Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala’s rights have been traded to the Los Angeles Kings in return for a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
In addition to getting the Kings’ first-round draft pick, they will also acquire defensive prospect Brock Faber.
Fiala, 25, was a restricted free agent coming off a career-best season of 33 goals and 85 points but was unable to come to a contract agreement with the Wild.
Last year Fiala had played on a one-year $5.1 million contract agreed to in an arbitration hearing, but with limited cap space, the Wild could not retain the high scoring forward.
"We’ve been down the road a couple times with Kevin already,” General Manager Bill Guerin said. “We knew we just were not going to be able to do it. We knew that. They knew that. There’s no sense in trying to screw around and give them a low-ball deal. It’s not going to work. We knew we were going to have to move him."
Reports are that Fiala's new contract with the Kings will be approximately $7.9 million AAV.
Faber, 19, is a product of Maple Grove and played in 32 games with the University of Minnesota last year. He collected 2 goals, 14 points, 37 blocked shots, and 12 penalty minutes.
He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, along with a First Team All-Big Ten honors last year. He has played for the Gophers since the 2020 season.
“He’s a really, really a high-end prospect," said Guerin. "...“I think we got fair value. I really do.”
The Wild now have four picks in the top 56 at next week's prospect draft, including 19, 24, 47, and 56.
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