I mean I don’t know if anything you get for Necas will do that. But what would you want then? Name the price for this scenario, assume all other deals here are complete.

I don't think the prospects matter. Why would you trade an asset thats meant to mature and be good for the future, for futures? He's most likely a starting point for someone like Cat. For futures... short of 2/3 1sts (or in other words, an extreme overpayment) there's not a lot that interests the Canes in the Wild's pool. Minny might have been ranked 4th in prospects, but Carolina (for the most part) are right there with them because the Canes pipeline is so strong. It doesn't make sense.

That’s fair. Wasn’t sure if future assets would be intriguing.

Necas on a cheap 2 year bridge would

That’s fair and you’re right, they’re 5th in the same rankings. Yeah, Necas for prospects doesn’t make sense, my bad was just exploring another idea. Didn’t work out.

Haha that’s fair

I don't mean to come across as crapping on the idea, it's just that this idea doesn't make sense. If it was Necas + 2nd/Bear/something that isn't an overpay for Fiala, that would make sense. I don't like the fit of Fiala in Carolina, but it does make more sense than acquiring futures.

No that’s what this site is for, good discussion. I didn’t realize Car had such a good prospect pool. That really craps this idea right there. I do think Necas could really flourish in MN though, wish there was a way to get him here.

An excellent indicator that Minnesota is actually getting bent over.

I’m tempting my expected return in hopes that I’m wrong and surprised. Russo is making it sound like the return won’t be as good as we think.

Why exactly do the Devils get to eliminate any sort of high potential return for Minnesota? If you are adding more protections to the 1st, then you need to change the prospect to someone better. Personally, in a trade like this, I don't think the Devils should be allowed any protections on the pick. If that return is a 12-17 pick in the draft and Thompson, that is the definition of "meh" for me. Give me 7th overall this year any day over that return.

Link please.

Carolina's pool is ridiculous considering most of the better prospects are later-round picks. For example, at the WJCs before they were canceled, Carolina had 10 prospects going, which tied the record for NHL prospects. Not a single first-round selection among them. But 3 or 4 different 7th rounders.

As for the Necas issue... he'd do well as a center. Necas' desire to play down the middle has become more evident and it seems he's really growing disdain for playing on the wing. 2C makes a lot of sense for Necas next year, but you've got to consider that risk, Kotkaniemi, and even to an extent Trocheck. If this happened next year when Staal's deal was up, that would be fine. KK slides in at 3C, Necas 2C and you go from there. He really needs to be given a shot down the middle to see what is there. He's got such good upside, and his play on the wing reminds me of Aho's first few years in the NHL. Aho started as a LW and he seems okay as a center. Just hope Waddell has the foresight to bring him back.

if that is the Fiala trade. Make it our 2022 2nd 2023 1st for him and Kulikov. easy

Thompson is ranked #4 in their system. 7OA in a weak draft is probably pretty similar to 12-15 in next years better draft.

Listen to his latest “Worst seats in the House Pod”.

And this:

https://zonecoverage.com/2022/wild/could-a-crowded-market-drive-down-kevin-fialas-value/

If your argument is true that 7OA = 12-17OA next year, my counter argument would be we get the asset one year sooner with Ottawa's pick.

That’s fair. But also getting Thompson on top of that pick. Vs 7OA alone (Russo speculated).

If Russo does not put it in writing then it should be taken with a grain of salt. He has said a bunch of bs on his podcasts over the years.

That second article isn't Russo.

That’s your opinion, but he also says a lot of things that come true as well. You want to expect a big return, that’s fine, that’s your opinion, you won’t change my opinion unless you’ve got something from a legit source indicating a big return.

I’m aware, I never said it was Russo. Just another source

Well, we could start with Guerin traded Zucker for 1st + Pens top prospect + roster player. Zucker was a far worse player.

If you want to find the last time a first was traded in the offseason without protection, you're more than welcome to point me in that direction.

Counter argument: why do the the Wild get to expect a good return for Fiala when, according to Russo, "31 GMs know that Minnesota can't afford him"

Reinhart is the comparable imo. Good-not-great prospect and protected first round pick (pick 28 wound up going to Buffalo, right? Very late first.)

Started listening to the latest podcast and LaPanta counters Russo's point by saying it's not a "no brainer" that Fiala will be the one dealt. That we might get better returns "if we move other pieces."

Reinhart is absolutely not the comparable. The closest comparable was Taylor Hall when the Devils traded him to Arizona. The equivalent would be something like:

2023 1st (top 3 protected, otherwise unprotected 2024 1st)
2023 3rd (upgrades to 2nd if NJ wins a playoff round or Fiala re-signs with NJ)
Chase Stillman
Nikita Okhotyuk
Samu Salminen

Everyone is saying Fiala is almost certain to be dealt. BG absolutely should trade Dumba to create more leverage for himself but I don’t know if he wants to take a lesser return for Dumba to get more for Fiala.