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1/10
Florida goalie Sergei Bobrowski stops the East Swiss Minnesota star Kevin Fiala.
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2/10
Fiala flies through the air in a duel against Reilly Smith of the Vegas Golden Knights.
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10/10
Wild trainer Dean Evason has known Fiala for a long time and has repeatedly given him a hand.
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Nobody should doubt Kevin Fiala’s ambition, will and commitment. When the Swiss from Eastern Switzerland is on the ice, they go full throttle, want to make a difference, win, score goals.
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He got into this season with a very special motivation after he did not get a long-term contract with the Minnesota Wild and signed for only one year and $ 5.1 million. “I have fire in my eyes,” he said before the start. But so far it has not got off the ground as desired. He probably had too much fire in his eyes.
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The 25-year-old has not yet finished its maturation process. At times Fiala probably wants too much. Then the highly talented, fast wing grabs the playful crowbar, which in turn leads to puck losses. And in the end he becomes hectic and leaves many opportunities lying around. And fails to hide his frustration.
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Trainer Evason has known Fiala for a long time
Fortunately, Fiala has a trainer who knows him very well. Even in the AHL, he once played for the Milwaukee Admirals under Dean Evason, who promoted him with carrot and stick.
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The Swiss NHL scorer list
- Meier (San Jose) 14 games / 7 goals / 11 assists / 18 points
- Josi (Nashville) 19/6/12/18
- Hischier (New Jersey) 17/2/10/12
- Fiala (Minnesota) 19/3/9/12
- Suter (Detroit) 21/4/4/8
- Hofmann (Columbus 16/2/4/6
- Kurashev (Chicago) 17/0/5/5
- Niederreiter (Carolina) 12/3/1/4
- Siegenthaler (New Jersey) 17/0/4/4
- Bärtschi (Las Vegas) 1/0/0/0
- Kukan (Columbus) 2/0/0/0
As of November 25, 2021
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Swiss NHL top scorer: Timo Meier (right).
keystone-sda.ch
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- Meier (San Jose) 14 games / 7 goals / 11 assists / 18 points
- Josi (Nashville) 19/6/12/18
- Hischier (New Jersey) 17/2/10/12
- Fiala (Minnesota) 19/3/9/12
- Suter (Detroit) 21/4/4/8
- Hofmann (Columbus 16/2/4/6
- Kurashev (Chicago) 17/0/5/5
- Niederreiter (Carolina) 12/3/1/4
- Siegenthaler (New Jersey) 17/0/4/4
- Bärtschi (Las Vegas) 1/0/0/0
- Kukan (Columbus) 2/0/0/0
As of November 25, 2021
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Last season the 57-year-old Canadian from Flin Flon, who stormed EV Zug in 1996/97, pressed the right buttons at Fiala. He let the star striker stew on the bench after a frivolous puck loss. And the Swiss scored six goals and seven assists in the following eight games and led Minnesota into the playoffs, where he didn’t get going.
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Minnesota can hardly afford Fiala
Even now Evason gave his protégé a pause for thought. First Fiala was no longer allowed to play in the power play, then he was only used sporadically in the middle third against champion Tampa Bay (4: 5 nP). In the end, however, he was back on the ice. Lo and behold: Fiala saved the team when Minnesota risked everything without a goalie with his third goal of the season and an assist. And on Thursday night Fiala is the match winner against New Jersey because he is the only one to score in the penalty shootout. Once again, the kick in the bottom seems to have had its effect.
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Is Fiala getting going again? If not, the countdown for his wild departure should run faster and faster. Minnesota will struggle to stay below the salary cap next season after Kyrill Kaprisov was awarded a $ 9 million contract annually and veterans Ryan Suter and Zach Partise were paid out for $ 6.3 million next season . to book. In fact, the Fiala club cannot afford it – especially not if it is not productive.
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