Fiala waiting for a new GM so he can get a new contract
Dan Rosen of NHL.com: As the Minnesota Wild search for a new GM, restricted free agent Kevin Fiala waits for a new contract. Fiala’s agent had been speaking with Paul Fenton before he was fired.
Fiala said that he “just have to see and wait.” His agent Claude Lemieux has spoken with owner Craig Leipold and they have reassurance that they want Fiala back.
“I was a little concerned with Fenton gone and what’s going on now,” Fiala said. “But they still want to keep me, so there’s no concern about that now.”
Fiala was acquired by the Wild at the trade deadline for Mikael Granlund. He had seven points in 19 for the Wild.
“Some days are worse, but for the most part the contract is not very much in my head,” Fiala said. “I just enjoy the summer, practice hard, train, and I let my agent handle all of that. That’s his job. I do what I can control.”
Sabres still talking to teams about Ristolainen
Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen has implied that he’d like to be traded. Sabres GM Jason Botterill said “I was not surprised, not disappointed.”
Botterill added that he’s keeping any talks he’s had with Ristolainen private, but did say that he’s talking with teams about the defenseman.
“We’re continuing to try to set this team up where we’re putting ‘Risto’ in positions to have success,” Botterill said. “Yeah, he wants to win. We also want to put him in a situation where he plays very well, and that’s what we’ve tried to do with some of the acquisitions, add depth to our defense, add competition to our defense.”
The Sabres are over the salary cap ceiling by over a $1 million but can use LTIR once the season starts. The team is deep on the right side of their blue line.
Coach Ralph Krueger said that Ristolainen remains in their current plans. He spoke to him back in May, but not since.