Speculation: Trade and Free Agency Talk - 2022-23 Edition - Postseason Success can't be a Myth!

[keppel146]

My interest in Pulj is intensifying. I do wonder if Dumba for Pulj+1st is something Edmonton would consider.

That sounds like a big overpayment

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

What the actual f*** though? If he's gonna trade Dumba, then why didn't we do it to sign Fiala....

It’s a complete load of BS That they couldn’t make it fit. Guerin decided that he didn’t want to pay Fiala what he was worth a while ago. I could respect it if he came out and said, “ya’ know what, we just don’t think you can win a cup having two wingers make that much money,” but that probably wasn’t the reason for the move.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

It really doesn’t sound like BG ever went out of his way to keep Fiala. Moving parts to make space or re-tool didn’t have anything to do with keeping Fiala, he was a gonner regardless. Not sure we’ll ever understand why.

 

[thestonedkoala]

It really doesn’t sound like BG ever went out of his way to keep Fiala. Moving parts to make space or re-tool didn’t have anything to do with keeping Fiala, he was a gonner regardless. Not sure we’ll ever understand why.

We probably won't and Russo probably won't ever say. There are just stories Minnesota won't ever release like what happened with Harding.

 

[Bazeek]

We probably won't and Russo probably won't ever say. There are just stories Minnesota won't ever release like what happened with Harding.

I think it's probably more what @KaprizovSaveUs said: they didn't want to structure the team around a $9m+ Kaprizov and an $8m+ Fiala, especially when there's a potential $8m+ Boldy on the horizon. That's a lot of money on wingers when we still don't really have any centers.

There haven't really been hints of interpersonal problems with Fiala beyond the usual coach/player stuff or "tough negotiations" (read: "a player acting in their own interests").

 

[roon]

My guess is Fiala didnt fit into the culture BG was trying to create. He seems to make moves based on the locker room more than most anything else.

 

[Minnewildsota]

My guess is Fiala didnt fit into the culture BG was trying to create. He seems to make moves based on the locker room more than most anything else.

Nope. Fiala didn’t fit with the buyouts.

 

[Wasted Talent]

I think it's probably more what @KaprizovSaveUs said: they didn't want to structure the team around a $9m+ Kaprizov and an $8m+ Fiala, especially when there's a potential $8m+ Boldy on the horizon. That's a lot of money on wingers when we still don't really have any centers.

There haven't really been hints of interpersonal problems with Fiala beyond the usual coach/player stuff or "tough negotiations" (read: "a player acting in their own interests").

I think the only hole in this theory is how Guerin seemed to be intent on trading Fiala even before he played himself into the $8m+ territory. Signing Fiala long term last summer would likely have been much cheaper.

 

[BagHead]

Nope. Fiala didn’t fit with the buyouts.

I mean, if you pick and choose contracts between now and last offseason you could have, but then you're overpaying on wing and icing an inferior team around them. Sometimes you just need to get max value for a position that you're rich in rather than overweight your team there. Not everyone agrees with that premise, but that's my own view on it.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I think it's probably more what @KaprizovSaveUs said: they didn't want to structure the team around a $9m+ Kaprizov and an $8m+ Fiala, especially when there's a potential $8m+ Boldy on the horizon. That's a lot of money on wingers when we still don't really have any centers.

There haven't really been hints of interpersonal problems with Fiala beyond the usual coach/player stuff or "tough negotiations" (read: "a player acting in their own interests").

I don't know, Guerin kind of got pissy in one of his interviews when talking about Dumba and unexpectedly threw Fiala under the bus during that interview. Evason also knew Fiala from his time in Nashville.

 

[grimmel95]

I think the only hole in this theory is how Guerin seemed to be intent on trading Fiala even before he played himself into the $8m+ territory. Signing Fiala long term last summer would likely have been much cheaper.

last summer before the arbitration case with Fiala, Russo mentioned the Wild offered Fiala a 3x6M contract. So if Guerin wanted him gone so badly then why offer him a contract as they would have him for 4 years starting last summer? Keep in mind Fiala was coming off a 54 pt season so at that point in time he wasn't an $8M player -- and I still don't think he is in my opinion.

 

[MuckOG]

I think the only hole in this theory is how Guerin seemed to be intent on trading Fiala even before he played himself into the $8m+ territory. Signing Fiala long term last summer would likely have been much cheaper.

If Kaprizov would've signed sooner than he did, that may have been possible.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

last summer before the arbitration case with Fiala, Russo mentioned the Wild offered Fiala a 3x6M contract. So if Guerin wanted him gone so badly then why offer him a contract as they would have him for 4 years starting last summer? Keep in mind Fiala was coming off a 54 pt season so at that point in time he wasn't an $8M player -- and I still don't think he is in my opinion.

Actually, he was coming off of 40 points in 50 games before the arbitration summer. The 54 points in 64 games was the year prior.

 

[grimmel95]

Actually, he was coming off of 40 points in 50 games before the arbitration summer. The 54 points in 64 games was the year prior.

regardless he wasn't an $8M player then and in my opinion, he's still not worth the contract he signed in LA. That would have been just too much money tied up in wingers, especially with the Boldy's and Rossi's coming, etc. I like Fiala but don't believe we can tie up that type of money into wingers with the lack of high-end centers on this team.

 

[Bazeek]

I think the only hole in this theory is how Guerin seemed to be intent on trading Fiala even before he played himself into the $8m+ territory. Signing Fiala long term last summer would likely have been much cheaper.

I agree and it was my preferred course as well. My opinion is still that, going into last summer, they genuinely underestimated Fiala and what he was actually capable of. I think they saw a 60-ish point winger and didn't want to commit $6.5m+ long term to him. They moved Zucker for similar reasons.

Then Fiala zigged when they thought he'd zag, and they declined to change course. Strictly speaking it was possible to do so, but bigger picture I'm not sure that it was the wrong move, either. At least given their options after last summer.

I don't know, Guerin kind of got pissy in one of his interviews when talking about Dumba and unexpectedly threw Fiala under the bus during that interview. Evason also knew Fiala from his time in Nashville.

I disagree with his "three good months" comment about Fiala, but that interview came off more as protecting Dumba than attacking Fiala. It was a reaction to the broader conversation within the fanbase and the media.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

regardless he wasn't an $8M player then and in my opinion, he's still not worth the contract he signed in LA. That would have been just too much money tied up in wingers, especially with the Boldy's and Rossi's coming, etc. I like Fiala but don't believe we can tie up that type of money into wingers with the lack of high-end centers on this team.

I don't doubt that he probably wanted $8M, maybe $8M+, but actually trying to negotiate it down to the $7M-$7.5M range was always an option, but it would've required term, which they clearly weren't comfortable with.

Throwing out 3x$6M and then going right to arbitration when it was (rightfully) declined because you think that not jumping on that deal is "contentious negotiating" just doesn't really jive with valuing Fiala as a player in any serious way.

 

[Bazeek]

I don't doubt that he probably wanted $8M, maybe $8M+, but actually trying to negotiate it down to the $7M-$7.5M range was always an option, but it would've required term, which they clearly weren't comfortable with.

Throwing out 3x$6M and then going right to arbitration when it was (rightfully) declined because you think that not jumping on that deal is "contentious negotiating" just doesn't really jive with valuing Fiala as a player in any serious way.

I think the contrast to Eriksson-Ek and Kaprizov were pretty stark as well. Both were getting 8 year offers, and while Ek was a lay up the Kaprizov thing went on forever. Fiala (reportedly) got that initial 3-year offer and then team-filed arbitration.

Doesn't mean that trying harder would've resulted in a workable contract, but based on what's been said they didn't really pursue it. And long term we'll have to see if that was the right call, but management and the media (Russo, mostly) do tend to frame it as a lack of options. It wasn't that.

 

[TaLoN]

I think it's probably more what @KaprizovSaveUs said: they didn't want to structure the team around a $9m+ Kaprizov and an $8m+ Fiala, especially when there's a potential $8m+ Boldy on the horizon. That's a lot of money on wingers when we still don't really have any centers.

There haven't really been hints of interpersonal problems with Fiala beyond the usual coach/player stuff or "tough negotiations" (read: "a player acting in their own interests").

Agreed, it's the only thing that makes sense, and hard to argue with the logic. Not many wing strong/ center weak Stanley cup winners.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I disagree with his "three good months" comment about Fiala, but that interview came off more as protecting Dumba than attacking Fiala. It was a reaction to the broader conversation within the fanbase and the media.

I think he could have worded that better; he took a cheap shot at Fiala when it wasn't warranted. As a GM, you kind of have to ignore the fan base about a few things.

 

[Bazeek]

I think he could have worded that better; he took a cheap shot at Fiala when it wasn't warranted. As a GM, you kind of have to ignore the fan base about a few things.

I don't disagree, but I don't think it's worth drawing broader conclusions from it beyond "Guerin got a little hot under the collar in an interview."

 

[MK9]

What the actual f*** though? If he's gonna trade Dumba, then why didn't we do it to sign Fiala....

You know exactly why. He/his agent pissed Guerin off.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I don't disagree, but I don't think it's worth drawing broader conclusions from it beyond "Guerin got a little hot under the collar in an interview."

I mean didnt Guerin tell Fiala to prove he was worth a big contract?

 

[Minnewildsota]

You know exactly why. He/his agent pissed Guerin off.

IF what I heard was true (Talbot's agent engaged Billy at the draft, on the draft floor), I would be pissed if I were Billy as well

 

[Bazeek]

I mean didnt Guerin tell Fiala to prove he was worth a big contract?

I don't know. Did he?

If we're talking about more comments in the media I don't see the point in taking any of that at face value. Guerin's public stance for months was "we don't have to trade Fiala" when a.) everyone knew that they did, and b.) internally they'd decided months ago that that's what they were going to do. Public statements don't matter much; actions do.

 

[MK9]

IF what I heard was true (Talbot's agent engaged Billy at the draft, on the draft floor), I would be pissed if I were Billy as well

Yeah, can't say that'd sit well with me either. Time and place, y'know?

Have to wonder if that was the agent going off reservation since after the fact Talbot said he didn't really want to be moved and Guerin just wasn't having it after the agent thing.

Lots of conjecture though, so who knows.