The Los Angeles Kings' acquisition of Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild on June 29, 2022, continues to be a topic of discussion and evaluation within the NHL. In exchange for Fiala, the Kings sent Brock Faber and their 2022 first-round pick (19th overall) to Minnesota. At the time, the Kings aimed to add scoring and offensive firepower to their top-six forward group, while the Wild sought to address their salary cap situation and acquire young talent.
Fiala's performance with the Kings has been somewhat inconsistent but overall productive. In the 2024-25 season, Fiala played 81 games, scoring a career-high 35 goals and adding 25 assists. He also contributed 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 playoff games. His underlying metrics were solid, with a Corsi For percentage (CF%) of 56.5% and a Scoring Chance For percentage (SCF%) of 56.2%, both relative to the Kings. However, his plus/minus rating was a -7, indicating some defensive challenges.
Notably, Fiala experienced a slow start to the 2024-25 season, including being a healthy scratch for missing a team meeting and being benched for taking penalties. He accumulated 22 penalty minutes in his first 20 games, which was among the highest in the league during that period. However, his performance improved significantly in the second half of the season, particularly after being reunited with Quinton Byfield. From February 1st to the end of the season, Fiala ranked third in the NHL with 19 goals.
In the playoffs, Fiala was one of the Kings'top performers, along with Phillip Danault. He recorded a point in every game except one and led Kings forwards in even-strength goals.
On the other side of the trade, Brock Faber has become a star defenseman for the Minnesota Wild. In his rookie season, Faber recorded 8 goals and 47 points in 82 games, establishing himself as a key player on the Wild's blue line. The Wild also used the 19th overall pick to select Liam Ohgren.
Looking back, both teams have benefited from the trade. The Kings acquired a top-six forward who has the ability to score goals and create offense. Fiala's contract, with a reported cap hit of $7.9 million, is a reasonable price for his production. The Wild addressed their cap issues and added a promising young defenseman in Faber, who has the potential to be a cornerstone of their team for many years to come.
