The Buffalo Bandits made a pair of moves this week. First, locking up Roger Vyse with a three-year contract and then acquiring Mat Giles in a trade with Minnesota. Buffalo sent a conditional fourth-round pick to the Swarm in the deal.
Vyse rebounded from a sub-par 2010 season to register 36 points (16+20) last season. He has consistently been counted on by Darris Kilgour to provide offense behind the likes of Mark Steenhuis and John Tavares. Vyse led Buffalo in playoff scoring (7+2) in 2011. Locking up Vyse secures a quality secondary offensive threat for the Bandits as they enter the 2012 season.
Buffalo’s second big transaction of the week was bringing in Giles from the Swarm. Giles is a big body offensive threat whose season point total dipped below 50 for the first time since 2007. Giles recorded 43 points (16+27) for Minnesota last season, a total that would have been good for fourth on the Bandits’ roster.
The only condition on the pick exchanged for Giles rests on his place on the Buffalo roster. From the Bandits press release:
“The pick is conditional on Giles being on the Bandits roster or practice squad at any time in 2011 or 2012. Should Giles not make the Bandits active or practice roster, Buffalo will instead send their sixth-round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft in place of the fourth-round selection.”
Based on Giles history and talent, there is little reason to think he won’t secure a permanent roster spot. Giles joins a cast of secondary scoring that may be unparalleled throughout the NLL. Buffalo now boasts an extremely deep roster of forwards. Giles and fellow newcomer Luke Wiles will join incumbents Brett Bucktooth, Kyle Clancy, Chad Culp, Brandon Thenhaus and Vyse in battling for roles behind the Bandits’ primary offensive threats; John Tavares, Mark Steenhuis and Tracey Kelusky.
Buffalo produced only 169 goals last season, seventh in the NLL and third lowest among playoff teams. Clearly the offseason moves made by Darris Kilgour are to revamp the Bandits offensive attack. It is hard to fathom a roster that will not only include Buffalo’s two superstars and the remaining eight front-door players. While another trade would not be out of the question, the one certainty is that there will be some interesting position battles as the Bandits open training camp.
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The Bandits also announced the signings of three 2011 draft picks. Dwight Bero, Lloyd Chrysler and Connor Daly were all inked to deals as well. Daly, a third-round pick, is the most likely to make an impact with the Bandits. However, Darris Kilgour has a long history of patience with his draft picks.
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