Player Discussion Kevin Fiala

[Dr Jan Itor]

Johansson has looked weirdly ok. He didn't impress me at all earlier in the year, and I'm not saying that he is anything great right now, but he looks faster, anyway. Might be an option at C with Fiala?

He’s on the wing with him already. Not sure how much difference it would make.

 

[57special]

He’s on the wing with him already. Not sure how much difference it would make.

You're probably right. Desk chairs, Titanic, Wild C position, throwing things against the wall, etc. Just trying to find something that will click

 

[BagHead]

Johansson has looked weirdly ok. He didn't impress me at all earlier in the year, and I'm not saying that he is anything great right now, but he looks faster, anyway. Might be an option at C with Fiala?

I'd been wondering for a while if the Wild were on a tear not because they're playing well, but because every team they were playing was just way more tired than the Wild were, since the Wild got their COVID break. Now, on an obviously tired Wild squad, the one well-rested guy looks suddenly much better than earlier in the year? Coincidence?

It also makes me a bit scared of how this season will end. It might be pretty ugly.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

If Fiala and Johansson build on this game we might actually be... Ok

 

[Val]

Hat-trick by Kevin

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

71 points in his last 82 games

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

71 points in his last 82 games

Playing 40% of those games with 3rd/4th line linemates

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Playing 40% of those games with 3rd/4th line linemates

I don’t really think hem be a superstar anymore, his mental game isn’t great. When he’s pressing, he’s really pressing, but I’m looking forward to his stretches of being a 40 point player and stretches of being a 100 point player averaging out to make him a cool 70 point first line guy.

 

[keppel146]

I’d still trade him for the right center.

 

[ctmagic]

I’d still trade him for the right center.

Fiala for Glendening

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I’d still trade him for the right center.

Yup. Unfortunately, centers don’t get traded for comparable wingers

 

[keppel146]

Fiala for Glendening

Ha. Him plus a 2nd

 

[57special]

I think Fiala is destined to be a streaky player who can carry a team when he's on, while Kap is steadily brilliant.

after years of having neither, I can live with it. Imagine if we had even a prime Koivu to play in between Those two, though?

 

[Bazeek]

I think Fiala is destined to be a streaky player who can carry a team when he's on, while Kap is steadily brilliant.

What I've appreciated about Fiala this year is that even when things weren't clicking for him he always looked like he was engaged and working. Goal scorers are usually streaky but not all of them handle the frustration that goes along with that well.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

I think it would be a mistake to trade him even for a good center. He is the kind of player that can almost single handedly steal a playoff series when he is hot. That’s tough to find.

 

[MuckOG]

I think it would be a mistake to trade him even for a good center. He is the kind of player that can almost single handedly steal a playoff series when he is hot. That’s tough to find.

I agree, and this obviously depends on the center they would be getting. I wouldn't trade Fiala for a "serviceable" 2C. But to get a center worth getting, it would probably take Fiala + another significant asset(s).

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

I think we might be underestimating how significant the guys he's been playing with is.

Edit: In terms of the terrible linemates. To be more explicit.

 

[Webster]

How about this line? Kaprizov-Zuccarello-Fiala...looks slick.

Since Guerin says Zucc plays like a center, just has to work on his faceoffs.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

How about this line? Kaprizov-Zuccarello-Fiala...looks slick.

Since Guerin says Zucc plays like a center, just has to work on his faceoffs.

Dislike it but honestly cant be much worse at faceoffs

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

18 points in last 15 games. 32 points in last 38 games. On pace for 61 points this season.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Deja vu.

 

[2Pair]

Probably never going to be consistent enough to be that PPG or better superstar that we were hoping for. But he's already a top line level player and the kind of guy that can win a playoff series by himself.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

As long as he keeps peaking at the right time, I’m fine with it. Would be mkre than happy if he settles in as a 70ish point guy. He is capable of taking over games, he just doesn’t do it consistently.

 

[grN1g]

He can drive a lines production. May not be consistently a top tier player but he can certainly take over a game here and there.

That's tremendous pressure off Kap.

 

[57special]

More importantly, they are figuring out how to click together on the #1PP. That's huge. Fiala makes all kinds of mistakes, but I love his skill, talent, and passion. He also gives no sign of bitching about his linemates, but it's got to be frustrating playing with a couple of bottom sixers.