NHL: That’s why Kevin Fiala is in top form at Minnesota Wild

It’s running: Kevin Fiala (# 22) cheers with Luke Kunin (# 19) and Ryan Donato (# 6). Image: AP

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That is why Kevin Fiala in Minnesota is again showing his full potential

A strange city, a new team and a deep crisis. The move to the Minnesota Wild presented Kevin Fiala with major problems. But now the NHL striker is finally able to tap his great potential again. A question of time and self-confidence.

In the end, Paul Fenton was right. Minnesota Wild’s ex-general manager (GM), who fell out of favor and was fired this summer, was the great sponsor of Kevin Fiala.

In 2014, he was Assistant General Manager at the Nashville Predators and was responsible for draft scouting. It was due to Fenton that the Predators pulled 14th place in the first round of Eastern Switzerland’s Fiala. He saw a fast, dynamic player with brilliant technique and a dangerous shot. A player who can decide games.

When Fenton becomes GM at Minnesota in 2018, he will do everything he can to bring Fiala back to his team. In February 2019, the time has come: The now 60-year-old sends Mikael Granlund to Nashville and in return receives his dream player Kevin Fiala. Fenton equips his protégé with advance laurels, describes him as a “game breaker” – just as a player who can decide games on his own.

But reality looks different. Fiala struggled early in Minnesota. He decides games on his own, but not in a good way. It is striking how extremely many discs the Eastern Swiss lose, enabling the opponent to make dangerous counter-attacks. Fiala soon falls out of favor with the fans because he cannot meet the high expectations.

Looking back, the 23-year-old admits in an interview with “The Athletic” that he was paralyzed with fear at the time. “It was my first trade, I just needed time,” says Fiala. In the beginning it was similar in Nashville. «In the first one or two seasons I didn’t feel comfortable there either. I was afraid.”

Fiala hopes that he will be able to restart this season. But summer 2019 is not without problems either. Paul Fenton is fired and replaced by Bill Guerin. The contract negotiations between Fiala and the game are tough. He only signs a new working paper shortly before the training starts. Due to visa problems, the Uzwiler missed the first few days in the Minnesotas training camp – he was already behind his teammates. The start of the season is correspondingly disappointing. After a few games the guard shaker follows in mid-October: Fiala has to go to the stands.

When the striker found out, he complained to coach Bruce Boudreau and said: “But I want to play.” The coach’s succinct answer: “Well, shit.” You have to earn your bets.

Fiala also sees that. “I knew that I had to change certain details, that I had to improve,” said the striker looking back. The breakthrough came on November 2 when he scored the first goal of the season against St.Louis. Since then he has been Wild’s most productive player with 37 points (14 goals) from 43 games. He manages to win the audience over again. You could say a lot of negatives about Fenton, but he was right about Fiala, it is said from fan circles.

And lastly, the Swiss player went one better with five goals and ten points in five games.

In the first eight games of the season in October, Fiala only managed one assist. He developed eight chances and scored 28 attempts to shoot. In the last five games, he had 18 chances and made a total of 35 attempts.

The Uzwiler’s self-confidence is palpable – also among the team-mates. Goalie Alex Stalock believes Fiala has just realized how good he really is. «Kevin is running hot. He has that certain something, plays passports that seem impossible. He pulls the audience out of their seats and believe me when I tell you that the boys like to play with him, »says the 32-year-old.

This regained confidence and well-being found in Minnesota are certainly the main reasons why Fiala is currently in high. But there is also another important detail: After the East Swiss was pushed back and forth between various lines for a long time, he has now found his place in the first line alongside Eric Staal and Zach Parise. Boudreau also uses it in the first Powerplay lineup.

Fiala also earns this additional ice age with more responsible play in its own zone. The striker seems to have learned that promising attacks start with a clean defensive game. Nevertheless, Boudreau does not want to give his player too much praise: “Fiala plays well, but only for a few weeks, not for months,” says the coach.