Off season news and moves

The Giraffes have been putting aside the disappointment of not making the playoffs (again!) and working on a solid draft. With the first two picks and the fourth, the Giraffes were in good shape. However, a once in a lifetime trade was worked that dispensed with the first overall pick along with stay at home D-men Ladislav Smid and Braydon Coburn, and superstar winger Nikolai Zherdev and top prospect Jeff Fairweather along with stalwart Keith Yandle. In return for this impressive haul of talent, the Giraffes received 3-time All Star defenceman Shea Weber, young exciting talents in Evander Kane and prospect Sven Baertschi, along with the Ice Dogs 2nd round pick.

With the defensive core now set, with Niskanen coming up from Moscow to fill the space left by Smid, work began on replacing the prospects for the future. With Fairweather gone, a top centre was needed in the draft. Two were obtained. Selected second overall was the Giraffes top target, Alexander Wennberg. A Swede, playing a great all round game, it is expected that Wennberg fits into Fairweather's old spot. Competition for that spot could be found in the Giraffes second pick, fourth overall in Nathan MacKinnon. The Canadian was widely expected to go in the top three, however with other teams looking for wingers, the Giraffes could get one of the most exciting scorers in the draft.

Wings were where the Giraffes went next, securing the services of Andre Burakowsky. Selected after GM Leafy was seen to throw his toys out of the pram after missing out on Pavel Buchnevich, Burakowsky offers a rugged defensive game along with a significant passing skill. Sticking with the Swedish theme, the Giraffes also selected Niklas Hannsonsonsonsonsonson in the second round to replace Niskanen on the farm.

Also selected at this years draft was Leif E.G. Raffe, a strange character who resembles the GM, Zachary Fucale, the top rated goaltender and humoursly named after what the Giraffes have won so far, and Martin Kokes, a Czech defenceman who will play out this year in Woburn Witches but could well have a great future.