The SBN 2014 NHL Mock Draft is well underway once more, and with the No. 14 pick the Dallas Stars select…
1. Florida: Aaron Ekblad
2. Buffalo: Sam Bennett
3. Edmonton: Leon Draisaitl
4. Calgary: Sam Reinhart
5. NY Islanders: Michael Dal Colle
6. Vancouver: Jake Virtanen
7. Carolina: Brendan Perlini
8. Toronto: Nikolaj Ehlers
9. Winnipeg: William Nylander
10. Anaheim: Robby Fabbri
11. Nashville:Kasperi Kapanen
12. Arizona: Nick Ritchie
13. Washington: Julius Honka
14. Dallas: Kevin Fiala
…left wing Kevin Fiala out of HV 71 of the SHL.
Born in Switzerland, Fiala made the jump to the much more talented SEL (now SHL) in 2012-13 and had 29 points in 33 games in the J20 league as a 16-year old, adding 10 goals and 15 points in 27 games this past season before making the big jump to the SHL for 17 games — recording three goals and eight assists in the process. Most impressively, Fiala had six point in eight playoff games in the top league in Sweden and finished with the highest scoring rate in the SHL among under-18 players since Peter Forsberg.
Fiala is a player that makes it work not with his size or his speed but with his elusive quickness and elite puck-handling abilities as well as his ability to finish around the net. He’s an elite playmaker who knows how to get the puck to the right areas of the ice to score and has incredible agility already for a player of his skill set. Fiala is a perfect example of a “high-reward” player in this draft, a young winger with elite playmaking potential with incredible stick-handling ability but who is going to need to drastically improve on his two-way game once he makes it to the NHL level.
While Fiala might not have the complete game that most like to see at the top of the draft, his playmaking potential combined with a high-end motor and incredible determination make him an exciting prospect to watch. He’s also the sort of elite offensive blue-chip talent the Stars need in their system and with depth now not as big an issue as it once was, Jim Nill could afford to take a bit of a risk and select a player who promises to score in bunches at the NHL level.
Rafik Soliman, Elite Prospects – Kevin Fiala is an offensive forward with game-breaking potential. He is a respectable and shifty skater with quick legs and explosive acceleration. Fiala owns a slick skill-set with soft hands, good stickhandling and brilliant puck-control. Not known for his defensive play, as he still needs to learn what it means to stick to a game-plan or doing exactly what the coach has told him. Fiala is not very big or strong yet, but his quickness and agility lets him avoid getting hit or held back along the boards. Has a wealthy arsenal of shooting tools which, combined with his creativity and finishing abilities, makes him the player you turn to if you need a goal.
Corey Pronman – He can make highlight-reel plays with the puck, and he’s also a really good passer with great hockey IQ, and doesn’t seem to turn the puck over. On the power play, Fiala is the kind of player you want controlling the puck and starting the puck movement. He’s 5-11, and while that isn’t ideal, he does battle hard and has a lot of drive to his game.”
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