The Nashville Predators have landed a big fish from a Central Division rival. The Minnesota Wild fire sale continues, as TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that that center Mikael Granlund has been traded to Nashville. In exchange, the Predators send young winger Kevin Fiala back to Minnesota. The deal is a straight one-for-one swap.
Granlund, 26, was not immediately considered a likely trade candidate this season, as he has one year remaining on his current contract. However, once the Wild began listening on nearly every player on the roster, Granlund emerged as a potential casualty. Earlier today, it was confirmed that Nashville was among the teams interested in Granlund and managed to get the deal done. The well-rounded forward has topped 60 points in each of the past two seasons and is on pace to do so again this year. At a $5.75MM cap hit through 2019-20, the Predators land a great value and a relatively young piece that could be a long-term fit in Nashville.
Meanwhile, Fiala is a return that is unlikely to excite Minnesota fans. The player himself is a great young piece; the 22-year-old was a 2014 first-round pick and already has 97 points in 204 career NHL games. However, in a one-for-one swap with an established player like Granlund, he will have to grow into a much better player. Fortunately, GM Paul Fenton knows Fiala well from his time in Nashville and could see him as a potential top forward in the future.
How bad… sure the wild cut pay by 4 mil and they get fiala who is 4 hrs younger but granlund is an offensive igniter.
Nor enough foe granlund. Same as Stone.
Couldn’t even squeeze a pick outta it? Shame
A mid round pick (3rd or 4th) would’ve made this deal a little better. Its underwhelming for Granlund but Minnesota kind of needs to start a rebuild/retool and getting a 22 year old winger with upside is a good place to start. I think what we’re kind of seeing is that buyers smartened up compared to previous trade deadlines. Imo teams grossly overpaid at the deadline in the past and we’re seeing a slight regression on that. Teams aren’t wildly giving up top prospects/first round picks and we saw that with most of the trades today.
Only 4 hours younger? What was Fenton thinking? It’s one thing for Fenton to be high on Fiala, but Boods is the real final arbiter here. Which, of course, might be moot if Boods gets the boot after game 82.
Wow. Buyers market.
A big fish? Granlund disappears for long stretches, and is completely invisible in the playoffs.