Wild Acquire Goalie Marc-André Fleury, Trade Away Kaapo Kahkonen
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Wild have added some much-needed goaltending help via trade, acquiring Marc-André Fleury from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The team announced the trade Monday afternoon. It will send a conditional first-round draft pick to Chicago for the 37-year-old goalie.
March showers bring Wild Flowers ???? pic.twitter.com/woOicumZck
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 21, 2022
Also on Monday, the Wild announced a trade sending backup goalie Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for defender Jacob Middleton.
???? TRADE ????
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 21, 2022
We have acquired Jacob Middleton from the San Jose Sharks. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/e3GHthutim
Fleury has given up 129 goals in his first season with the Blackhawks and has a .908 save percentage. In 2021, he won the Vezina Trophy -- awarded to the league's best goaltender -- with the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Wild's top two goaltenders -- Cam Talbot and Kahkonen -- are averaging 2.92 and 2.87 goals allowed per game this season, respectively. Fleury is giving up 2.95 goals a game, though just a year ago that figure was a full goal lower (1.98).
Minnesota is currently 36-20-4, good for third in the Central Division.