Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25
- Thread starter TaLoN
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Minnewildsota
He who laughs last thinks slowest
- Jun 7, 2010
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Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
I think "discussion" gets labeled as "bitching" too easily by some. There's definitely a difference, and you know it when you see it.
So weird how people harp over Fiala. Faber is already a much better player and he’s younger and a RHD. Even weirder is acting like that situation reflects poorly on Guerin when he completely fleeced LA.
Omg , can you believe all he does is try to score goals and bitch about asking for teammates that want to help him score goals!!!! Why doesn’t he have more grit and locker room pranks!!! He doesn’t belong in MN!!!!
Maybe slow your roll a little ….im the biggest Faber fan there is and called him a star during the Dallas series.
That said Fiala was a 100pt winger all day when we tossed him in the ditch over nothing more than Guerin not liking his hair cut.
It’s pretty f***ing ridiculous how bad Guerin lovers need to whitewash how amazing Fiala is to justify his mismanagement of the second best wild player ever
You’ve got a pretty rosy view of Fiala as a player. That dude had high highs but also pretty low lows. He’s never been close to 100 points in a season. He did not even hit 80 last year. His best season was with Minnesota playing second line behind an actual 100+ point player. He had 85 points that year.
If you think LA will trade him for 2nd+prospect, do you ever stop to think why they would trade a “100pt player” for that?
One of my biggest issues with Fiala was how big of a mess he could be defensively. And he hasn't gotten any better in that department. Just read the Kings GDT when they played the Sens. Many weren't happy. He can score, but he makes one too many bone-headed costly mistakes. We have enough guys who do that....again, that ship has sailed.
And I can recall people here calling for his head the first half of his last season here, because he was invisible. Then he went on that 3 month tear, and suddenly he was irreplaceable.
And I can recall people here calling for his head the first half of his last season here, because he was invisible. Then he went on that 3 month tear, and suddenly he was irreplaceable.
BagHead
Registered User
I'd welcome Fiala back to the Wild, but I wouldn't be over the moon about it. Scorers are usually best in their early to mid-twenties. He's 28, which means his scoring is most likely going to decline in the next few years and he doesn't play any other part of the game particularly well. Once that happens, he's just another 30 year old clogging up the roster.
He will age worst than most because he relies on that first step and his athleticism more than his mind.
When Fiala was given competent linemates he was every bit of a 100pt line driving player. He was actively torpedoed here in MN almost his entire tenure until Boldy came in and was way better than expected as soon as he stepped on the ice.
- Aug 9, 2011
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This line of argument would probably make sense if Fiala became a 100 point player with his new team. Instead he's still hovering around the PPG line (which is still obviously very good)
More likely that he's just a streaky player and you're extrapolating a hot streak to be his norm.
Let me hear about his most common linemates in LA where he hasn’t fit in at all.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Now that we seem to have the center position figured out in some sort of way (Eriksson Ek, Rossi, Yurov, Hartman if necessary), he would definitely be an asset to the team driving a line behind Kaprizov.
We're 24th in goals-per-game while being 12th in PP% since he left, versus 5th in goals-per-game in the 3 years prior while 18th in PP%.
So our even strength scoring has definitely taken a hit with his departure. Still, hard to bring him back at $8M when you don't yet know if you're going to have to pay Kaprizov $15M.
We're 24th in goals-per-game while being 12th in PP% since he left, versus 5th in goals-per-game in the 3 years prior while 18th in PP%.
So our even strength scoring has definitely taken a hit with his departure. Still, hard to bring him back at $8M when you don't yet know if you're going to have to pay Kaprizov $15M.
Don’t forget Khus, there’s more there than we are seeing …I’m sure if it. The kid has responsible 2c or very good 3c written all over him, he’s got wheels and is getting better by the game
How can you attack people for “whitewashing” Guerin, then find every excuse in the book to defend/ignore Fiala’s issues?
Yep, Hunt staying up with the team for the trip. Hope he can seize the moment and force a hard decision when Spurgeon comes back. Sounds like the Spurgeon thing is maintenance and maybe isn't too bad, but who knows at this point.
ThatGuy22
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2011
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This has kind of been a recurring theme with Fiala. Finding a fit.
At some point that says something about him as well.
Fear mongering commentary. The article on the Athletic goes far more in depth on this and the medical and training staff were already expecting this type of thing to happen with his injury as game intensity picked up. They expect some initial maintenance and caution but it should then be better long term. Specifically said they would not be looking to trade or add at RD unless there are further large setbacks.
He couldn’t play with Kopitar, Danault or Byfield with them, couldn’t play with Kaprizov or JEE for us. Nashville had Forsberg when he was there. He has been in solid situations where he could easily get opportunities to succeed but he hasn’t endeared himself to any coaches enough.
He’s like the forward version of Klingberg where his game is entirely predicated on making the risky gamble plays for offense and that is his only playstyle no matter the situation. He’s very good, but just not quite at that very elite level where he can get away with constant hero puck and win games.
If that 3v3 league ever took off, he could easily be the face of that league. Highly entertaining, but questionable effectiveness compared to the truly high echelon NHLers.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
They never tried him with Kaprizov. Zuccarello has been stapled to Kaprizov since day 1.
We all know who he fit next to here, and we still have him. His time in Nashville and LA don't really matter.
I don't know what the best linemate site is anymore since NaturalStatTrick is now a pay site, so I can't really check the Nashville and LA time.
His first year in LA, he was 2nd in points, 2 points behind #1 in 13 less games, and 5 points up on #3 in 13 less games. I think his inability to play with other players is pretty overblown.
We all know who he fit next to here, and we still have him. His time in Nashville and LA don't really matter.
I don't know what the best linemate site is anymore since NaturalStatTrick is now a pay site, so I can't really check the Nashville and LA time.
His first year in LA, he was 2nd in points, 2 points behind #1 in 13 less games, and 5 points up on #3 in 13 less games. I think his inability to play with other players is pretty overblown.
Puhis
Will accept caffeine.
In my opinion, it's better to focus elsewhere than try to bring Fiala back, especially given what his next contract is probably going to look like.
We've got good young guys who are ready to seize the opportunity. No, it shouldn't be given to them, but I'd rather wait out at least most of the season to see what's going on. Zucc is probably not going anywhere, and he's likely stapled into top 6. Our only UFA forward is Johansson, and we've got guys like Öhgren & Heidt vying for his spot, as well as one Danila Yarov. That's assuming someone like Bankier or Haight doesn't play themselves into roster conversation. While centers, both can also be used on wing. Rasmus Kumpulainen is looking hot too (see: prospect thread), but next year is most likely a bit too soon - even if he is playing like a man right now.
If none of those work out, again, see what happens this season, and what spring brings. Draft day bring ample trade opportunities: few teams might have to lose RFA's or trade a middle six scorer type due to cap problems, or there's an interesting reclamation project we can latch onto. Then, said cap space can be weaponised, taking on guys who can still contribute on short contracts and nabbing a neat extra or two in process.
Yes, we're supposed to contend starting next season. Yes, there's worries about Kaprizov wanting to stay. I still say it's better not to rush onto shiny UFA's on 1st of July. Just hoping we've signed enough bottom 6 guys to long-term contracts to sate Guerin's thirst for time being.
We've got good young guys who are ready to seize the opportunity. No, it shouldn't be given to them, but I'd rather wait out at least most of the season to see what's going on. Zucc is probably not going anywhere, and he's likely stapled into top 6. Our only UFA forward is Johansson, and we've got guys like Öhgren & Heidt vying for his spot, as well as one Danila Yarov. That's assuming someone like Bankier or Haight doesn't play themselves into roster conversation. While centers, both can also be used on wing. Rasmus Kumpulainen is looking hot too (see: prospect thread), but next year is most likely a bit too soon - even if he is playing like a man right now.
If none of those work out, again, see what happens this season, and what spring brings. Draft day bring ample trade opportunities: few teams might have to lose RFA's or trade a middle six scorer type due to cap problems, or there's an interesting reclamation project we can latch onto. Then, said cap space can be weaponised, taking on guys who can still contribute on short contracts and nabbing a neat extra or two in process.
Yes, we're supposed to contend starting next season. Yes, there's worries about Kaprizov wanting to stay. I still say it's better not to rush onto shiny UFA's on 1st of July. Just hoping we've signed enough bottom 6 guys to long-term contracts to sate Guerin's thirst for time being.
