Chicago flower
Marc-Andrew Fleury said he is willing to play for the Blackhawks.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has committed to playing for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, setting aside his reservations about leaving Vegas.
“Hey Chicago. It’s Marc, just want to let you know I’m in. Let’s get to work,” Fleury said, standing next to a small jet in a video posted by the Blackhawks on their Twitter account Sunday. The team said a video news conference featuring Fleury and team president Stan Bowman will be Monday.
This season’s Vezina Trophy winner had spent a few days contemplating his future after being traded to Chicago on Tuesday. He had been with the Golden Knights since becoming their highest-profile selection in the 2017 expansion draft.
The Blackhawks first hinted of Fleury’s decision by posting an image of a flower — Fleury’s nickname — on Twitter early Sunday.
The 36-year-old, who won three Stanley Cups in his first 13 NHL seasons with the Penguins, considered Las Vegas his home and place where he wanted to end his career, and had reservations about relocating his family.
The Golden Knights traded Fleury to free up salary cap space, with the goalie counting $7 million against the cap in the final season of his contract. Vegas also has a starter in waiting in Robin Lehner, who split duties with Fleury last season and has four years remaining on his contract.
The Blackhawks have been rebuilding; acquiring Fleury puts them in winnow mode.
“The opportunity to acquire a Vezina- winning goaltender is rare and one you cannot pass up,” Bowman said last week.
Fleury was 26-10-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage last season and was voted the Vezina winner by GMs. He started 16 of the Golden Knights’ 19 playoff games over Lehner, who finished the postseason as the starter after a gaffe by Fleury late in Game 3 of the semifinals against Montreal altered the series and led coach Peter DeBoer to switch back and forth. Vegas was eliminated in six games.
Kane denies gambling
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane denied allegations his wife made on social media that he bet on NHL games, including against his own team.
Kane responded Sunday to allegations made the previous day on the Instagram account of his wife, Anna.
“I have NEVER gambled/ bet on Hockey, NEVER gambled/bet on a Sharks game, NEVER gambled/bet on any of my games and NEVER thrown a hockey game,” he wrote on Twitter.
The NHL said Saturday night that it was made aware of the social media posts from Anna Kane and plans to conduct a full investigation.