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Sopath · 04-07-2021, 04:42 AM

November 18th 2019 was an ordinary day by all measure. Maybe a little extraordinary to those who are members of the Simulation Hockey League since it was the day of the S51 SMJHL Draft. Many important things happened that day but what absolutely no one knew was that the most important thing that was going to happen that whole day had already happened in the wee hours of that very morning. Sometime around Midnight Lethbridge Lions GM JNH and Kelowna GM NJBadApple had forged a trade that made sense for both sides. JNH seeking to get the most value for his decision to take 1 less rookie for the S51 season, and NJBadApple trying to get more rookies, decided to help one another out. In return for one of Lethbridge’s 4th round picks(37th overall) Kelowna sent over a conditional pick. It was a 6th rounder in the next reddit draft. No one knew at the time that the origin story of one of the greatest SMJHL players ever had just been born. As it turned out, the very next season was a reddit draft and the 6th rounder turned into the S52 56th overall pick, which turned into Ryuuji Minamino.

Minamino, a Japanese Winger might be a household name today but what about the other guy in the trade? What did Kelowna do with that 37th overall pick? Well they used it to pick Defenseman Luke McSquirrelly. Never heard of him? Me neither. He was a forgettable Defenseman that never managed to be even a decent rookie. A name that would be lost to time had it not been for the fact that quite tragically he will forever be associated with being the player traded for one of the all time greats.

Of course it’s not really fair to say that Kelowna traded a super star for a no name defenseman. Who is to say Kelowna would’ve taken Minamino at all and maybe in the alternate universe where this trade never happens, Minamino never even would’ve been available for Kelowna to select. The point is not to point out the foolishness of Kelowna but rather the value of reddit draft picks. Perhaps it isn’t so wise to just throw them in trades to make something happen. Perhaps it is best to hold on to those picks. You never know what you might get.

Ryuuji Minamino had one of the most stellar careers of all time. Scoring 153 points in his 200 game career with the moved and rebranded Newfoundland Berserkers, his numbers alone made him an all time great. But using numbers to tell the story of Ryuuji Minamino is like using sign language to recreate the music of Pink Floyd. Minamino was instantly beloved by his teammates and became a real leader in the locker room. Eventually being named a Captain of the Zerks. Minamino partnered with Steve Harrington to become what is perhaps the most incredible leadership duo in the history of the SMJHL. By the end fo Minamino’s career his trophy case was also stacked. In S54 he won the Jared Hanson Trophy by leading the league in scoring, he won the Raymond Lindsey Trophy, which is the player’s MVP award, and was an Ideen Fallah nominee(MVP). Then in S55 he won The Zack Miller Trophy, given to the League’s most dedicated player, and OF COURSE LEAD HIS TEAM TO THE S55 FOUR STAR CUP CHAMPIONSHIP.

Ryuuji Minamino was the S53 11th overall selection by the Chicago Syndicate and since then he has gone on to be a very solid player for the team. Scoring 34 points as a rookie in 50 games. Being nominated for the Ryan Jesster Trophy which is given to the SHL rookie of the year. In his first 3 seasons in the big leagues Minamino has scored 49 goals and 125 points. Still a young player he has so much to grow but he has already helped Chicago to secure their very first Championship Cup in franchise history. Ryuuji Minamino is one of the best players of his generation and likely will continue to get better as time goes on. While it is too early to tell it seems that only greatness is destined for this player.

It all goes back to once upon a time when Ryuuji Minamino was not even a thought in the minds of anyone in the SHL and JNH was just making a cap space move. Little did he know that was laying the groundwork to draft The Greatest Zerk of all time and one of the greatest players of his generation.

The S59 SMJHL Draft is upon us and the rumors of a reddit draft soon are buzzing. So just remember GMs when you’re trying to make the perfect move to better your team and you’re thinking of throwing up a reddit draft pick just to make the deal happen, remember what that pick could be. You could be giving up the chance to take one of the greatest hockey players the J has ever seen. And for some GMs, this weekend might be the chance to get one of those reddit draft lottery tickets. Dream big.

Word count: 863 (2x draft bonus)

Link to original trade: https://simulationhockey.com/showthread.php?tid=101353