Kevin Fiala

[hockeymanG23]

Another goal and assist tonight. He's up to 12 points in 14 games.

Not just that but he has 7 points over the past 4 games too!

[Top_Shelf]

Love that there is a thread dedicated to Fiala here...IMO he was without a doubt one of the most underrated prospect of last years draft class and his upside is through the roof.. Snagged him in all my dynasty leagues, he was a steal in the mid-late 1st rounds of my prospy drafts. Looking forward to seeing how he develops.

[fungchen3]

IMO he was without a doubt one of the most underrated prospect of last years draft class and his upside is through the roof

I agree completely. Love Fiala.

[BDog]

I agree completely. Love Fiala.

He was the 3rd ranked European and went 11th in the draft.

If he was most underrated are you both trying to say that he should have been taken before most of the 10 before him?
Do you like what you see that much?

[seanavery]

No one sees him getting called up this season and given a chance to play a game or two?

[Shift Disturber]

He was the 3rd ranked European and went 11th in the draft.

If he was most underrated are you both trying to say that he should have been taken before most of the 10 before him?
Do you like what you see that much?

Fantasy is different from the real thing - H. Fleury would not have been taken before Fiala in fantasy hockey. I took Fiala at #8 in our draft ahead of Virtanen and Ritchie (who both went ahead of Fiala in the NHL draft) and am very happy with my pick.

[BDog]

Fantasy is different from the real thing - H. Fleury would not have been taken before Fiala in fantasy hockey. I took Fiala at #8 in our draft ahead of Virtanen and Ritchie (who both went ahead of Fiala in the NHL draft) and am very happy with my pick.

Thanks for pointing out that fantasy and real hockey are different....who knew?

If claims are that he is underrated (from a fantasy perspective) the question remains the same. Should he have been taken much higher in the draft?

[Shift Disturber]

Thanks for pointing out that fantasy and real hockey are different....who knew?

If claims are that he is underrated (from a fantasy perspective) the question remains the same. Should he have been taken much higher in the draft?

Apologies...I didn't mean to come across as cheeky. Not sure if he should have been taken over Reinhart, Draisaitl, Dal Colle, Ehlers or Nylander. I think at this point in time it's way too early to make that call. I do think that Ritchie was overrated so I would have taken Fiala before him.

[fungchen3]

He was the 3rd ranked European and went 11th in the draft.

If he was most underrated are you both trying to say that he should have been taken before most of the 10 before him?
Do you like what you see that much?

In fantasy or real life?

In real life, he went pretty much where I suspected he would. NHL GM's factor in position, size, 200-foot game, intangibles, etc. when they make selections. In fantasy, all I care about are points, points and more points.

IMO, the best "offensive forwards" from the 2014 draft will end up:

1. Ehlers
2. Reinhart
3. Nylander
4. Fiala
5. Bennett
... etc.

So, yes, I think Fiala will outproduce the likes of Draisaitl (3rd), Dal Colle (5), Virtanen (6), Ritchie (10)... and even edge Bennett (4) by a hair. That said, in real life a player like Draisaitl who is a 200-foot centerman will have more value. Perhaps the same with power guys like Ritchie and Virtanen.

Fantasy-wise, the thing about kids like Fiala (and Ehlers) is they didn't receive nearly as much hype as guys like Reinhart, Draisaitl, Bennett, Virtanen, Nylander, etc. So, from that standpoint - yes, I believe he was underrated as a "fantasy" prospect.

[Top_Shelf]

To answer your question, pretty much agree with the above two posters, saw him as underrated as a "fantasy" prospect. Time will tell if he was underrated as a real life prospect. He didn't recieve a lot of hype, which isnt surprising considering he's Swiss.

So fantasy wise, I was thrilled to draft Fiala 12th overall and 11th overall in two prospect drafts and also near the end of an inaugural league prospect draft...I felt he was a steal at these positions as I was looking for pure offense and upside.

[Shift Disturber]

I find a common error is to rank a prospect according to NHL standards instead of by your league's scoring.

[loco man]

No one sees him getting called up this season and given a chance to play a game or two?

I was kinda wondering that myself, but I would say highly unlikely unless there is a rash of injuries and they have no choice.

[GretzkysMullet]

I took him with the 18th pick in one of my leagues. Safe to say at that draft position he was definitely being underrated.

[The Good Sir]

I Just picked him up off the WW. Been watching him all year, tried making a trade for Nylander but it stalled out, so picked him up before our roster freeze

[Avangard]

Fiala did cool off the last two games with no points and a minus 3.