With trade rumors at an all time high, phones buzzing, and emails flying MNL was treated to it’s first, and then second trades of the second annual MNL season late last week Friday, and early this week respectively. The first trade of the season involved the Mighty Ducks management (Assistant General Manager @’turtletim’ and Head General Manager @’bbusta24′) swapping low end picks with Nordiques management (Head General Manager @’pantydropper’ and Assistant GM @’jcoan’). The deal involved the Nordiques swapping their (pick #66) and 12th (pick #67) round picks in return receiving the 10th (pick #59) and 12th (pick #71) round picks from the Mighty Ducks.

“However, if you delve a little deeper especially now after the other moves Mighty Ducks Management has made I think the winners of this trade are the Mighty Ducks.”

At the time of the trade the S.I Andru Wheaties could not be pressed for comment or coverage as he was predisposed (driving to East Jordan #shortsbrewery) leaving MNLHN’s analyst @’chad_paulinski’ with publishing the scoop. His thoughts on the trade:

“It was a a cute trade on paper, and wasn’t the flashy high profile picks the fans of MNL Slack wanted to see. However, if you delve a little deeper especially now after the other moves Mighty Ducks Management has made I think the winners of this trade are the Mighty Ducks. Both teams benefit from the strategy their looking to build with their roster; Mighty Ducks making a slightly more quality under the radar move if their team strategy is a 1A and 2A type of roster.”

It puts a ‘hypothetical’ floor on Ducks Grindline and likely means that the Ducks won’t be drafting @’evenmachi’, or his brother @’sammachi’ barring a weird draft board, or miss on a solid goaltender. It structures the team as more of a 1A, 2A as opposed to a Starline/Grindline philosophy that plagued last year’s inaugural winter season. The Dique’s approach is a deft hand to curve their roster to a more flexible MNL Spring approach we saw this last Spring take the league by storm come the end of the season, and playoffs. An anti-meta approach that allows the 2B to play as strong of a scoring and defensive role as the 1A, allowing more powerplay flexibility, but inhibiting penalty killing flexibility.

The Nordiques increase their mid roster fluidity Effectually, the Diques seem to be trying for a more star/grind line approach the opposite of the spring finals reaching High Sticks team that Nordique GM @’pantydropper’ helped assist in building to the finals. It’s an interesting take on roster building since the league tactics teams have been employing have going away from the meta that was established in the winter and have gravitated to more of a 1A and 1B approach. In any case this wiggle room may let the Diques select a better defensive prospect, or finish out a better grinder, and puck retriever for the top line.

“Overall spice rating: mild.”

@’chad_paulinski commented at the time of the trade. Echoing the same sentiments the S.I feels while it was a nice roster addition for the Ducks and Diques, without the former teams second move it wouldn’t be enough to make a dent on their roster building tactics. While it was a neat addition for the Nordiques @’jcoan’ and crew needed a bigger splash to make a better dent on the star/grind concept.

The barn burner that MNL Slack participants yearned for however, came just a few days later as the active Mighty Ducks front office got in on the action yet again trading with League Commission member and Northstar GM @’ottotroy29′. The trade between the Mighty Ducks and the North Stars sent the Northstars 1st round pick (pick #3) and their 12th round pick (pick number#70) to the Mighty Ducks for their 2nd round pick (pick # ) and 8th round pick (pick #47). This is a blockbuster that everyone has been buzzing about since. It opens up two entirely different team dynamics for the Stars and Ducks and allows each to build a team differently, but competitively this coming draft.

“We felt that it gave us a better overall team. Sticks to more of a 1A and 2A type of team. It makes it so that we don’t have two Grindlines.” Assistant Nortstars GM and chiseled face of the franchise @’Tyeotto’ solidified. “Being tougher to play against is YUGE in this league. If you can’t match up well against us it means that we rely on both lines for scoring and defense, one line will always be going. Each and every Northie will play an integral part of the team.”

“Overall spice rating: cayenne”

@’chad_paulinski iterated at the time of the trade. This was the trade we all were waiting for and it didn’t disappoint. The Northstars make a splash, but at what cost? While it opens up the above outlined roster strategy it also is a little befuddling. The difference between @’cunningham8′ or @’Pistol’ (I’m not typing his full Slack name in) and @’Timeto_Kimmel’ or @’jstarr’ is enough to bring up legitimate questions from this move. The Northstars have to wait almost three rounds until drafting as they are in the top half of the first round. The @’Timeto_Kimmel’s (I’m not typing this full name right now either) of the draft may not be there if teams go for comfort and familiarity. Who will be the 1A center? Who will be the top pairing D? Will there be talent that slips all the way until the end of round two? It is a precarious position to operate from, and banks on the teams ahead fumbling a pick or two.

With all this being said, if this calculated move  works it’s the type of move that can win championships. The bonus of not being stuck with a 12th rounder on the Grindline is great when players like @’Serdoz’ and @’Pikora’ or new guys like @’Balasia’ and @’Weaver’ are left on the board and are your “bottom guys.” It cements the concept of being hard to play against and lets your 1B take advantage of a star/grind team. This tactic comes down to who falls to the Northstars via rounds two through four. Will not having a @’evenmachi’ give the Stars the edge this year or will not having that stud D or Center hurt in the end?

The Ducks meanwhile were the most active team this off season draft and were the most successful. With both trades they help cement their roster to a 1A and 1B type while upgrading the top end of their talent. With the ability to add a @’hardyparty92′ or @’pauly and, or @’Pistol’ as a two centers elite centers, or perhaps an elite defensemen in @’cunnningham8′  can only make rosterbaters lose their minds in who could partner up with the leagues best play maker, and the leagues second best playmaker and best defensive forward. The amount of positional utility in crucial playoff games and powerplay setups is stunning, and may setup the Mighty Ducks for a long run this winter.

Around the League:

-A new rule discussion has come in to effect with the league GMs and League Commissioners about the possibility of changing the icing rule that is currently in place. While some like it and feels it makes sense in a bigger rink. Others dislike it and feels it rewards teams for being able to kill time.

@’suokas’ thinks:

“It makes it easier to move the puck out in the larger rink. You don’t think it adds up, but the extra few feet in length and width take a toll the deeper the game gets. It helps the bottom league guys and teams that are gassed that may not skate the smoothest.”

While ‘@jserda’ says:

“Teams can just walk the puck just outside of the Blueline and dump it out. It promotes bad play, and less passing. It helps defensive teams, and defensive systems when a team has a lead. In a league where scoring isn’t very high to begin with icings should be punished not rewarded. Teams already get to change after the whistle still.”

The possibilities or combination thereof on the table for review are included below:

• Center Red Line icing
• Clock stoppage when a team ices the puck
• Clock stoppage within a two score game with under five minutes to go

–@’Trains_Get_Robbed,’ @’jflo’ and ‘ottotroy29’ are the returning goaltenders this year out of the six available in the draft with @’Trains_Get_Robbed’ aka Spicy Lettuce only staying in the league until the all star, leaving January 5th. When asked how he feels it effects the league and how the new tendies will fair he responded:

“I think the new guys will handle the work load great! We’ve seen Ronnie in the league before he can steal his team games -he beat me in a shootout the first game in Spring. Aaron has played his whole life at a pretty high level, and House from my understanding has done well in the past as well. If Pistol rates him, I got to imagine he’s a affable dude. The new guys will carry the mantle well.

It sucks that I have to leave half way through the year, but I’m just going to try and get my team as many wins as I can before I leave so that they can focus on a good second half and playoffs. There’s only so much I can control from the blue creased house.”

 

-S.I Reporter Andru Wheaties- “Stay Spicy”

*All opinions are expressed by Andru Wheaties are a reflection of MNLHN.