The Minnesota Wild now have all of their restricted free agents under contract after the signing of 22-year-old Kevin Fiala. According to Michal Russo of The Athletic, it's a two-year contract worth $6 million ($3 million AAV).
Minnesota acquired Fiala in February of this year in a one-for-one trade with Nashville for Mikael Granlund. The trade left many analysts stunned at the time as Granlund had not been involved in any trade rumours and had scored at least 40 points in five of six seasons, including at least 60 in each of the previous two seasons. He went on to complete the 2018-2019 year with 54 points. Fiala finished last season with 39 points, including 13 goals, in 83 games (Minnesota had played fewer games than Nashville when the trade took place). The trade was likely one of the factors involved in former Wild GM Paul Fenton getting canned after a little over a year on the job during this offseason.
With the signing, Minnesota now has just under $5 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.
It had been stated earlier Wednesday that Fiala, a native of Switzerland, may miss the opening of the Wild's training camp due to the time it takes to get a work visa.
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