FialaFantSPIN

NHL.com has the fantasy hockey impact of the trade that sent valuable wing Kevin Fiala to the Los Angeles Kings from the Minnesota Wild. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice" podcast.

Pete Jensen's latest fantasy buzz

Wing Kevin Fiala was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings from the Minnesota Wild on June 29. Fiala could have a higher fantasy ceiling after the trade with a chance to play on the Kings' top line with center Anze Kopitar and also boosts their Stanley Cup futures appeal for next season considering their core players won championships in 2012 and 2014.
Fiala, at 25 years old, finished around the top 50 overall fantasy players in standard leagues this season and remains a coveted player in keeper and dynasty leagues after signing a
seven-year contract
with the Kings. He goes from the Wild, where he played mostly on the second line with rookie standout Matt Boldy and center Frederick Gaudreau this season, to the Kings, where he'll likely play on the top line and also first power play with Kopitar and valuable defenseman Drew Doughty.
Fiala had an NHL career high in points (85 in 82 games this season; tied for 22nd in League; second most in Wild history behind Kirill Kaprizov's 108) and shots on goal (262; T-16th) and ranked 10th in even-strength points (67). Fiala had an underwhelming start to the season but bounced back around the time Boldy was recalled from the American Hockey League on Jan. 4; Fiala was tied for 13th in points (65 in 52 games) from Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season.

RELATED: [Fiala traded to Kings by Wild]
The addition of Fiala could positively impact Kopitar, who now has another talented wing to play on his line along with Adrian Kempe, who led Los Angeles with 35 goals and 247 SOG this season. Kopitar led the Kings in points (67 in 81 games) this season and helped them return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs but didn't come close to his NHL career high (92 points in 2017-18). Kopitar rejoins the top 100 overall fantasy rankings, giving the Kings three players in that range (Fiala, Doughty, Kopitar).
Fiala is more likely to play with Kopitar and Kempe than on the second line, which emerged as an underrated fantasy trio this season. Wing Viktor Arvidsson was productive when healthy in his first season with the Kings (49 points, 227 SOG in 66 games) playing mostly on the second unit with center Phillip Danault (NHL career-high 27 goals) and breakout wing Trevor Moore (career-high 48 points).
Arvidsson (disk surgery) and Doughty (wrist surgery) did not play in the postseason because of injuries but are expected to be ready for the start of next season. The Kings were already a strong possession team with the fifth-best shot attempts percentage (54.2) this season, and Fiala had a plus-87 shot attempts differential in 82 games for the Wild.
Doughty, who had 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) in 39 games this season, is ranked among NHL.com's
top 15 fantasy defensemen
for next season and also stands to benefit from the Fiala trade. Wing Arthur Kaliyev could lose some fantasy appeal in the short term with less of a chance to be elevated onto the top line next season but still has high upside in keeper and dynasty leagues.
The goalie tandem of Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen, which was tied for 19th in the NHL in team save percentage (.901) this season, should also get at least a slight fantasy boost for next season with the potential for more goal support; the Kings scored 2.87 goals per game (20th). Quick, who had a .910 SV% and two shutouts in 46 games this regular season and started all seven postseason games for Los Angeles (3-4, .904 SV%, one SO) against the Edmonton Oilers, should now be considered a fringe top 15 fantasy goalie for next season and Petersen, the clear backup, becomes a deep sleeper candidate.
The departure of Fiala could negatively impact Boldy, who led NHL rookies in points per game (0.83; 39 in 47 games) among those who played more than 10 games this season, the Wild's secondary scoring and chances of winning the Stanley Cup. Kaprizov, who ranked fifth in NHL scoring and also set Minnesota records in goals (47) and assists (61) this season, played on the top line with center Ryan Hartman and right wing Mats Zuccarello. Boldy has dropped just outside of the top 100 overall rankings after the Fiala trade and is Minnesota's third most-valuable fantasy forward behind Kaprizov and Zuccarello.
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