PARIS — Kevin Fiala is approaching the start of the season as well as the beginning of a new chapter in his career after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 29.
Unlike the first time Fiala was traded, by the Nashville Predators to the Minnesota Wild prior to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, he was prepared for the possibility. The 26-year-old forward was eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 13 and, after a season when he set NHL career highs in goals (33), assists (52) and points (85), knew the Wild might not find space under the NHL salary cap to re-sign him.
“You’re not stupid,” Fiala said. “You kind of see it coming and you realize the situation, how it is with the cap issue they had and the dead cap space, and on and on and on. You kind of expected it and it also helped me when it happened that I was like, OK. I know. I know.”
A day later, Minnesota traded Fiala for defenseman prospect Brock Faber and the No. 19 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, he signed a seven-year, $55.125 million contract ($7.875 million average annual value) and had the rest of the summer to prepare mentally for his move to Los Angeles.
“It’s kind of better, if you can say that,” Fiala said of being traded in the offseason. “You can process it a lot more. You can really think about it, talk with the guys and then you have some time off. It’s like two months later you go to LA and see everybody, so it’s kind of a new start.”
NHL.com caught up with Fiala at the NHL European Player Media Tour on Aug. 24. He discussed his excitement about joining the Kings, wanting to have success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leaving the Wild and more.
What about the Kings made you want to sign a seven-year contract almost immediately after the trade?
“I think they have a great team. They had a good year last year and made the playoffs and you see the young guys they have. It’s a bright future. You see the future. So that’s what I thought. Seven years, we can take big steps. They still have those older players who have won Stanley Cups before. They’re still there. They have great experience. They can help out the young guys to win the Cup. It was a great fit for me personally.”
What do you think you can add?
“I hope I can help them out to take the next step, to take the next step overall.”
You mentioned the Kings have some veterans who won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014. Have you spoken to any of those players, such as center Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty?
“Yes, we texted, and we called, and we talked.”
Have you spoken with coach Todd McLellan?
“Yes, we did too. It was great, a great talk. The GM as well, [Rob] Blake, a great talk overall.”
Did McLellan say where he thinks you might fit in the lineup?
“Well, we will see. We’ll see about that. I’ll take it as it comes, go with the flow. Go there and give my best and then let’s see what’s going to happen.”
Have you been to Los Angeles and found a place to live yet?
“Not yet. No. I’m looking online a little bit. I want to see it first before I buy something. But it’s been a busy summer.”
What do you think will be the biggest difference playing in Los Angeles from Minnesota?
“The lifestyle is way different. Minnesota is cold, but I really liked it there and now it’s going to be sunny and warm all the time. You can go to the rink in flip-flops, and I feel the mood is going to be easier to keep on a positive note when the sun is shining.”
Is it tough to leave behind some of the people and what you were starting to build in Minnesota?
“Yeah, very tough. Like you said, we built something. When I got there (in 2019), we didn’t make the playoffs, so the next year was better and better and better. And also in the locker room itself, I feel like we built something great there and it was like a big family. So it’s kind of [stinks] in this way to leave something that I was a part of building. But in the other way, I couldn’t be happier to be with the Los Angeles Kings and I can’t wait to start.”
You had your best season offensively last season. Where do you think you are in your progression as a player entering your ninth NHL season, and is there more there?
“I think and I hope there’s still more there. I’m 26 years old. I’m pretty young. I’ve got big goals for the future. I had a good season, but there’s a new season starting now, so you ‘ve got to start over.”
Where do you think you’ve grown the most as a player?
“Just, I think, the mental part, the consistency. There are 82 games. It’s a long season, a lot of ups and downs and if you can stay consistent with your mental game, I think that’s the biggest key to success. I feel like I’m an impatient guy a little bit and I want it all a little too much sometimes. My goals are very high, and you can’t make the goal after Day One. It’s a long season. So maybe you’re squeezing the stick too much [from] the pressure. So I think I learned from that a little bit that just to enjoy the game, enjoy being with the boys to have a good time, be happy and go with the flow and everything else fixes itself.”
The Kings had several rookies make an impact last season such as forwards Quinton Byfield20, Arthur Kaliyev21, and Rasmus Kupari22, and defenseman Sean Durzi23. Do you think you can help them and the Kings’ other young players through your experience?
“Hopefully. That’s my goal as well. I’ve been through a lot. I’m still young, but I’ve been through a lot and will for sure help them out.”
You missed most of the Predators’ 2017 run to the Stanley Cup Final with a fractured leg and weren’t able to win a playoff series with the Wild. How much does wanting to be a part of playoff success drive you?
“You get older and older. The career flies kind of. Now I’m 26. You’re really targeting the Stanley Cup. You don’t want to be over 30 and just chasing it. So that’s the biggest goal for everybody, for every NHL player, and you can’t take anything for granted. With the Predators, we were in the Final, that was five years ago now, and you were like, ‘All right, next year then.’ And where have you been the last five years? I didn’t make the playoffs, out first round, out first round, out first round.
“So that’s what I saw in [Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan] MacKinnon last season. He goes 100 percent, doesn’t take anything for granted because next year maybe you never know. You might be last. So when you get the chance, you have to take it. When you have a good team, that year you have to take it. We’re going to start the season now soon and let’s see where we are and then go from there.”
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