NEWSLETTER
The trade deadline has come and gone in the NHL, and the Blackhawks made some moves. Let’s recap the action, starting with yesterday’s trade of Marc-André Fleury to the Minnesota Wild.
• After weeks of discussing if, when, and where, Marc-André Fleury would be playing after the deadline (and revived speculation this weekend) we finally got an answer on Monday morning: Fleury is heading to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2022.
REPORT: Blackhawks, Wild Strike a Deal to Send Marc-André Fleury to Minnesotahttps://t.co/S7OEtYsjW1 pic.twitter.com/vCvQpGXp1C
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 21, 2022
• Fleury reunites with old teammate Bill Geurin in Minnesota, and the Blackhawks add a second-round pick (with the potential to convert to a first-rounder) to their war chest this offseason. If the Wild advance to the Western Conference Finals and Marc-André Fleury earns four wins in the first two series, the pick will become a first-rounder. The Wild get their goaltender, the Blackhawks get their draft pick, and Fleury heads to a place with which he’s comfortable. Everybody wins.
• But, that doesn’t mean it’s not going to take some adjusting for Blackhawks fans who have grown fond of Fleury over the last eight months.
https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/1506045565431431174?s=20&t=UhlKNqfUUUKvo3nKs-QXmQ
• Fleury was a pro’s pro through a turbulent season for the Chicago Blackhawks, and he gave fans a reason to keep tuning in night after night. He impacted his teammates and coaches on and off the ice, and for that, we were all lucky to have had the Flower in our lives. So long, and thanks for everything!
Marc-Andre was a consummate professional through it all this season, and while it wasn't a long time, it was a great time that we were able to have Flower in our everyday lives. #Blackhawks https://t.co/lUWZsjU8iQ
— Patrick K. Flowers (@PatrickKFlowers) March 21, 2022
• The Blackhawks also dealt Ryan Carpenter to the Calgary Flames later in the day, landing a 2024 fifth-rounder in exchange for Carpenter’s services.
REPORT: Ryan Carpenter Is Being Traded to the Calgary Flameshttps://t.co/WGqd8aONiF pic.twitter.com/0sfMHgmkB8
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 21, 2022
• A future fifth-rounder is just about what you would expect for Ryan Carpenter, but nothing that moves the needle in the way the Fleury or Hagel trades did. In the end, here’s what the Blackhawks received in exchange for Hagel, Fleury, and Carpenter over the past weekend:
The returns are in! Here's what Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks acquired in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline: pic.twitter.com/5V1VAi1Blq
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 21, 2022
• You might remember the trade that wasn’t from last week. Well, it seems that Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas was pretty miffed that the details of the Blackhawks’ proposal to Toronto were leaked to the media.
Remarkable moment in our interview with @MapleLeafs GM Kyle Dubas, as @KevinWeekes asked him about leaks out of Chicago on a Marc-Andre Fleury trade. #NHLTradeDeadline @espn
"We rely on other teams to keep that confidential, so it's disappointing." pic.twitter.com/OJMVESEDaf
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) March 21, 2022
• Kyle Davidson declined to comment on the matter on Monday afternoon, telling the media that he was aware of Dubas’ statement and he will address the issue in private with Dubas. Listen, Kyle [Dubas], welcome to 2022, where EVERYTHING gets leaked to the media by literally EVERYONE. Get over it.
Davidson said he's aware of this. "That'll be something I address in private with Kyle." https://t.co/b2P6G8U2MC
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 21, 2022
• Davidson also addressed the comments made by Jonathan Toews on Friday night after the Brandon Hagel trade. Toews said that he was discouraged by the trade and questioned his future with the Blackhawks as they enter a rebuild.
NEW: I just spoke with Jonathan Toews about the Hagel trade. And it has him mulling his own future in Chicago.
"If he’s not a guy that’s a part of a rebuild, then I don’t know. I don’t know if anyone feels safe at this point."
Lots more in the full Q&A: https://t.co/vWrlEbepjY
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 19, 2022
• Here’s what Davidson had to say about Toews’ comments: “Look, Jonathan’s an extremely passionate person, and I respect his viewpoints and what he has to say. In general, too, I don’t think it’s the job of the player to have to worry about those decisions. They’re focused on the next day and their performance, so our purviews are a little bit different and our outlooks are a little bit different and our responsibilities are a little bit different. I respect what he had to say. It doesn’t catch me off guard. That’s who he is. He wears his heart on his sleeve and that’s why he’s been so great. He’s going to go into the Hall of Fame because of some of those traits. That’s totally fine. That dialogue is going to remain and he’s going to understand everything I’m planning. Yeah as a player, I wouldn’t expect anything different from him.”
• The United Center will no longer require proof-of-vaccination or negative test results for fans:
United Center has lifted proof-of-vaccination or negative-test requirement for fans, effective tomorrow.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) March 22, 2022
• There was nothing more entertaining in the days leading up to the trade deadline as Kevin Weekes broke trades from literally anywhere and everywhere:
Sources say that @KevinWeekes can break news anywhere. #NHLTradeDeadline pic.twitter.com/ijJfCaxUjw
— NHL (@NHL) March 21, 2022
• Schefter, Rapoport, Woj, and Shams have all been put on notice by Weekes. Step up your game, gentleman!
• Hey, the Bulls won a must-win game with the Toronto Raptors!
Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 113, Raptors 99 – March 21, 2022https://t.co/SmVBCdeTog
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 22, 2022
• I’m for any and all options that will protect Justin Fields in 2022:
The Bears Are Hosting Restricted Free Agent OL Ryan Bates for a Visit Todayhttps://t.co/tU0KbME3KD pic.twitter.com/iis6MfFBNo
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) March 22, 2022
• That’s it! Be on the lookout for more trade deadline coverage today.
