New Generation in Minnesota + Presser - Printable Version +- Simulation Hockey League (https://simulationhockey.com) +-- Forum: League Media (https://simulationhockey.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=610) +--- Forum: SHL Media (https://simulationhockey.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=46) +---- Forum: Graded Articles (https://simulationhockey.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=545) +---- Thread: New Generation in Minnesota + Presser (/showthread.php?tid=72349)

- DonutDefender - 01-30-2017 <div align="center">The New Generation Arrives in Minnesota “Oh, hey, look! It's everybody's favorite franchise to take a shit on lately!” <a href='index.php?showuser=2203' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>Stamkos Is My Dad</a> “Minnesota – A team without much of anything.” <a href='index.php?showuser=2458' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-17'>Symmetrik</a> “The Future…is not bright.” <a href='index.php?showuser=2060' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>RainDelay</a></div> Despite making the playoffs the last four seasons, the Minnesota Chiefs have been perceived as a franchise that seems lost. After having a number of players retire on them out of the blue, the management team consisting of <a href='index.php?showuser=1773' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Baelor Swift</a> and <a href='index.php?showuser=1352' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>ArGarBarGar</a> were tasked with the difficult job of commencing a rebuild much quicker than anyone could have anticipated. Beginning last season, the Chiefs selected forwards Terrance Nova, Samee Iqbal, and Derrick Glover, all in the first round of the season 32 SHL entry draft. The three prospects would spend their first season under the organization in the SMJHL, knowing that they were likely to be playing in the SHL the following year. While fans were excited to have some prospects in the pipeline for the first time in a while, they had their attention set on the core of the Chiefs that they have come to love, consisting of Robert Andersson, Lord Pretty Flacko, Alonzo Garbanzo, Michael Gerrard, and Chernika Banananov. These star players would lead a Minnesota Chiefs team with little to no depth to a playoff spot, and challenge the New England Wolfpack to a hell of a series, nearly making it to the second round, before they went out in Leafs vs. Bruins fashion. As the season was progressing, many questioned why the Chiefs hadn’t begun to offload some pieces from there core in exchange for pieces that would help them in the future, with a rebuild being inevitable at this point. Nearing the end of the season the Chiefs finally gave in, and Chernika Banananov was the first victim of the Chiefs fire sale. One of the league’s best forwards was able to bring in another first round pick in the season 33 SHL entry draft where the Chiefs would look to add more prospects to the system. In addition to the first-round pick, the Chiefs acquired defensemen Noctis Caelum from the Portland Admirals. After taking three forwards in the previous draft year, the Chiefs were in need of a defensemen, and lucky for Caelum, he will have the chance to develop alongside Alonzo Garbonzo, arguably the league’s best defensemen. Prior to the upcoming draft, a couple of picks would be picked up as well, gearing up for what was looking to be one of the best draft classes of late. Unfortunately, there were a number of high end draftees that were opposed to the idea of coming to Minnesota. High-end prospects such as Chris York, Caelan Fearghal, and Zinaida Titova claimed that the Chiefs locker room was inactive, and multiple articles suggested that Minnesota was a place that no draftee wanted to end up. Before you know it, the Chiefs had a list of close to 10 draftees who had no interest in playing for them. Despite the unfortunate events leading up to the draft, <a href='index.php?showuser=1773' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Baelor Swift</a> and <a href='index.php?showuser=1352' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>ArGarBarGar</a> did a terrific job in welcoming quality prospects to the Minnesota Chiefs organization. Round 1, 7th overall: LW - Lochlann O'Rourke - <a href='index.php?showuser=2439' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-59'>Legend</a> – 324 TPE If there was any draftee that was likely to go straight to the SHL, it would be O’Rourke. Lochlann is a goal scoring forward that I’m sure most could agree fell a couple spots in the draft. His natural scoring ability, combined with top end speed, and puck handling, make for a great offensive threat, but it’s his endurance and strength that make him SHL ready. While Nova and Pretty Flacko are likely to be alongside Iqbal’s wing, O’Rourke could get minutes on the second line with Derrick Glover and Reginald Howard. If O’Rourke opts to play in the SMJHL again this season, he’ll likely be among the league’s top goal scorers and the Chiefs best prospects for the next season. Round 1, 10th overall: D - Eero Hämäläinen - <a href='index.php?showuser=2462' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>spooked</a> – 304 TPE While Hämäläinen may not have logged quite as many training hours as O’Rourke, he has the pleasure of being a defenseman, something which the Chiefs lack. If he is interested, I’m sure he could find a spot on the Chiefs second defensive pairing, as well as some time with Garbanzo on the first pairing. Being an offensive defenseman would allow Eero to have an easy transition to the SHL, should he get to play alongside one the league’s best. If he opts to play in the SMJHL, he’ll be one of the league’s best defensemen, and the Chiefs top defensive prospect, and come this time next year, be ready to make a run at the rookie of the year award. Round 2, 26th overall: RW - Halfdan Thorstein - <a href='index.php?showuser=2470' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>dnL</a> – 273 TPE Much deeper into the draft then their previous picks, the Chiefs were able to grab another offensive forward in Thorstein. Unlike O’Rourke and Hämäläinen, Thorstein will probably be told to spend a season developing in the SMJHL before he is taken into consideration to play in the bigs. After only putting up 9 points in 50 games with Kelowna, he showed a lot of promise in the Knights playoff run, and was awarded with the S32 Riko Muerto Award for Most Underrated Player (on the Knights.) Halfdan is going to hope for a breakout year, in which he can build on his playoff performance, and convince the Chiefs staff that he can make the team out of training camp, next season. Round 3, 30th overall: RW - Yuriy Starkonov - <a href='index.php?showuser=2459' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>No Goals All Assists</a> – 233 TPE Someone that the Chiefs were surprised to see available in the third round, Starkonov was an excellent pick-up. A playmaker that is sure to compliment the likes of O’Rourke and Pretty Flacko on the other wing, Starkonov will spend a season in the SMJHL developing, in fact, likely two. One thing to watch out for when he makes the jump to the SHL is his incredible speed, which is under looked for his playmaking abilities. Starkonov could very well be a feature in the top-6 for the Chiefs in the near future. Round 3, 35th overall: D – Aaron Crawford - <a href='index.php?showuser=149' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>JaysFan26</a> – 219 TPE The Chiefs believe that they got a steal in Crawford at pick 35. They needed defensemen in this draft and they took a chance that he would fall to 35, which paid off. While he may be a bit of a project player, he has ties to some people in the organization that makes them confident that he will not only reach the SHL, but be a prominent player on the blueline for them. Expect Crawford to spend at least 1 season in the SMJHL, and depending on his development, maybe 2. Considering how thin the Chiefs are on the blueline, he may get his chance sooner than most expect. Round 4, 49th overall: D – Robin Wexter - <a href='index.php?showuser=2475' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>therealcinco</a> – 169 TPE While a number of teams chose to pass with their 4th round pick, the Chiefs took a chance on Robin Wexter. Robin hasn’t spent time training in quite a while, but he has been seen around the locker room, and was a contributor for the Knights during their playoff run. The Chiefs are hoping that they can get Wexter back to training and after a couple of seasons developing in the SMJHL, maybe make the SHL. After acquiring six new prospects, some of which have the potential to play in the SHL right away, Noctis Caelum from the Admirals, and there three selections from the season 32 entry draft being promoted to the big leagues, there is a new wave of talent being introduced to Minnesota. All of this young blood, combined with what remains of the previous core, in Alonzo Garbonzo, Lord Pretty Flacko, and Robert Andersson, makes for an interesting team in Minnesota, that is hopefully far more attractive to all those free agents now on the market, and future draftees. Look out for the Chiefs, as they could end up sneaking into a playoff spot for the 5th straight season. <div align="center">Derrick Glover is now available to answer any questions the media may have. What do you think of your new teammates? It’s been great getting to know each and every one of them. I’ve known guys like Pretty Flacko, Andersen, Garbonzo, Iqbal, and Nova since being drafted last season, but now that I’m actually practicing with them every day, and spending time with them, I’m beginning to realize how much fun I’m going to have playing for the Chiefs. As for the recently drafted rookies, they’ve all been welcome additions to the organization. I’m already pretty good buddies with O’Rourke and Crawford, and guys like Ham, Starkonov, and Thornstein seem like great guys! How has the team responded to the rumors that the LR is toxic and multiple prospects have outright bashed the team? I think we’ve dedicated ourselves to proving those who made false claims about our locker room, and chose not to play for us wrong. It was frustrating to here at the time, but we’ve put it past us and are going to try and work together to make the Minnesota Chiefs name the first one that comes to mind in any free agents, or draftees mind. We’re building our brand up again, and you’ll see our efforts to do so in the media throughout the season. What are your expectations going into next season as a Minnesota Chief? I’m expecting to play top-6 minutes (so long as we don’t acquire any pieces that would place me lower in the line-up), and be one of the better rookies in the SHL. Our team has tons of rookies, so we’ll likely be a very inconsistent team with us young guns going on our fair share of hot streaks, and cold streaks. I will likely be going through a roller coaster of emotions throughout the season, but so long as we fight for a playoff spot, and show some promise, I’ll be able to look back and be happy with our season. Any worries or baggage coming along with this new crop of rookies? Like I mentioned above, just the inconsistency. We’re one of the youngest teams, but I’m hoping that some of the league’s best veterans in Pretty Flacko and Garbonzo can keep us calm, and make sure we don’t ever get to cocky when we’re doing well, and keep working hard when things aren’t going so well. Is anyone SHL ready right away or will they all be heading back to Juniors? I think Lochlann O'Rourke and Eero Hämäläinen are about as SHL ready as they are going to get. Starkonov, Thornstein, and Crawford will likely need some grooming in the juniors, like Iqbal, Nova, and I had, but O’Rourke and Hämäläinen are more developed then any of us had been at this time in our careers, and I know they don’t want to miss out on the chance to play with Pretty Flacko and Garbonzo while they are still in their prime. I think the two of them will surprise people, and be among the most effective players from their draft classes.</div> - ArGarBarGar - 01-30-2017 What do you think of your new teammates? How has the team responded to the rumors that the LR is toxic and multiple prospects have outright bashed the team? What are your expectations going into next season as a Minnesota Chief? - Legend - 01-30-2017 Any worries or baggage coming along with this new crop of rookies? Is anyone SHL ready right away or will they all be heading back to Juniors? Any predictions for next season? How will Minnesota fair? - sarmo - 01-30-2017 Do you feel like you are ready to make the jump to the SHL? What are some weakness you need to work on before the start of season? How do you feel about our new set of teammates and the LR? What do you have to say about the naysayers of our wonderful squad? Do you think we can have a smooth rebuild? Who do you think are the leaders in this squad? What will be the focal point of our strategy going into next season? - sytarah - 01-30-2017 Oranges or Tangerines? What NHL team would you compare the Chiefs to? What are your expectations for the Chiefs and yourself next season? - Andy - 01-30-2017 Who do you think will be a surprise strong player in this season? How hard will Garbanzo and Flako carry the team? Will one of the rookies be a ROTY candidate? If it is a chief who will it be? - JKortesi81 - 01-30-2017 Are you going to miss me? I'm going to miss you. Where do you hope to be as a player this season? Meaning, what attributes are you going to focus on? And I don't think Minnesota is a bad place. They seem to get shit on pretty hard though. I don't think that should transfer over to the new guys coming in though. :-/ - twils - 01-31-2017 How do you think the Chiefs will fare next season after losing Bananov? - WannabeFinn - 01-31-2017 Minny-Detroit the next great connection cuz of Nova and Crawford tbh - Samsung virtual assistant - 01-31-2017 Who cares about hockey, teach me the art of Auto Fellatio