Player Discussion Kevin Fiala

[TaLoN]

It was a shitty hit. I don't mind the punishment, so long as going forward from 29Jan2021 all similar hits from 1st time offenders results in the same 3 game suspension (I won't hold my breath).

Agreed.

NHL is usually far too afraid to give out real punishment. This one feels like it's right for the play...AND everyone in the same situation should get the same.

My problem with this, it won't be set as a standard moving forward and instead they will keep with the totally crappy inconsistent suspension track.

 

[Northerner]

3 game suspension. Yikes.

Trash. I was hoping to watch my team this weekend with him in the lineup.

 

[Puhis]

An absolute joke considering NHL's suspensions in the past.

Either make this a new standard, which I would be in favour of, or hand out punishments according to the existing, lenient line. This has no resemblance of justice whatsoever, and even the explanation tried to make out Fiala as some sort of a war criminal instead of even remotely accepting that Roy stumbled.

 

[swift]

Well justified suspension.

How do you think the lines will look with Fiala out? And who gets his spot in the first powerplay... Any guesses?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Well justified suspension.

How do you think the lines will look with Fiala out? And who gets his spot in the first powerplay... Any guesses?

Bjugstad gets his spot on the power play.

 

[Northerner]

An absolute joke considering NHL's suspensions in the past.

Either make this a new standard, which I would be in favour of, or hand out punishments according to the existing, lenient line. This has no resemblance of justice whatsoever, and even the explanation tried to make out Fiala as some sort of a war criminal instead of even remotely accepting that Roy stumbled.

3 games is ridiculous. Maybe should have gotten thrown out of the game, but that is about it. Roy tripped - Fiala is not some goon.

 

[BagHead]

Bjugstad gets his spot on the power play.

Oh.

Oh no.


Guess it's too much to hope that they move JEE up and Parise over to the wing where he belongs?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Oh.

Oh no.


Guess it's too much to hope that they move JEE up and Parise over to the wing where he belongs?

It’s actually not all that bad since it forced them to stumble into the correct setup. Now they just to have fix the personnel, which they won’t.

 

[keppel146]

How much would you guys offer Fiala? Bridge?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

How much would you guys offer Fiala? Bridge?

Honestly, I still don't have much of a worry going long-term with him. He's still buzzing every game.

He's coming off of a bridge, so another brings him to UFA.

 

[grN1g]

He will want 8 years and that's just not smart in today's nhl imo.

I see us coming in at 6x6 him asking for 8x8 and we settle for 7x6 or 7.5x5

 

[keppel146]

He will want 8 years and that's just not smart in today's nhl imo.

I see us coming in at 6x6 him asking for 8x8 and we settle for 7x6 or 7.5x5

I hope not. I really think we need to see more. He had a hot streak and that’s it imo. It’s not like he is lighting up the show currently to warrant 7-7.5 mil aav.

 

[MK9]

I hope not. I really think we need to see more. He had a hot streak and that’s it imo. It’s not like he is lighting up the show currently to warrant 7-7.5 mil aav.

At the same time, he's not playing with premier linemates. Get the guy a center. For the first time in 20 years, I didn't watch a single game last season. So, I've no idea who he was centered by. But, he doesn't have a ton to work with when he's out there from what I've seen.

But, I agree. I honestly don't even think what he did last year (from what I saw stat-wise) that he's a 7+ mil player yet.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

At the same time, he's not playing with premier linemates. Get the guy a center. For the first time in 20 years, I didn't watch a single game last season. So, I've no idea who he was centered by. But, he doesn't have a ton to work with when he's out there from what I've seen.

But, I agree. I honestly don't even think what he did last year (from what I saw stat-wise) that he's a 7+ mil player yet.

Staal. Which matters.

 

[grN1g]

I hope not. I really think we need to see more. He had a hot streak and that’s it imo. It’s not like he is lighting up the show currently to warrant 7-7.5 mil aav.

It's not just about what he "is" currently. We've seen he has over ppg skill. This is his chance for his big prime years contract and it makes no sense from his perspective to not ask for the moon. Negotiations is about meeting in the middle.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

His going from dangling everybody last year to barely being able to stickhandle this year is one of the weirder things I've seen.

 

[keppel146]

His going from dangling everybody last year to barely being able to stickhandle this year is one of the weirder things I've seen.

Which is why I don’t want to hand him a lucrative contract

 

[Minnesnota]

His going from dangling everybody last year to barely being able to stickhandle this year is one of the weirder things I've seen.

It's not even just a couple of times. It's all the time. He's either trying to be too fancy or something's off with him. Or both.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

It’s all mental with him. His game is built on confidence and right now he has none

 

[AKL]

It’s all mental with him. His game is built on confidence and right now he has none

Yeah, I think he could use some more skill to play with too. If the top 6 keeps slumping a bit I might try switching Zuccarello and Greenway for a bit.

I hope Evason is willing to try Boldy in one of those spots at the end of this season. Would be useful to see what he's capable of there.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Yeah, I think he could use some more skill to play with too. If the top 6 keeps slumping a bit I might try switching Zuccarello and Greenway for a bit.

I hope Evason is willing to try Boldy in one of those spots at the end of this season. Would be useful to see what he's capable of there.

I don’t even think it’s that. It’s just watching how much calmer he is with the puck when he’s playing with confidence. Right now he’s over handling the puck and running all over the place.when he lets the game come to him he’s great. Imagine him on the 2 on 1 against Nashville last year right now. No way he has the confidence to pull that off.

 

[AKL]

I don’t even think it’s that. It’s just watching how much calmer he is with the puck when he’s playing with confidence. Right now he’s over handling the puck and running all over the place.when he lets the game come to him he’s great. Imagine him on the 2 on 1 against Nashville last year right now. No way he has the confidence to pull that off.

Yeah I just mean I think that playing with someone like Zuccarello (or Kaprizov) might be able to help him get that confidence back if they can get some scoring going

 

[AKL]

Greenway and Ek are great at what they do, and either one of them could play on a scoring line with two skilled, offensive players, but having two of them with just Fiala is putting a lot of pressure on Fiala to create on that line, and he's slumping right now, so the confidence is gone.

 

[123TripleDoge]

At the same time, he's not playing with premier linemates. Get the guy a center. For the first time in 20 years, I didn't watch a single game last season. So, I've no idea who he was centered by. But, he doesn't have a ton to work with when he's out there from what I've seen.

But, I agree. I honestly don't even think what he did last year (from what I saw stat-wise) that he's a 7+ mil player yet.

You really missed out. Fiala's second half up until the covid pause was the most impressive showing by any Wild player since Gabby, and yes that includes Kap this year. Every time he touched the puck you knew he was gonna score, blazing speed and snipes.

The center sitch doesn't help this year, and then the covid / suspension crap prevented a good rhythm. Honestly the PP being garbo is negatively affecting a the heads of a lot players, Fiala included. It's just comical at this point, idk what it's gonna take for him to get going like last year, maybe beating up on AZ is start, but that PP MUST get going.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Great players make it look smooth, the game slows down. Fiala looks like the game is speeding up on him. Classic signs of slump.....he will snap back.