Dan Wallace: Fiala to LA!

Pretty underwhelming return… Stunned there weren’t better offers out there.

Ill bet Fiala wasn't signing just anywhere so I'm sure Guerin was limited in the offers. Plus with the dead cap space teams knew Guerin was screwed.

Maybe not too bad of a deal as at least Wild get a 1st and a solid hometown D. Better Fiala walking for nothing

A little surprised Guerin traded him to a West team. Guerin wanted Faber. He looked good at the U last year. Good skater, RD, tough, good transition game but needs work on the offensive side. He’s 19. Wild have 2 first rounders and 4 picks in the top 56. We’ll see what happens next.

A little surprised Guerin traded him to a West team. Guerin wanted Faber. He looked good at the U last year. Good skater, RD, tough, good transition game but needs work on the offensive side. He’s 19. Wild have 2 first rounders and 4 picks in the top 56. We’ll see what happens next.
- Minnyhock

4 in the top 56 is good. Always nice to have equity to work with. Either more pics for the future or package some picks in a trade for? Time will tell.

For a RFA that could just sit. Pretty decent deal.

I think they did fine, but what forced them to be in the position to have to trade him were the crazy decisions to buy out both Suter and Parise, that decision is still mind boggling

They ship out to aging veteran leaders one year and then their young star the next. Makes total sense to me!

Suter maybe the smartest man in hockey for what he pulled off. He truly used his NMC to get paid twice over the same period. I truly think if there was an option to package assets to offload him, they would have taken it. But from Suters perspective, his family is from MN, and i think he owned a farm in WI. So he may have dug in his heals saying he wasnt taking a trade as he knew that if he held out he now makes bigger bank.

Suter maybe the smartest man in hockey for what he pulled off. He truly used his NMC to get paid twice over the same period. I truly think if there was an option to package assets to offload him, they would have taken it. But from Suters perspective, his family is from MN, and i think he owned a farm in WI. So he may have dug in his heals saying he wasnt taking a trade as he knew that if he held out he now makes bigger bank.
- Putty

And the Wild owner's (Leipold) son worked on Suter's farm.

I think Guerin saw the need to get rid of Suter and Parise because those two had been running the team, bringing in their own PP coach, etc.

Ill bet Fiala wasn't signing just anywhere so I'm sure Guerin was limited in the offers. Plus with the dead cap space teams knew Guerin was screwed.
- jfkst1

That in theory doesn't make any sense - other teams would theoretically compete against each other for a young, controlled, 35 goal scorer. That said, "compete"? What is this, not the old boys club? Do a buddy a favor, end of discussion.

It makes sense to me. He still had one more season on his deal and if he didn't like where he was traded he didn't have to sign a qualifying offer and would've demanded to be traded again so yes Guerin was limited in who he could have traded Fiala to. Unless he is signing an extension, why wouldn any team trade for him

It makes sense to me. He still had one more season on his deal and if he didn't like where he was traded he didn't have to sign a qualifying offer and would've demanded to be traded again so yes Guerin was limited in who he could have traded Fiala to. Unless he is signing an extension, why wouldn any team trade for him
- Joetaylor0009

To win right now. What, no team has ever given up assets to put next year as a priority? That's the whole point of the trade deadline.

That in theory doesn't make any sense - other teams would theoretically compete against each other for a young, controlled, 35 goal scorer. That said, "compete"? What is this, not the old boys club? Do a buddy a favor, end of discussion.
- DarthProbert

Guerin said the Kings shot straight right off not just kicking the tires. Guerin said he didn’t want to go to draft day pitting teams against each other. He said this was the right way to do it. Spin or truth, it’s done. Apparently, Guerin sees more in Faber than others see.

That in theory doesn't make any sense - other teams would theoretically compete against each other for a young, controlled, 35 goal scorer. That said, "compete"? What is this, not the old boys club? Do a buddy a favor, end of discussion.
- DarthProbert

Sure, a number of teams would have interest, but that's a small market because Fiala would have to want to go to that team to sign longterm. He wanted to go to LA. How many other teams peaked Fiala's interest enough to sign a longterm deal? I can't imagine LA offering a 1st and Faber and another team offering a better deal if that team knew Fiala would be gone after his arbitration year because he wouldn't sign with them longterm. GMBG did have the ultimate control, but I sure he took the best offer under the circumstances.

Suter maybe the smartest man in hockey for what he pulled off. He truly used his NMC to get paid twice over the same period. I truly think if there was an option to package assets to offload him, they would have taken it. But from Suters perspective, his family is from MN, and i think he owned a farm in WI. So he may have dug in his heals saying he wasnt taking a trade as he knew that if he held out he now makes bigger bank.
- Putty

According to both sides, Suter was never asked to waive his NMC. There's a chance Suter says no, he is making an extra 7 million or so by being bought out and signing there. But the fact Guerin didn't even try to move Suter before buying him out is just terrible. Had Guerin just traded Suter to Dallas with 50% retained, Wild probably keep Fiala.

According to both sides, Suter was never asked to waive his NMC. There's a chance Suter says no, he is making an extra 7 million or so by being bought out and signing there. But the fact Guerin didn't even try to move Suter before buying him out is just terrible. Had Guerin just traded Suter to Dallas with 50% retained, Wild probably keep Fiala.
- Antilles

We don’t have all the information for one thing. Why would Suter waive? He wouldn’t have control of his destination. Maybe Guerin knew what the answer was. Guerin knew Yeo from Pittsburgh and no doubt they talked. Suter could have offered to waive. Maybe he’s a good businessman and liked the possibility of getting paid twice.

Place the blame where it really belongs. Fletcher signed both to those 13 year no move contracts. He knew he wouldn’t be there when the contracts were bad. Fletcher saddled the team with floater Pominville among others. Look at the mess Fletcher has created in Philly. Guerin and the next GM in Philly have to clean up Fletch’s toxic incompetent GMing. Hard choices have to be made when your predecessor creates chaos and disasters in waiting.

We don’t have all the information for one thing. Why would Suter waive? He wouldn’t have control of his destination. Maybe Guerin knew what the answer was. Guerin knew Yeo from Pittsburgh and no doubt they talked. Suter could have offered to waive. Maybe he’s a good businessman and liked the possibility of getting paid twice.

Place the blame where it really belongs. Fletcher signed both to those 13 year no move contracts. He knew he wouldn’t be there when the contracts were bad. Fletcher saddled the team with floater Pominville among others. Look at the mess Fletcher has created in Philly. Guerin and the next GM in Philly have to clean up Fletch’s toxic incompetent GMing. Hard choices have to be made when your predecessor creates chaos and disasters in waiting.
- Minnyhock

Fletcher similar to other GM's made some good moves and some bad moves. Cleary he felt signing both Parise and Suter together at that time was the move that was going to lead to greater success. While there was success, it wasn't the success all fans hoped for. Chicago did the same thing when Hossa was signed to a long term contact. That just came of the books a few years ago while Chicago was still paying for that contract and Hossa was long gone. The difference being Hossa helped Chicago to the Cup but it's been 7 long years since with no light ahead.

@ MNHawksfan

Fletcher’s strength is drafting. He’s a horrible GM other than that.Fletcher keeps his team capped out just to be a bubble team..

I became a Dallas Stars fan after the North Stars left. When Fletcher signed Parise and Suter, I switched over to the Wild. I loved the signings but knew the term was bad. They both wanted to be here so I think 9-10 years sent the same message and would have been enough. Fletcher hung onto his core players too long. Fletcher is probably a nice guy and I don’t dislike him. It’s just that he’s a bad GM. My view of him is that he is emotional not cerebral. Not really GM material. Just lucky to be Cliff’s son.

@ MNHawksfan

Fletcher’s strength is drafting. He’s a horrible GM other than that.Fletcher keeps his team capped out just to be a bubble team..

I became a Dallas Stars fan after the North Stars left. When Fletcher signed Parise and Suter, I switched over to the Wild. I loved the signings but knew the term was bad. They both wanted to be here so I think 9-10 years sent the same message and would have been enough. Fletcher hung onto his core players too long. Fletcher is probably a nice guy and I don’t dislike him. It’s just that he’s a bad GM. My view of him is that he is emotional not cerebral. Not really GM material. Just lucky to be Cliff’s son.
- Minnyhock

Well said my friend, we have much in common as Stan was definitely not the man in Chicago and is also lucky to somehow be Scotties son.

@ MNHawksfan

Fletcher’s strength is drafting. He’s a horrible GM other than that.Fletcher keeps his team capped out just to be a bubble team..

I became a Dallas Stars fan after the North Stars left. When Fletcher signed Parise and Suter, I switched over to the Wild. I loved the signings but knew the term was bad. They both wanted to be here so I think 9-10 years sent the same message and would have been enough. Fletcher hung onto his core players too long. Fletcher is probably a nice guy and I don’t dislike him. It’s just that he’s a bad GM. My view of him is that he is emotional not cerebral. Not really GM material. Just lucky to be Cliff’s son.
- Minnyhock

Going to have to strongly disagree with you that Fletcher's strength is drafting. Way too many flops to consider him a good drafter. I can't think of anything he was good at other than offering large contracts and No Move Clauses

Going to have to strongly disagree with you that Fletcher's strength is drafting. Way too many flops to consider him a good drafter. I can't think of anything he was good at other than offering large contracts and No Move Clauses
- mnMild

Most GMs have hits and misses. After the 1st round its a crap shoot and there is a lot of luck involved. A handful of GMs seem to have more hits. My understanding is that Fletcher deferred to Flahr on the picks. I give Fletcher high marks for drafting Kaprizov in the 5th round. Although, he gets dinged for not bringing him over.

We don’t have all the information for one thing. Why would Suter waive? He wouldn’t have control of his destination. Maybe Guerin knew what the answer was. Guerin knew Yeo from Pittsburgh and no doubt they talked. Suter could have offered to waive. Maybe he’s a good businessman and liked the possibility of getting paid twice.

Place the blame where it really belongs. Fletcher signed both to those 13 year no move contracts. He knew he wouldn’t be there when the contracts were bad. Fletcher saddled the team with floater Pominville among others. Look at the mess Fletcher has created in Philly. Guerin and the next GM in Philly have to clean up Fletch’s toxic incompetent GMing. Hard choices have to be made when your predecessor creates chaos and disasters in waiting.
- Minnyhock

Guerin didn't know what the answer was, because he didn't ask. He might have assumed, but that's stupid considering how much it cost the Wild. Suter wouldn't have had to waive for anywhere, he could have given a list of places he would waive for. Your coming up with a lot of ways things might have gone if Guerin tried to trade Suter. All of those might be accurate, but it's no question Guerin made a mistake, but he didn't bother finding out before taking the worst option available to the Wild, buying him out.

And if you want to place blame the appropriate place, then it's not just with Fletcher, it's with Leipold. GM's don't make the call to sign players to 100 million dollar deals, owners do. Obviously, Fletcher isn't totally absolved. But Leipold was intimately involved with the decision to sign those deals, flying to meet the players to negotiate them etc. He's the one refusing to have the Wild do a true rebuild as well, which is why the team is consistently not a top contender; they aren't willing to be bad in order to be great, they just always try to be good.

Guerin didn't know what the answer was, because he didn't ask. He might have assumed, but that's stupid considering how much it cost the Wild. Suter wouldn't have had to waive for anywhere, he could have given a list of places he would waive for. Your coming up with a lot of ways things might have gone if Guerin tried to trade Suter. All of those might be accurate, but it's no question Guerin made a mistake, but he didn't bother finding out before taking the worst option available to the Wild, buying him out.

And if you want to place blame the appropriate place, then it's not just with Fletcher, it's with Leipold. GM's don't make the call to sign players to 100 million dollar deals, owners do. Obviously, Fletcher isn't totally absolved. But Leipold was intimately involved with the decision to sign those deals, flying to meet the players to negotiate them etc. He's the one refusing to have the Wild do a true rebuild as well, which is why the team is consistently not a top contender; they aren't willing to be bad in order to be great, they just always try to be good.
- Antilles

People talk about asking a player to waive but it rarely happens. Guerin said at the buyout news conference that it was in the works for a long time. My theory is that he decided shortly after getting the job. Most likely Guerin picked Yeo’s brain about the state of the clubhouse with Suter and Parise holding court. Guerin would be tipping them off with the ask.

COL started their rebuild in 2009. PIT did one from 2002-09 and CHI 2001-07. Unfortunately, most owners and GMs don’t want to do a full rebuild. Retool looks more attractive to them. Owners have a bottom line and GMs have a shelf life.