Wild GM reveals bad news to Kevin Fiala

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T. Tadi
May 25, 2022 (1:27 PM)

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Since the Minnesota Wild were eliminated, one of the biggest stories in the NHL has been the possibility of a major trade involving star forward Kevin Fiala.

All the experts expect to see a major trade materialize on the Wild's side. A mission impossible indeed awaits GM Bill Guerin this summer, as Fiala will be in search of a new monster contract, but there's a big problem on the horizon.

Due to the buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, Minnesota will literally have no money (buyouts that take about $12.75 million off the Wild's payroll for next year) Ouch!

According to many, it's almost impossible for Fiala to stay in Minnesota. They simply have no room to maneuver under the salary cap.

On the other hand, Wild fans would really like their GM to find another alternative (trade other players) and keep Fiala, who has 33 goals and 85 points this season.

The least we can say? We can forget about the project.

As my colleague Christian Matte (Marqueur.com) reports, the Wild GM was being interviewed on radio station KFAN, and he went on to make some pretty major statements.

Asked if he would trade Dumba, instead of Fiala, see his very clear and direct answer:

"Why is it always Dumba? Dumba plays a lot of minutes for us. There are a lot of things that Matt Dumba does very well. Everyone has their flaws. Kevin hasn't been good during the playoffs, but people are all dying to keep him. If I sound a little pissed off or annoyed, that's because I am. Because all I hear is that Matt is getting clocked, and you know what? It's not easy to do what he did, to play in the state he did."

And he adds:

"I like Matt Dumba. I think he's a damn good defender, and people want to run him out of town just because Kevin had a good three months." - Bill Guerin

He's belittling his club's second-best player, who has 85 points and 33 goals this season, 40 points in 49 games last season, 54 points in 64 games the season before that (Wild high). That's clearly more than "three good months."

Wow, imagine if Kent Hughes said that about Cole Caufield or Nick Suzuki!

Clearly, Guerin seems determined to trade Kevin Fiala (that's pretty much what he just announced), we're talking about a 25 year old star winger here, and if I were general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, I'd definitely give him a call.

This is an opportunity not to be missed, and the CH has exactly what the Wild is looking for. (picks and youth on a rookie contract)