Fleury will play for the Blackhawks this season
Marc-André Fleury has confirmed he will play for the Chicago Blackhawks this season.
The 36-year-old goaltender, who won the Vézina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie last season, was acquired by Chicago in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Mikael Hakkarainen on Tuesday.
Fleury confirmed the news in a video posted to the Blackhawks’ Twitter account on Sunday.
“Hey Chicago, it’s Marc. I just want to tell you that I am up for it, said Fleury. Let’s get to work. »
After the transaction was announced, Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, indicated that his client had not been made aware of this exchange, and that he « would take the time to discuss the situation with his family time and seriously thinking about the rest of his hockey career ”.
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Fleury, who will run out the final season of a three-year pact worth $ 21 million (annual average of $ 7 million) he entered into on July 13, 2018, has a record of 26-10- 0 in addition to posting his best career statistics in terms of goals against average (1.98) and save percentage (.928) last season. He also signed six shutouts and earned his 490th career victory over the Minnesota Wild on May 5 to edge Roberto Luongo for third in league history.
In four seasons with the Golden Knights after being selected for the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Fleury was 117-60-14 with an average of 2.41, an save rate of. 917 and 23 shutouts in 192 regular season games (191 starts), as well as a 28-19 record with a 2.25 GAA, .920 save rate and six shutouts in 47 playoff games . He helped the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season in 2017-18 before losing in five games to the Washington Capitals.
Video: COL @ VGK, # 6: Fleury steals Nichushkin at close range
“I want to thank all of the amazing Vegas fans and my teammates for four fantastic seasons together,” Fleury said in a statement at the time of the transaction. You welcomed me and my family with open arms from day one and made playing in the Fortress (T-Mobile Arena) one of the greatest joys of my life. We will miss Vegas a lot, but I appreciate the time in your city. «
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins first in the 2003 Draft, Fleury is 492-276-80 with two draws and a 2.55 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and 67 shutouts. with 883 regular season games (858 starts). He’s also 90-70 with a 2.53 GPA, .912 save and 16 shutouts in 162 playoff games (160 starts), and has won the Stanley Cup three times (2009 , 2016, 2017) with the Penguins.
Chicago, which missed the playoffs last season for the third time in four years, used three goalies who had a combined 87-game NHL experience. The recruit Kevin lankinen has appeared in 37 games and is 17-14-5 with a 3.01 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and two shutouts. Malcolm subban meanwhile posted a 6-8-1 record with a 3.20 GAA, .900 save rate and two shutouts in 16 games (14 starts). Ultimately, Collin delia was 1-3-1 with a 3.59 GAA and .902 save in six games (five starts). Lankinen, Subban and Delia could all become unrestricted free agents at the end of the next season.
