Kings News: Fiala to for 2022 first-round pick and Brock Faber

[Telos]

In the end, trading a middling first and a non-blue chip prospect for a 25-year-old winger who is capable of putting up 85 points and is now signed long-term has to be considered a home run. Sure, this could backfire, but the odds are in your favor that you got the better player.

 

[Schrute farms]

Or you can fully embrace the tank, play young guys way too early and be Ottawa/Buffalo/etc.

 

[deaderhead28]

Sad to see so many fans here thinking this is the right way to do business.

There's always the Ducks.

 

[deaderhead28]

No, but you don't have to trade them to improve the now when your best chance at success is still years down the road.

This is impatience, trying to maximize the past. Fiala is a good player, I will enjoy watching him, but he just isn't a needle mover and it only further limits the upward mobility of some very talented COST CONTROLLED players.

They aren't winning anything with this roster, its just depressing to see such possibility limited to get a little bit better now.

Amazing to think that was once the best set of prospects in the league might yield just one or two 4th liners and STILL be 50/50 just to get into the playoffs.

Dude just go and be a Ducks fan,you're never happy here.

 

[BigKing]

There's always the Ducks.

Are you actually Hoven? This type of response is ridiculous.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm VERY critical of how the Kings have integrated the youth, and have previously been critical of Fiala, as well.

Fiala will be 26 when the season starts. Almost the exact same age as Kempe, same as Moore, right in that soft spot where we didn't have many skaters.

Again, I think it's very, VERY important to see the youth get integrated this year, but Fiala is a clear upgrade on every winger on the roster or in the system. If you can get that for a good prospect in your deepest position and a 1st that wasn't likely to skate until at least 2025, it's hard to say no. And again, there's a lot of time between now and the start of the season, though of course I could see that going two ways--'too many bodies' like all last year or Blake starts cleaning up with a few more moves to really put his stamp on this roster. If nothing else, his trades have been money, that alone says to me this is a solid move.

I feel about this about the same way I feel about Danault and Arvidsson last summer. hopefully it turns out the same way.

I usually agree with them on an over-focus on the present, I disagree with them on this move--but @bland and @King'sPawn takes are totally reasonable and grounded in actual Blake/TM actions, not just wishes and rainbows.

 

[deaderhead28]

Are you actually Hoven? This type of response is ridiculous.

I am sure the Ducks will accept you as well.

 

[KingLB]

Can you please tell me how many goals other teams scored on Kings, because of Durzi?

Can you tell me how many opposing teams scored because of JC?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Buncha simps on this board who get all excited over any news.

Ask yourself what kind of game Fiala plays, how it meshes with this roster, how there is no chance in hell he is going to get to play with the kids that do fit his game, and how the Kings just paid thru the nose to add another 50-60 point winger. Did you see Fiala in the playoffs? Guessing not, because dude was overmatched and laid an egg. Kopitar does not do well with aggressive players, he is too slow and too measured to be a fit for Fiala.

This doesn't do anything to help. Teams don't succeed because they bring in better players, they succeed because they coalesce into something beyond the individuals. Nothing here is going to change until they stop trying to force feed this outdated identity that needed more than just support even when they were in their prime. This is a black hole move, pure and simple. You can spend all the cap and all the prospects, nothing is going to change the glass ceiling, nepotism and hubris that has made this franchise suffer for nearly a decade now.

Lastly, blow it out your ass.

Personally I see it as they added another Trevor Moore with more scoring punch.

I feel like he fits the identity perfectly. He's even kind of a dick on the ice.

But I agree on the offense tax and his maybe-Kings-ceiling, that's a fair worry.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

And again,well crafted trade by Blake and Guerin, old buddies.

--Kings do well with scoring punch and term on a guy who fits the roster right in the middle and fits almost all needs. All they give up is one of their MANY RHD and a mid-1st that's unlikely to help for years;
--Wild shed salary, get back an underrated (around the league) prospect and first round pick...I think their own first rounder is only a few away as well so they could get two awesome prospects accelerating rebuilding their stable near Rossi/Boldy ;
--Fiala gets to move to a more prominent scoring role on a team that should be a playoff team;
--Faber gets to stay home near family, finish school, jump right to a team that is a little short on RHD prospects and may need him for salary purposes by the time he leaves school.

One thing I have to give Blake credit for is he isn't running around ripping eeryone off, he makes deals that are good for everyone and keeps his relationships rolling.

 

[FeartheFur]

We don’t need the first round pick. We have two many elite prospects already. We also don’t need another RH D 6’0” defensemen. We still need to add a LH D with some snarl. I wouldn’t mind trading Iiafallo and get Marchment for the extra snarl. The Kings are going for it. f*** yeah.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Personally I see it as they added another Trevor Moore with more scoring punch.

I feel like he fits the identity perfectly. He's even kind of a dick on the ice.

But I agree on the offense tax and his maybe-Kings-ceiling, that's a fair worry.

Im actually glad they went outside the 2-way mold and went pure offense. We need guys that are going to bring up the PP from DFL.. This guy will do that. Its also the entertainment factor - we may for this first time since Zigmund and his mates (AD,JA) that we will have some offensive excitement on a regular basis.

 

[bland]

The dislike bland and I have for the trade has nothing to do with Fiala, Faber, or the first. Fiala's a very good player. Faber, in my opinion, will be a very good player. The first could be a very good player.

But here's where we are.

The Kings traded for Fiala, who scored 85 points on a team that scored 310 goals. On a team that scored 237 goals last year, like the Kings, that translates to about 65 points.

Anyone who expects Fiala to score 85 points in the near future in LA has unrealistic expectations.

There was zero rush to trade Faber. Even if there was a rush to trade a right-handed defenseman because of the depth, there was a bigger need on LD and goaltending than another winger.

There is not a clear long-term plan aside from "chase the playoffs and hope the prospects develop well enough to take over when the vets can't anymore." THIS is the problem. It's carrying over from last season and into this one.

I really like Fiala, just like I like Arvidsson and love Danault. You can enjoy the players while also understanding that their acquisitions were counter-productive.

Do you think Blake spent $8 mil for a guy who is best suited for Vilardi or Turcotte? **** no, he is going to be pigeon holed into a line that is overly taxed matching up with the oppositions best for far too many minutes instead of being used as an attacking force. 50-60 points is my bet.

Letting your top line get run out of the building by McDavid instead of trying to get them favorable matchups IS Kings hockey. How the hell is Fiala going to help that? Just another expensive deck chair.

Meanwhile, a kid with incredible hockey sense and top shelf skating, who actually could potentially matchup with a McDavid to help you win a series is dealt away.

This whole organization needs to be burned to the ground and grown from scratch.

 

[KINGS17]

You want Byfield to play 1st line minutes when he struggles with 3rd line responsibly? Kopitar is still better at this point than Byfield.

Nah, I want Fiala to play on the 3rd line with Byfield and Kempe.

 

[BigKing]

I am sure the Ducks will accept you as well.

Okay, John. I'll take my twenty plus years of season seats and roll on over to the Ducks because I don't suckle your teats.

 

[unicornpig]

I really like Fiala, just like I like Arvidsson and love Danault. You can enjoy the players while also understanding that their acquisitions were counter-productive.

Do you think Blake spent $8 mil for a guy who is best suited for Vilardi or Turcotte? **** no, he is going to be pigeon holed into a line that is overly taxed matching up with the oppositions best for far too many minutes instead of being used as an attacking force. 50-60 points is my bet.

Letting your top line get run out of the building by McDavid instead of trying to get them favorable matchups IS Kings hockey. How the hell is Fiala going to help that? Just another expensive deck chair.

Meanwhile, a kid with incredible hockey sense and top shelf skating, who actually could potentially matchup with a McDavid to help you win a series is dealt away.

This whole organization needs to be burned to the ground and grown from scratch.

And the award to the most dramatic poster goes to lol

 

[mysterman2]

And the award to the most dramatic poster goes to lol

rack this one up for the 2022 HF Awards show.

 

[Docgonzo]

I’m pretty sure this kid was going all or nothing to the Wild.

 

[deaderhead28]

Okay, John. I'll take my twenty plus years of season seats and roll on over to the Ducks because I don't suckle your teats.

 

[mysterman2]

View attachment 563412

I’m pretty sure this kid was going all or nothing to the Wild.

I liked Faber a ton and was eager to have him on the team but it just wasnt in the cards. But parlaying that into getting a 25 year old winger who just came off a 30 goal season....worth the price of admission.

 

[KingsHockey24]

View attachment 563412

I’m pretty sure this kid was going all or nothing to the Wild.

Disgusting.

Get this bum out me face. Same for Turcotte; little snake in de grass.

 

[redcard]

The dislike bland and I have for the trade has nothing to do with Fiala, Faber, or the first. Fiala's a very good player. Faber, in my opinion, will be a very good player. The first could be a very good player.

But here's where we are.

The Kings traded for Fiala, who scored 85 points on a team that scored 310 goals. On a team that scored 237 goals last year, like the Kings, that translates to about 65 points.

Anyone who expects Fiala to score 85 points in the near future in LA has unrealistic expectations.

There was zero rush to trade Faber. Even if there was a rush to trade a right-handed defenseman because of the depth, there was a bigger need on LD and goaltending than another winger.

There is not a clear long-term plan aside from "chase the playoffs and hope the prospects develop well enough to take over when the vets can't anymore." THIS is the problem. It's carrying over from last season and into this one.

I disagree with the math there. Fiala, the 2nd highest scorer for the wild contributed to and inflated that 310 total. The 237 goals the Kings scored they did so without Fiala. So I don't believe you can just say 237/310 * 85 = 65 and call it an accurate translation. You would have to replace that 310 with the amount of goals the wild would have scored with a replacement level player rather than their 2nd highest scorer. Not sure how you'd do that but I'd guess it comes out a decent tick higher than 65.

Kopitar led the Kings in scoring with 67 points. This is a pretty solid trade, value wise and context of the assets parted with, for a 25 year old that would have led the team in scoring last season even accounting for the difference in team offense.

But to your main point, I don't see how this deal supports the "hope the prospects develop well enough to take over when the vets can't anymore." In fact, I'd argue it does the opposite. Fiala, at almost 26 is the same age as Kempe. 8 years younger than Kopi, 3 years younger than Arvy and Danault. This is adding a guy who can potentially take over for the older vets so we don't have to hope the prospects work out.

 

[bland]

You want Byfield to play 1st line minutes when he struggles with 3rd line responsibly? Kopitar is still better at this point than Byfield.

So what?

Kopitar is no longer a top tier center. Doesn't matter who they get to play with him. The Kings aren't winning a damn thing until they get better production out of their #1c, #1d and #1g, no matter how legendary their primes were so long ago.

Nobody wins by fattening the middle of their roster while the top end underperforms. This team is not a contender and won't be until those roles are improved. In the meantime, its ridiculous to give guys like Fiala that much money to be more of the same of what you already have when you need so much more in other areas.

 

[cyclones22]

I think Blake has made some excellent acquisitions. I like that Fiala is just turning 26 as well. But the Kings won't win a Cup again until they draft and develop their own stars again. All the Cup winners including the Kings have done it. The foundational pillars are always homegrown. You can trade or buy supporting pieces. Danault, Arvidsson and now Fiala are very nice supporting pieces. But you don't win big unless you draft your franchise players.

They need to start giving QB and Clarke when he makes the team, very favorable conditions to succeed. Although it seems a bit of a pipe dream to have Fiala play training wheels to QB or another young winger, it's something he did successfully last season with Boldy. I want to see legit players on QB's wings for long stretches. Not be on a line with 2 other rookies or second year players and expect them to excel. Not be paired with ill-fitting pieces like a washed Brown and a chaos merchant in AA either. Let's see it this upcoming season.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

I really like Fiala, just like I like Arvidsson and love Danault. You can enjoy the players while also understanding that their acquisitions were counter-productive.

Do you think Blake spent $8 mil for a guy who is best suited for Vilardi or Turcotte? **** no, he is going to be pigeon holed into a line that is overly taxed matching up with the oppositions best for far too many minutes instead of being used as an attacking force. 50-60 points is my bet.

Letting your top line get run out of the building by McDavid instead of trying to get them favorable matchups IS Kings hockey. How the hell is Fiala going to help that? Just another expensive deck chair.

Meanwhile, a kid with incredible hockey sense and top shelf skating, who actually could potentially matchup with a McDavid to help you win a series is dealt away.

This whole organization needs to be burned to the ground and grown from scratch.

Have a drink and step away from the phone/keyboard