After Kevin Fiala, 18, had been drafted by the Nashville Predators at the end of August, his immediate goal was to make the NHL right away. But unless the Swiss talent will be one of Nashville's top-six forwards, he might have to wait for another year.
"I don't think that they want Fiala as a 'grinder' in the fourth line," HV71's team manager Johan Hult said to the Expressen. "It would mean to kill off a year for Kevin. Here [in Jönköping] he would have a creative role and they want him to play where he has the best prospects."
But first, Kevin Fiala will take part in the Nashville Predator's rookie camp in early September and then await the regular training camp. "If he earns a spot, he stays there. If not, we understand that he won't play in the AHL. Then he can come back to the SHL. That's the info we received," Hult continues.
With the Predators' offensive firepower including names such as Olli Jokinen, Mike Fisher, Paul Gaustad, James Neal, Derek Roy, Matt Cullen, or Viktor Stalberg there is no doubt heavy competition for the young Swiss talent.
