Marc-Andre Fleury sounds off on his trade to Minnesota Wild
The Flower is now blooming in Minnesota.
Veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, one of the most talked-about candidates to be dealt by yesterday's NHL Trade Deadline, was in fact traded. He's now a member of the Minnesota Wild, acquired by GM Bill Guerin from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange fo a 2022 conditional first-round draft pick.
Fleury will now form a 1-2 punch in net along with Cam Talbot for at team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
"It's a great opportunity for me, coming here to a good team, making the playoffs and having a chance of making a run here," Fleury said. "I'm excited about that."
“We don’t have that many games left before playoffs start, so I think things are going to happen quick,” Fleury said. “Hopefully I can help. It is already a great team. I think Cam’s a great goaltender also, and I’ll just try to pull my weight, try to do well and try to help win some games.”
Of course, a pending unrestricted free-agent, there was doubt that Fleury would even continue to play after being unceremoniously dumped by the Vegas Golden Knights last offseason with his trade to Chicago. Right now, the 37 year-old's focus is helping his new squad go all the way.
“There’s always the chance to win,” Fleury said. “I love to compete and to play, the fun of the game, but I don’t know. There’s not much that beats winning. You can ask anybody who has won: You’re always chasing that feeling and that achievement. Yeah, just want to keep doing it again.”
So far this season, Fleury has posted a stat line of 19-21-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts with the Blackhawks, who won't make the playoffs.