See where the Kings fall on the NHL Contention Cycle

[Bollocks]

When has Fiala EVER been a "top line winger"?

The answer is never. He cannot play with anybody else who needs the puck. He is purely empty calories and gives up as much as he gets. He is only in business for himself and is incapable of putting a win above the pursuit of personal numbers. He was and is every bit of a problem as Dubois on-ice.

And anybody who STILL refuses to understand that Faber was absolutely going to sign with the Kings has their head buried squarely in the sand. That whole BS to justify trading the player who was going to be the best draft pick in Blake's tenure has been disproved over and over again. It's getting ridiculous.

Once the trade happened, all kinds of speculation began circling. Some people were certain he would've signed, some were certain he wouldn't have. Thing is - we don't know...and I'm pretty sure Rob didn't know for sure either. Maybe Rob didn't like the college timeline either. Maybe Brock was much more ambitious about his future than the scouts predicted and didn't like the Kings' competition at RD spot with them having drafted Clarke a year before the Brock trade and DD going nowhere. That's pretty much a "lock" for a 3rd pairing fate IF Clarke develops (which, at that point, scouts said he almost surely will).

Anyways...would you risk that situation and drag it out until the end, risking his value to plummet hard, especially if the Wild were his preferred choice? There would be very little competition to acquire his rights.

The Kings had a logjam at RD and they lacked offensive skill and speed. Fiala is a hell of a hockey player and all his shortcomings are covered by his offensive skill. Had PLD played at near PPG level we'd have much less problem with him, too, though it would be more difficult to "hide" two high TOI players with questionable defensive efforts/decision making.

Additionally, Fiala is signed at a good value contract WITHOUT any NMC/NTC clauses AFAIK.


It was a good hockey trade. Get over it already.