad, the difference. Except that the fact that there is a very good team is another very good asset for him. […] Minnesota is a good choice, I’m glad it worked out.”
However, Fleury and the Wild will have to avoid bad streaks to make the playoffs, since the team was only five points ahead of the Dallas Stars, the last club excluded in the Western Conference, before the games of Monday evening.
The duel against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center on April 19 could therefore be very important for the Wild.
Kähkönen en Californie
To make room for Fleury, the Wild traded Kaapo Kähkönen to the San Jose Sharks for Jacob Middleton and a fifth-round pick, according to The Athletic.
Kähkönen has served as an assistant to Cam Talbot in Minnesota this season, posting a 12-8-3 record, 2.87 GAA and .910 rate and 2.87 GAA. The 25-year-old is in his third NHL campaign.
Middelton is a tough 26-year-old defenseman playing his first full season in the NHL. He scored three goals and had nine points in 45 games. He also spent 69 minutes in the penalty box and maintained a +3 differential.
Justin Braun moves to Rangers
The New York Rangers reportedly bailed out their blue line by securing veteran defenseman Justin Braun from the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.
The “Blueshirts” would have given up a third-round pick in 2022 to obtain the services of the 35-year-old American, according to The Athletic.
A veteran of 783 National Hockey League (NHL) games, Braun has 16 points in 61 games this season.
He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the campaign, earning a salary of $1.8 million.
The Leafs are released from a contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded guard Alex Biega to the Nashville Predators in return for future considerations.
The 33-year-old Montrealer spent most of his season with the Marlies in the American Hockey League, but still played two games on the Bettman circuit.
The “Preds” then sent Quebecer Frédéric Allard to the Los Angeles Kings in return for forward Brayden Burke. A 24-year-old defenseman, Allard has only played one game in the NHL.
In addition, according to the Sportsnet network, the Toronto team could have to deal with the long-term absences of defender Rasmus Sandin and forward Ondrej Kase, both of whom are bothered by injuries.
Marcus Johansson back in Washington
The Washington Capitals repatriated forward Marcus Johansson on Monday from the Seattle Kraken.
Former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) Daniel Sprong is heading to the American West with a fourth-round pick in 2022 and another sixth-round pick in 2023.
The Kraken are also withholding half of the Swede’s $1.5 million salary.
Johansson was drafted by the Capitals and played his first seven seasons with the American capital club before being traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2017. He has never spent more than two seasons with the same team since this trade, having also played for the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Kraken.
In career, he totaled 141 goals and 401 points in 735 games.
As for him, Sprong is already in a fourth formation in the Bettman circuit. The Dutch striker has collected 14 points in 47 games this season.
The Kraken, on the other hand, seems to be leaning towards a fire sale. General manager Ron Francis has already traded Mark Giordano, Colin Blackwell, Calle Jarnkrok, Mason Appleton and Jeremy Lauzon in the past few days.
Nathan Beaulieu moves to Pittsburgh
Archive photo, Martin Chevalier
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was traded by the Winnipeg Jets to the Pittsburgh Penguins early Monday.
At least that’s what the TSN network reported.
In return, the Manitoba squad will receive a conditional seventh-round pick.
The Montreal Canadiens’ first-round pick in 2011 suffered a lower-body injury and is sidelined indefinitely. He has not played since March 4.
Beaulieu was in his third campaign with the Manitoba organization. In 24 games this season, he has four assists. His last goal dates back to February 16, 2020.