Claimed:Interesting NY off-season

[Smarch 2,962]

Americans miss playoffs, huge decisions looming

 

 

The New York Americans missed the Victory Hockey League’s playoffs by five points this season, a season that most didn’t even think the team had that much of a chance to make the playoffs. The Americans and almost their entire roster overachieved during the team’s second season of a re-build. After the hard work the team put on the ice during the season, it’s now the managements turn to work some magic during what could be a huge off-season for the club. The team is blessed with three of the first draft choices in this year’s great draft, but with those draft picks comes some important decisions the club must ponder.

 

_{^{Who will be the next player to wear the red, white, and blue?}}

 

The draft lottery took place this week and although the Americans had three of the four lottery picks, including Calgary’s first rounder, which had the best chance at snagging first overall. With all the luck the Americans had this season it was only fitting that the lottery didn’t go the franchise’s way. The Riga Reign ended up winning the league’s lottery securing first overall for the upcoming Season Thirty-Seven draft. The Americans would then hold the second through fourth picks, which could lead to some interesting developments if they choose to use all four of those draft picks. Depending on what the Reign do with their pick the Americans will get what’s left of either Tom Slaughter, or Slaeter Fjorstrom. From there it’s a crap shoot as the team has plenty of good options left on the board after the second pick, as name like Logan Laich, Lars Strummer, Konstantin Jaroslav Azhishchenkov, and Jakob Linholm, are available upfront. The team could also go a different route choosing one of Blaine Olynick or Kimmo Salo and using them as a valuable trade piece leader on in the off-season. Using those draft picks will help stock the cupboard for many seasons to come, but trading one or two of those picks away for veteran players might be something else considered by General Manager Chris Miller.

 

Everyone in the league knows that the Americans as most likely going to use the second and third overall picks in the draft, but that fourth pick they have is currently the wild card of the bunch. With Toronto and Quebec getting close to the expiry date for most of the current players on the roster, the Americans may be looking to add that veteran piece to compete with those two clubs along with Seattle next season if they so choose. In the salary cap era it’s not too uncommon to see team’s ship off again star players to up incoming clubs to fit under the salary cap and the Americans could look to take advantage of that with the help of the fourth overall pick. Another thing that could possibly happen would be if other VHL clubs decide to start their own re-build and could be possibly looking to ship out players for a first round draft choice to help speed up that re-build.

 

^{_{The Americans will having a fighting chance next season to make the playoffs}}

 

With the draft still a few weeks away the Americans and their front office brass have a lot to look forward to with the luxury of having these tough choices to make. Whatever road the Americans choose to follow will be the right one in my eyes. 

[d3vilsfire 132]

Content 3/3: So close to getting into the playoffs. Rumor is that after this off season  Americans will be prepared to make a crushing next season. Really interested in who you decide to draft with the 2nd-4th picks!

Grammar 2/2: Only thing is your photo description having should be have

Appearance 1/1: Yup!

Overall 6/6: So who u gonna draft?

[Kesler 1,514]

Claimed