If Necas were projected to be a 1C or to sign for just $3M, why on earth are the Canes trading him?

Necas is better on the wing, and hasn’t played C since juniors. He certainly isn’t a 1C, but a 1RW I can believe. As much as I love Necas, I think it’s come to a point where his future isn’t in Carolina.

I think we'd start him in place of Rossi on the 3rd line but the hope would be that he can move up with Kaprizov and Zucc.

The Canes are trading him here because he only had 40 points this season and they're getting a dynamic forward fresh off of an 85 point season...

I know he has played exclusively on the wing in the NHL but I'd like to see what he can do at center. I'd try him in place of Rossi at first, but if that goes well this is what I'd envision the roster to look like. If he ends up as a RW then that's fine with me. Boldy - Rossi - Necas could be a really fun line.

I believe Billy G had interest in Necas a couple years ago too. When they inquired about Dumba. Obviously that didn’t go anywhere. This would be a good get for Fiala IMO.

Canes only trade for Fiala if he’s coming with a team friendly deal - is that what is happening here?

Define "team friendly". I think he'll end up in the $7.5-8M AAV range on a 5-6 year deal. I could maybe see $7.25M AAV, but I would be a little surprised. I think any team signing him could point to Reinhart and Nylander as comps and maybe get him closer to 7. Again, I'd be surprised, but I think mid-$7M AAV is a pretty reasonable deal for him.

There is absolutely zero percent chance Fiala and Canes are matched together next year. Take a look at the history of the Canes with RFAs and Arb players.

I know you REALLY want Necas, but Wild and Canes aren’t trade partners here.

Yeah, I don’t think Fiala signs anything “team friendly”. It’s his first crack at a big contract, they usually take this opportunity to cash in. Especially after a career year.

Well, I wouldn't say "REALLY" in all caps like that, but I've definitely been interested in the player for a while. Like I said in my description, "I don't know how the Canes afford Fiala, that probably prevents this trade."

Agreed TanSor. Necas is an intriguing get but isn’t a must have. For me that would be NJD 2OA. If that’s on the table, that’s a must accept. It’ll be interesting to see what the package ends up being. Russo seems to think it’s going to be a big return, but others on here seem to think differently. Because BG “bashed” Fiala on KFAN.

If you want Necas, you can knock it down to a 2nd. Otherwise, Carolina is straight up going to reject anything structured with both a top 6 23-year-old RW and a 1st. Necas is someone Carolina would very much be open to moving this summer. However, if it is Necas being the centerpiece, the first is off the table.

Necas is 23 and is a year removed from a shortened season where he put up a 60-point pace. This year, he went cold and had a down year. That doesn't mean that upside he has is gone. His value is at the lowest it's ever been, yes. However, Minnesota basically has to move Fiala. He might have put up 80 points, and have had a career year, but he's also going to have diminished value. Fiala is older with injury issues. Necas also has the ability to play a more valuable position, as you're aware since you slotted him at center.

Carolina won't sell low on one of the more talented players on their roster.

Older with injury issues? You mean the leg he broke several years ago when he was with Nashville? Hes 25 and has missed 5 games since 2020. I get your point but saying he's "older with injury issues" is just false. If a broken bone labels someone with "injury issues", then every player in the NHL has injury issues.

He's older and has a history of serious injuries. That is exactly what you just said.

Necas has missed more games since 2020 than Fiala. So if you want to play that game, I can say Necas is a less proven 40 point forward with injury issues, lmao.

Both players are great. If Necas and a 2nd is all the Canes are willing to give up as you said, I don't think that's a bad package. This trade isn't my idea, it was posted a few times from the Canes perspective so I wanted to see what it looked like for the Wild.

You seriously are going to cherry-pick the last 2 years like the wear and tear on the body before that doesn't matter? Necas has missed some games in the last couple of seasons. Yes. He's also been playing with fringe NHLers and still put up 40 points in a limited number of games. You can hardly argue he's not a proven 40 point producer when he just did that in a down year with fringe NHL linemates.

There is a reason I have Caniac2000 silenced on my CF…

It’s really important to think about the power dynamics here. Fiala would need to have a team friendly deal agreed to already before the Canes would give up any assets for him. They will not trade for an asset the can not control the contract negotiations on. Just not going to happen.

Team friendly for this player on the Canes would be a long term $6m max or a short term deal at like $5m…. And that is not going to happen.

Fair enough! As fun as I think Fiala would be on the Canes, seems like there isn't a great fit here.

I agree, we need scoring and players like Fiala could be a fit. They appear to be dead set on only paying set amounts for roster slots, and that means we will wait until bargains happen…