3 deals we are glad didn’t happen at the NHL Trade Deadline

#1 Ilya Samsonov for Marc-Andre Fleury

You all knew this one was coming. It was a good thing the Caps didn’t gamble and trade for Marc Andre-Fleury for this simple reason: he did not want to come here. Ilya Samsonov was drafted here and like him or get frustrated with him, he wants to be here. And he is playing to try to stay here.

Samsonov is 22-10-4 with a 3.00 goals against average and a .897 save percentage. Fleury is 24-22-5 with a 2.88 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Although that’s very impressive he’s only 6-5-1 with the Wild with a 2.36 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.

Before last night’s debacle, Samsonov won three starts in a row. That included games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Lightning before avoiding a trap game to the Philadelphia Flyers as his teammates put up a nine spot. The way Samsonov has played lately has increased my confidence in him. I think he has the edge at this moment as the playoff starter.

But don’t count out Vitek Vanecek either. When the season is all said and done, Cup or not, it’s going to be an interesting decision seeing who the goaltender next year could be.