Willing to give Raty for Debrincat and Pasta, but not for Fiala? Minnesota would probably pull the trigger on #13+Raty. The left wing prospects don't really make sense for Minnesota.

I don’t think Fiala is on the same level as those guys. Holmstrom is a RW prospect btw

I think it's a fair way to rank them - I think DeBrincat & Pasta are more valuable than Fiala - even if you think they're equal on ice, the fact that both those guys have sub-$7M deals signed for next season and Fiala probably signs a contract with an $8M AAV is enough to tilt the balance.

This and while Fiala has always been solid in Minni, Pasta and Debrincat have been phenomenal goal scorers for 5, I think, years

Both those players will have similar contracts in one year's time. Not sure how one year's difference of about $1-1.5M warrants what you are saying. I don't think Minnesota pulls the trigger without Raty coming back. They are set at left wing: Kaprizov, Greenway, Boldy, Duhaime and Beckman trying to crack the roster. Then they also have left handed wingers playing the right side in Zuccarello and Foligno.

Maybe a smaller piece short but I think that's a good package for Debrincat

It's true, it's not a huge deterrent - but the Isles' cap will find it a little easier to absorb a big contract next summer than this, so it's a worthy factor. I'd also argue that you're talking about David Pastrnak, a guy who's been a perennial 35-40 goal scorer for the past 6 seasons and is only 26 years old, and Alex DeBrincat, a 24 year old who's average 35 goals/year since entering the NHL in 2017. Fiala, to me, is a distinct 3rd out of these 3 guys with only one PPG season (this year) under his belt. I think Fiala would be a fine pickup, but if you're asking me which players I'd go the extra mile for, it's Cat and Pasta over him.

I’m not saying Fiala is on the same level as Lil Debbie or Pasta, but given the price differences here, I think there’s a very strong case to be made for him being a value buy.

Outside of the last 40ish games this year when Boldy came on, Fiala has been stuck with absolute trash for linemates. I know that gets said a lot, but I don’t think anyone outside of MN realizes how bad it was. Marcus Johansson, Rask, Parise, etc etc. Constant changes, but always washed up players who were 10 minutes behind the play.

He rightfully shouldn’t return as much as these others, but the skill level is much closer than these prices are.

Yes but Debrincat and Pasta have just done it longer. It’s a difference of a solid top line winger to a very good one to a superstar

Exactly, but paying Raty + Wahlstrom to upgrade from very good top line winger to bona fide superstar seems like a heck of a steep price. That’s my point.

The margin between their relative skill is closer than the price margins here. IMO of course.

I don't think Debrincat is better than Fiala. Debrincat's saving grace is that he's a RFA after this season and that's why he would have more value than Fiala. Not because he is a better player.