Rumor: Wild and Senators (Fiala)

Dr Jan Itor

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Dec 10, 2009
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Is this factual info? Guess I'm not sure how what went on behind the scenes is anything other than conjecture on any of our parts. I get there may be inklings that would make you think that, but we don't know any of that at all.

It's not irregular for RFA negotiations to go into August/September, especially for the high-enders. Guerin filed for salary arbitration on August 2nd, which probably means that he had his mind made up about things already, and if he was "pissed off" about that, then again, it's much more of a reflection on him (or his general thoughts about Fiala), than it is about Fiala playing hardball or being tough to deal with or anything like that.
 

AKL

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It's not irregular for RFA negotiations to go into August/September, especially for the high-enders. Guerin filed for salary arbitration on August 2nd, which probably means that he had his mind made up about things already, and if he was "pissed off" about that, then again, it's much more of a reflection on him (or his general thoughts about Fiala), than it is about Fiala playing hardball or being tough to deal with or anything like that.

Especially since Fiala came in at 5.1, which was pretty well below what his body of work suggested he could get. And he just came off his bridge contract, so you can't blame him for wanting term. 31 goal, 67 point pace those two years.

I think it really just came down to, for whatever reason, Guerin had already decided he didn't want Fiala around long term, which is what Fiala was looking for, so Guerin hit the arbitration button to just get the discussions over with. So I agree with you, it says much more about Guerin than Fiala.

I don't think the idea that Fiala was asking for too much money has any merit whatsoever.
 

WhereAreTheCookies

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Feb 16, 2022
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Did that extension come with a no trade clause? Is he the only player on the team that can be traded to make room to sign Fiala?
Only in the final year, and it's only an 8 team no trade list. Most of their Dmen have NMC or NTC's but it looks like only Zucc has one among the forwards at least for this and next season.
 

Joseph Nathan

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Feb 11, 2022
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Did that extension come with a no trade clause? Is he the only player on the team that can be traded to make room to sign Fiala?
Players highly ever get traded after signing an extension that they haven't even started. Also the grief line isn't getting broken up
 

wraparound

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May 17, 2014
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So, Zucc for Zegras?
131983A3-7A61-4EF1-B55E-CA4214FCC95B.jpeg
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
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He literally resigned greenway to 3 years deal. Also his comments after deadline basically says fiala is gone. Seems the negotiations pissed off Guerin last summer, and he never changed his mind about fiala. What could be an issue, this same agent represents mcBain, and dumba. So dumba would be his only client on wild.
What comments?
 

Bazeek

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What comments?
I don't know for sure what he was referring to, but there was this.
“We talk about it all the time, so it’s been clear in my head for a while,” Guerin said. “I know what’s coming, I know what we’re going to have to do. I don’t worry about it. I know what we’re going to do.”
Granted I'm reading into that a little, but going by the team's handling of Fiala to this point it doesn't sound like they've decided to change course there.
 

c_mak

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I'm not sure of Ottawa's apparent like for Fiala or desire to get him. He's good, not great. Not sure how he fits the rebuild (except Dorion says the rebuild is over LOL)
 

MuckOG

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May 18, 2012
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I'm not sure of Ottawa's apparent like for Fiala or desire to get him. He's good, not great. Not sure how he fits the rebuild (except Dorion says the rebuild is over LOL)

We can only speculate, but there have been multiple sightings of Sens scouts in attendance at Wild games over the past few weeks/months. I think Dorian, himself, has been sighted at a game or two.
 
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Neiler

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Jul 16, 2006
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I'm not sure of Ottawa's apparent like for Fiala or desire to get him. He's good, not great. Not sure how he fits the rebuild (except Dorion says the rebuild is over LOL)
I'd say he fits by being stapled to Stutzle with one of Giroux or Brown on the other wing.
 
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SensFactor

Registered User
Oct 25, 2008
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Ottawa
To Ott
Fiala
5th 2023

To Minn
Brannstrom (former 1st rounder)
Greig (former 1st rounder)
2nd 2022 (likely 35-40th overall)
 

Joseph Nathan

Registered User
Feb 11, 2022
753
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To Ott
Fiala
5th 2023

To Minn
Brannstrom (former 1st rounder)
Greig (former 1st rounder)
2nd 2022 (likely 35-40th overall)
Brannstom isn't needed. Minnesota has 8 d under contract next year with Calen addison still in Iowa. Ryan O, Carson lambos, Damon hunt, possibly jack peart signed and also in Iowa next year. So even if wild end up trading Dmitry kulikov, they still don't have room
 

BKarchitect

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Oct 12, 2017
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I'm not sure of Ottawa's apparent like for Fiala or desire to get him. He's good, not great. Not sure how he fits the rebuild (except Dorion says the rebuild is over LOL)
He may not be “great” but he’s really, really, really good. A legit first line star winger who at 25 is just coming into his own. Every team that can afford to pay him should have a desire to acquire him.

His talent and production is really being muted here - I see Sens fans calling Drake a sure fire 70-80 point player if he’s healthy but also saying nobody is allowed to call Fiala a 70 point player because he’s never hit that number. Seems a bit contradictory. Over a three year time period with a much bigger track record than Batherson, Fiala has 154 points in 179 games - or over 70 points per 82. I’m not arguing he’s “better” than Batherson but he is absolutely in the same conversation as an offensive producer.

So to me the better question is for long suffering Sens fans - *if* ownership is willing to pony up For the extension - why wouldn’t you be incredibly excited to add a 25 year-old first line winger to a developing roster? I’d be pretty stoked and if it costs some magic beans, so be it. Batherson, Tkachuk, Fiala, Stutzle, Norris…now you are developing a young core up front that looks real, real dangerous moving forward.
 

57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
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Over the past 3 years, Fiala is 12th among LW's in scoring. 35th in scoring among all forwards. He has outscored Stone, Ehlers, Bergeron, Barzal, Laine, amongst many others during that time. He is clearly a 1st line talent, and what's more, a 1st line talent in his prime. It's not his fault that his light has been dimmed by the best forward than MN has ever had, Kaprizov, who gets preferential line matchups and partners over him (as he should).
 
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Spurgeon

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Over the past 3 years, Fiala is 12th among LW's in scoring. 35th in scoring among all forwards. He has outscored Stone, Ehlers, Bergeron, Barzal, Laine, amongst many others during that time. He is clearly a 1st line talent, and what's more, a 1st line talent in his prime. It's not his fault that his light has been dimmed by the best forward than MN has ever had, Kaprizov, who gets preferential line matchups and partners over him (as he should).
And the most important fact is that he was doing that with the likes of elite talents like:

Marcus Johansson, Parise, Bonino, Hartman, etc.

Sure Fiala has been a streaky scorer here, but he’s never had any talent anywhere near Boldy to play with, which is insane. The best player he’s gotten the opportunity to play with on a consistent basis is a rookie. I just know he’s going to land somewhere playing 1st line & top PP minutes and go off for 90+ points. Guerin really should’ve committed to him long-term when his first extension was being negotiated.
 
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