The Blackhawks acquired defenseman Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23 in a trade for defenseman Adam Boqvist and three draft picks. Jones, who signed an eight-year, $76 million contract extension ($9.5 million AAV) on July 28, scored 28 points (five goals, 23 assists) in 56 games with the Blue Jackets last season. Chicago acquired Caleb Jones, Seth's brother who also is a defenseman, and a conditional pick in the 2022 NHL Draft in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Duncan Keith and minor league forward Tim Soderlund on July 12.
The Blackhawks also acquired forward Tyler Johnson and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Brent Seabrook on July 28. Johnson scored 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 55 regular-season games last season and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Lightning win the Cup for the second straight season.
And Chicago agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract ($4 million AAV) with unrestricted free agent defenseman Jake McCabe on July 28. McCabe injured his knee last season and scored three points (one goal, two assists) in 13 games with the Buffalo Sabres. He expects to be ready for this season.
Fleury said he is looking forward to playing with Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, a center Chicago hopes to have back at some point this season after he missed last season with what is being called chronic immune response syndrome, and forward Patrick Kane, who led Chicago with 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) in 56 games last season.
"Kane is one of the guys who gave me the most trouble in shootouts during my career," said Fleury, who has allowed three goals to Kane in four attempts. "So, looking forward to [getting] to practice with him every day and have some good battles with him."
Bowman said Monday he's expecting Fleury and Kevin Lankinen to provide solid goaltending. Lankinen, 26, was 17-4-5 with a 3.01 GAA, .909 save percentage and two shutouts last season, his first in the NHL.
"I haven't spoken to [Lankinen] yet," Fleury said. "I've watched him play the past season, and to me, he's a very talented goalie, and still young, and hopefully I can help him in his development. It's going to be a crazy schedule, so I think you'll need both guys to play, and that's a good thing. Good thing both of us can play, and hopefully I can help him."
Selected No. 1 by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Draft, Fleury is 492-276-80 with two ties in 883 regular-season games (858 starts) with the Penguins and Golden Knights, and 90-70 in 162 playoff games. He is a three-time Cup winner with Pittsburgh (2009, 2016, 2017).