That’s not the process the Wild are doing. Russo has laid it out.

1- BG talks to teams, gets the packages together (before or at the draft not after the draft)
2- gives permission to Kevin’s agent to talk to team or teams BG has approved.

If NJD for instance, offer top dollar but are not offering the prospects Mn wants, BG says no to Fiala.

Fiala wants to play hardball he can, then MN trades Dumba or another piece to brings Fiala back for one more year. Your leverage angle isn’t accurate, sorry.

Whoa, if Wild have that as a plan.

GMs aren't offering trade packages without knowing if he signs or not.

Talks with teams will come first. Then trade offers.

Remember, his contract is up, he can talk to other teams directly in a couple weeks anyway.

Heres one: https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/3348395

It's Boqvist, Foote and a 2023 1st. Wild fan says add a third and assumes the 2023 pick would be top 3 protected. Then says they would do it if a conditional third is added.

another: https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/600370

It's Ty Smith, Foote and 2023 top 3 protected pick. After adjusting the trade, Wild fan says it's much closer than before, implying that it's decently close in value.

And before you even say it, I said this type of framework (NHL ready player, prospect, 2023 first) not this exact trade has received good feedback. Still waiting for you to explain to me how your gonna get a 2022 protected pick...

After what BG said publicly about those two, I find that very far-fetched.
But say it goes down that way...I am fine with that.
Devils move on to one of the many other wingers available.

Still don't see any scenario that leads into a "bidding war" for Fiala.

Also what happens in the hypothetical that BG gets his package, allows Fiala to talk, and they can't come to an agreement on a deal? Then a potential suitor is out and a team is out of the bidding war. But like you said it doesn't matter what BG wants when Fiala can speak to teams the day after the draft unless BG gets moving on a Fiala trade here pretty soon. Also just as easily can see teams pulling out of the Fiala negiotations and switching to other potential wingers on the market instead of bidding up for Fiala, which would then also filter out more potential Fiala destinations

This is the one thing I don't understand when it comes to the idea there will be a huge bidding war for Fiala. It's not like he's the only elite winger on the market. Teams can just shift their focus to the handful of other guys.

How many times do you need to be told by those that know and follow what the actual hell is going on before you accept and not twist everything to fit your damn narrative?

You have literally been told 15+ times now, by multiple Wild fans that Guerin praised Fiala multiple times since the 3 good months comment.

You refuse to acknowledge that he carries any value because it fits your narrative and it means that you can continue to lowball and not give anything worth trading him for. Which is asinine.

MULTIPLE INSIDER'S AND BEAT-WRITERS HAVE ROUTINELY PLACED HIS VALUE AT ABOVE WHAT YOU'VE CONTINUOUSLY OFFERED.

Maybe, just maybe. You're wrong.

That’s how the process works. I’ll explain it again I guess then. BG gets trade packages based on Fiala extending (Fiala extending is part of the agreement 🤦🏻‍♂️). He sends those teams to Fiala’s agent. If no deal then there’s no deal. BG then decides if he wants to re-negotiate without an extension (lesser return), or if he pulls the plug on a Fiala trade altogether. It’s really not that hard to figure out. The Wild are mot waiting until after the draft. Whatever happens, will happen aright before or during the draft. Whether that’s trading Fiala or someone else. So your idea that Fiala can wait, doesn’t matter, it’s not happening.

Well, those comments are overblown, as you’ve been told many times. Dumba has been on the market for over 2 years. So you’d be shocked if Dumba was finally traded? Lol. That’s an odd stance to have. There will be several teams interested in Fiala, thus bidding war.

You don’t want to give up assets for Fiala and think you will for Cat? Lol wait until you see that return.

There are several teams interested in Fiala. If one drops out because they’re cheap then they were never real suitors anyways. If you want Fiala, you’ll have to offer something of value back. Not low ball offers. BG doesn’t have to trade Fiala. He’s doing so because he can get a lot for Fiala. Russo has mentioned this a few times.

Because Fiala will cost less, both in assets and AAV, over many other options out there.

Debrincat and Pastrnak will both cost 2-3 times what it will cost to acquire Fiala. They will also cost $9M+ on their next contracts. Fiala will be in the $7-8M range.

It's the same for UFA's too.

Gaudreau is going to cost $9-10M on the open market.

Forsberg, $8-9M.

Fiala by comparison is cheaper to sign long-term and will cost less to acquire. Even with a potential bidding war. Given his age and upside, he's still easily the best trade target this off-season for those teams looking for an elite winger.

This 100%

Guerin made dumb comments on the radio. Backtracked later.
Its irrelevant.
I am fully aware of that story.

Wild fans have been asking the moon for Fiala. They keep citing Russo this, Russo that.

But Russo says Reinhart trade is the best comp

So a late 1st and prospect. The prospect looks to be a good goalie prospect, but as Russo said, "Levi was only one year removed from being a seventh-round pick at the time of the trade, but he’s turned into a legitimate blue-chip prospect since joining the Sabres organization."

I have been consistent in that I believe Fiala gets on higher of contract...but Wild get on lower end of trade return.
All the facts point in that direction.
Sorry for Wild fans, but just how I see it.

Its the same story with Minnesota, Calgary, Boston, Chicago, Vancouver, etc etc...they all expect a huge bidding war for their players, thus NJD **MUST** give up the 2nd overall pick.

What they don't realize is that the bidding war, if any, will be over the 2nd overall pick.

And yet he also said 7OA is on the table.

BG never backtracked fyi. He’s praised Fiala many times before and after that. BG doesn’t get ripped off, if you want to believe he will, fine, just be prepared to be surprised.

So if the options for NJD are below, is Fiala really the best target?

Gaudreau: no picks to trade, $9.5m x 7 years
Forsberg: no picks to trade, $8m x 7 years
DeBrincat: 2nd overall, $6.4m x 1 then $8m x 8
Pastrnak: 2nd overall, $6.7m x 1 then $9m x 8
Fiala: 2nd overall, $7-8m x 7-8 years

Not to mention Miller, Nichushkin, Puljujarvi, Kane, Crouse, Bertuzzi, Giroux, Kadri, Perron, Palat, etc etc

maybe if...

Fiala: #37 overall, $7-8m x 7-8 years

I think Fiala's appeal will be his inexpensive trade price.

Russo said that about #7 pick before he wrote this.

(also, don't put too much stock in Russo)

I could give two sh*ts about the thrice damned 2nd OVA pick.

I do not care. The vast majority of Wild fans haven't asked for the damn thing since the Devils were gifted it. Just a select few.

Most who do, try to give fair proposals.

You don't, you continuously lowball.

Fiala and the Minnesota 1st, or Fiala and possibly Addison, is fair for 2nd OVA in a weak draft that doesn't have any high-end talent whose odds of becoming as good as Fiala are absolute sh*t.

Again, I don't care.

Keep the damn thing.

All we're asking for is fair compensation for our 25 year old PPG Winger. That's it.

Holtz and a 2nd. Or a B+ prospect plus a top3-top5 protected 2023 1st. Better pick protection, comes with a better prospect in return.

That's how it works.

7th OVA plus a prospect like Jarventie from the Sens.

13th OVA plus one of Wahlstrom/Raty from the Isles.

19th OVA plus Turcotte/Vilardi, Grans/Faber/Kaliyev/Kupari from the Kings.

Other teams and fans are willing to deal for Fiala. Both in the national media and here on Capfriendly. Devils fans are the only ones lowballing here.

I heard what Russo said and he said 7 OA. Russo is one of the best out there, so I’ll pass on your advice.

Very well said.

Terrible takes. You think the odds of the top end talent of this draft being able to be as good as Fiala are absolute sh*t? Not a single one can be a PPG player or has minimal potential to be? Aside from the other trade talks, that’s a genuinely bad take.

I literally made an ACGM yesterday offering Zacha, Foote and a 2023 top 5 protected first and got barked at by 2 Wild fans about how it’s a **** proposal.

Did you read anything I said because your entire reply is not even about what I said?

Aside from Cooley?

No I don't. Even then I don't think Cooley's a sure thing.

I don't doubt that many of them will have really good and solid NHL careers. But this years draft is deep, and not much else. It's not top-heavy in the slightest. It's basically comparable to the 2017/2020 classes.

I don't see many options to get to that kind of level.

The odds, simply, aren't in their favor.

Less than 10%, in point of fact, that someone will be as good of a player as Fiala. That jumps to 20% if taken in the top 3.

You'll forgive me if I have my doubts.