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Whikadoodle · 06-04-2019, 02:17 PM

The S47 Minnesota Chiefs were on the cusp of contention. Despite a last-place finish in the West, Minnesota had the pieces in place to continue to grow and make a run for a Challenge Cup.

However, these plans were thwarted by the Leagues recent finding of tampering by Minnesota management. As such, Minnesota has lost three first-round draft picks (S48, S49, S50), the ability to sign free agents for the S48 SHL season, a suspension of their current goalie prospect Casimir Stevens, and a hefty team fine. More notably, Minnesota has also suffered indirect consequences of the league's disciplinary action, as three up and coming forwards in the organization will hang up the laces for good after S48.

Although the future seems bleak for Chiefs fans, there is a clear path forward so long as management makes smart, calculated moves over the next couple of seasons. This article will lay out that path, including priorities the front office in Minnesota must keep to contend for the Challenge Cup for this crop of players.

PRIORITY 1: KEEP THE CORE TOGETHER

The greatest strength of the Chiefs is their youthful core. The Chiefs have seven players under contract drafted between Seasons 45 and 46 with a minimum of 550 TPE. Of particular note are recently
-acquired winger Mika Mayfield (locked up through S49) and rookie-standout defenseman Sanyl Kocsis. Re-signing Kocsis must be a priority for Minnesota to hope to keep their seasons-long plan to build from the back end forward. Led by a veteran trio of Geoff Moore, Ti-Guy Emond, and Eero Niemi, the core in Minnesota can contend within a few seasons, so long as management can keep the them together.

PRIORITY 2: GET THE SUSPENSION OUT OF THE WAY

Minnesota needs to be proactive and have Casimir Stevens serve his suspension immediately. Perhaps the biggest blow to the squad was the season-long suspension dished out to their elite netminding prospect, Casimir Stevens. Stevens seems poised to make the jump to the SHL, and a chance to learn under the veteran Sébastien Primeau is too good to pass up. Although Minnesota may not want to rush the development of Stevens, delaying this suspension until S49 drastically affects the flexibility of Minnesota to, for example, part ways with Primeau in the future to trade back into the first round in either season 49 or 50.

PRIORITY 3: DETERMINE WHO IS UNTOUCHABLE AND FIELD OFFERS

Minnesota has a group of elite veteran forwards that they need to evaluate. Considering the current state of the blue line, emphasized by the uncertainty caused by the GMs failure as of now to lock Kocsis into at least a bridge deal, Minnesota will likely come to the conclusion that they will not contend in S48. This provides management an opportunity to trade for their future by fielding offers for players such as Bobby Watson and Eric Pelletier, who become unrestricted free agents next season. The ability to snag a first round pick in a non-reddit draft would go far in restocking the ranks of Chiefs skaters.

PRIORITY 4: CHOOSE S48 DRAFTEES WHO CAN COMMIT TO YOUR NEW VISION

Although Minnesota has been required to forfeit the #3 pick in this year's SHL draft, they have stockpiled six picks in rounds 2 and 3 that now hold even more importance to the team as they look towards the future. With roughly 40 draftees in this pool over 200 TPE, Minnesota will have the opportunity to select three, possibly four active recruits this season. This is far and away the most important draft in recent memory for the Chiefs. Although the Chiefs are barred from free agent signings until S49, their likelihood of bringing a big name to Minnesota depends on whether they can further develop a youthful core that is committed to making a deep postseason run. If Minnesota can develop their S48 draftees like they developed those in seasons 45 and 46, the team is easily less than five seasons away from getting back on track.

Minnesotas projected depth chart next season, with some assumptions (most notably Kocsis), is as follows:

Pelletier - McGregor - Watson
Klaus - Mayfield - Niemi
IFA - Dean Colt III - Gibbles

Emond - Moore
Kocsis - Mander
Seger - IFA

Primeau
McFleury
Stevens (SSPD)

Bottom line, the Minnesota Chiefs are far from dead, and solid management can easily bring this team back into contention in the coming seasons.

[750 Words]

**The__Y-man__100** · 06-04-2019, 02:27 PM

Love the optimism, I think everyone can agree it is a hard blow to deal with, but most people would just throw in the towel and bail. hopefully they pull out of this

First ever Yukon Malamute draft pick (1st overall S65)

~~PenKnight~~ · 06-04-2019, 02:46 PM

Seems very Real World NCAA Footaball to me.
I feel bad for the Chiefs Organization but dig the realistic nature of the league.

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