Player involved in the Marc-Andre Fleury trade not happy with the Chicago Blackhawks

Mikael Hakkarainen, the player who was involved in a one-for-one trade from Chicago to Vegas for goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, is not happy with how he's been treated and is considering returning home to Finland. Hakkarainen did an interview with Ilta Sanomat in his home country where he said he was shocked after being told of the trade. He said he was even more shocked when he learned Vegas didn't want him and he was only involved because Chicago had to move a contract in order to stay under the maximum number allowed.

Hakkarainen said it only got worse from there. As a condition of the trade, he was allowed to return to the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, the Blackhawks' farm team. However, the team is now telling him there's no room for him. He suspects this is because management does not want to give a spot on the team to a player not in their system. He added if he decides to go to Rockford, they will send him to the Indy Fuel of the ECHL.

"It's a pretty difficult situation," said Hakkarainen.

"The organization in Chicago was not so good for me. It would be good for myself to get out of there completely," he added.

After a moment's reflection, Hakkarainen told Ilto Sanomat he'd like to find a team in Europe to play for where he can showcase his strengths.

Hakkarainen has had some tough luck in North America, suffering a concussion during his first season with Rockford in 2019-20. Shortly after returning, he was struck in the leg by a hard shot and had to recover from a fracture.

"Quite a few would have already given up, no matter what the point here. I have never had such a feeling," said Hakkarainen. "It has never occurred to me that I would like to stop."

Many were shocked by the trade that brought Fleury to Chicago and it appeared Fleury might decide to retire instead of suiting up for the Blackhawks. However,he has since announced he will play. Fleury has one season left on his current contract with a cap hit of $7 million.

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