There are better options in net than Talbot that can be had cheaper. I don't see who is giving up a high first for Fiala to set the bar that high. Who else has cap space, money to pay, ability to win soon? I want to see how many teams actually can he in on Fiala, otherwise the price won't be nearly this high...

I would think any trade for Fiala would have to be a sign-and-trade or come with a guarantee that he'd sign long-term with his new club. I imagine some clubs were put off by his poor playoff performance but maybe he'd do better with a real 1C like Hughes.

Personally I think Ottawa needs to add a good not great prospect to that deal like Jarventie, JBD, etc. 7th overall is great, but the Wild are taking all the risk in that trade since a prospect is not a guaranteed asset like Fiala.

Value is fine in the Devils trade, probably a bit of an overpayment with Talbot, but I just don't see why the Devils wouldn't take Slafkovsky or Cooley instead.

I think 5th overall for Fiala is good, just don't think the Flyers have the cap to do it. Like the Ottawa deal I still think an OK prospect should be added.

Idk if the Devils make that trade but it's not terrible. Wouldn't be mad if they did but don't want them to, if that makes sense

Idk if Ottawa moves a high first but maybe they smell blood in the water with Bergeron potentially retiring and TBL being another year older.

Philly is dumb so maybe but he's not a player that screams "Philly" yaknow?

I'd be more than happy at the 7th and Jarventie or JBD IF Jiricek and Kemell are off the board at that point (which they probably will be).

Fletcher will spend money in some format and if he trades the 5th overall... man. Philly fans are gonna riot if they pass on Jiricek or Nemec because their D depth is GARBAGE... in all likelihood, the keep the pick and pickup Forsberg in FA.

Gonna start leaving this in all the Fiala threads to hopefully stave off the really bad takes

The average ppg pace of all 7th to 9th overall forwards drafted from the past 30 yrs is 0.42. Fiala is at 0.68, on the upswing (could turn into a star in the next 1-2 years) and is only 25. If the trade is straight up Fiala for 7th overall... the Sens should do it.

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) May 14, 2022

From the Devils:

1. I think it would be highly unlikely that they trade out of #2 without getting a very high pick back. My guess is they keep their pick and use their other assets and free agency to address their needs.

2. Our GM has said that he wants "heavier skill" to be added to lineup. He is worried that many of our forwards have similar attributes. "I don't want more of the same", he said. While Fiala differentiates a bit from our current crop, I don't know that he represents the "heavier skill" that Fitzy covets.

3. Talbot on a 1-year deal will likely be more valuable to MIN or to a contender than he would to NJ. We are likely to add someone who will stick around a few years.

4. Unless MIN sees a fit in a "sum-of-the-parts" type deal with NJD (ie, player, prospect, pick), I just don't see a fit.

I'm jealous you guys are getting Slafkovsky...

I'm not gonna pretend to be an insider but I've heard from enough people that the Devils /do/ have interest in Fiala.

Michael Russo (Wild beat writer for the Athletic, and very connected person) said that the Devils wanted Fiala before they knew they had #2, but may still be interested now

I'd be really upset if they traded pick 2 for Fiala.

He vanished in the playoffs, but he was a 30 goal scorer this year and he's 25 with one year of salary control. So I don't know. He's a known commodity. I could see us sweetening it with a 4th.

Or if you want to send a tier 2 prospect back, we could add a D3 defenseman like Kulikov/ Merrill or a Talbot.

It’s not that he’s not good. It’s that he’s good but is gonna cost 8M and the devils can afford to be patient. Grab Cooley or Slafkovsky.

I think 2oa is off the table for Fiala even with adds. NJD is probably still interested, but that would be a future 1st or something built around a prospect.

I don't think PHI is Fiala away from the Playoffs. They'll keep their pick and overpay some UFA instead.

OTT still makes the most sense to me as where Fiala ends up. Maybe they add, maybe they don't. It's a trade made when they are on the clock at the draft.

Edit* Fiala could tank his trade value just by saying he's not going to sign anywhere long term. If that's the case then his value is that of a Playoff 1st + good (but not great) prospect

Just speculation at this point.
The furthest I could imagine it has gotten would be NJD requesting to speak with player.
Everyone knows the Devils are interested in wingers and everyone knows the Wild are selling one.

Also, we have no idea where this is coming from. It could be from agent to drum up interest in client.
If could be from Minnesota to create a market for him.
It could be from NJD to distract from something else that is going on (ie, their 'interest' in Ristolainen was cover for efforts to land Dougie).

Too early to put too much stock into it.

But not sure if lottery would have changed anything as whomever they land at #2 or at #5 is not likely to impact their interest in Fiala.
They probably have a similar list of guys for either pick.

So if they were interested before, they're likely still interested.

It’s more than speculation. At least their interest in him. As for trade talks, sure.

They very well might pass on Jiricek and Nemec because Fletcher apparently thinks Ristolainen is a top-tier dman. I wouldn't be surprised if they did.