Amerks Report 23-24

[Scott-New York]

Amerks Appear In Full Rebuild

Amerks GM, Scott Jones, has apparently shifted the team into full rebuild mode despite a playoff appearance last season. The Amerks entered the 2023 draft without a pick in the first two rounds, but management went to work at the draft table and were able to net additional draft capital as well as three very high end prospects (Nic Robertson, Kirby Dach and Jack McBain). The Amerks got the ball rolling with the first of eight total deals prior to the draft, on July 24th, by shipping Mason Marchment to Moncton to acquire a 2024 2nd round pick. On draft kick off day, the team made a pair of deals. The first of which sent RFA, Ethan Bear, to Edmonton along with a 3rd round pick (#87) netting a return of a 2nd rounder (#41) and a 3rd rounder (#73). The second trade that day was a blockbuster! The Amerks acquired a 2023 1st round pick (#20), a 2024 1st round pick and Nic Robertson from Moncton at the cost of Owen Power. The scouting staff hopefully replaced the significant loss of Power with the 20th pick by selecting Brock Faber, who Jones admits was his target when the deal was consummated with GM Durkin. Two days into the draft, Jones pulled off four additional deals. A pick swap with Suffolk moved the Amerks back in the 2nd round in order to add an additional pick, sending pick #41, acquired a couple of days earlier in the Edmonton trade, to Suffolk in return for picks #46 and #57. With the first of the aforementioned picks, the Amerks selected big forward prospect, Elmer Soderblom. Then, used the selection at #57 on defensive prospect, Marcus Bjork. The next trade in the queue was another blockbuster for the team. Dylan Larkin, being a 2024 UFA, was sent to Oregon along with pick #73, in return for a 2024 conditional 1st round pick, Kirby Dach and pick #66. That pick at #66 netted perhaps the steal of the draft, according to many GM's around the league who reached out to Jones to extend him that very sentiment after the team selected prospect, Tye Kartye. With the Amerks roster losing full time players in Marchment, Power, Bear and Larkin to this point, the teams next deal brought in some defensive depth with the Amerks acquiring veteran blueliner, Alex Goligoski, along with goaltending prospect, Matthew Villalta in a deal which shipped veteran depth forward, Nathan Walker, to Adirondack. The Amerks ended the day by shipping a conditional 2nd round pick in 2024 to Philadelphia, acquiring goaltender, Adin Hill. The goaltending position has been a carousel since the departure of Connor Hellebuyck and the team is continuing it's efforts to shore up the expansive gap that ill-advised trade left. The final deal of the draft saw RFA, Conor Garland, pack up and head to Baltimore in exchange for prospect, Jack McBain, veteran forward, Marcus Foligno and pick #94. The late 3rd rounder netted forward prospect, Matej Blumel. The Amerks then quietly made a pair of picks to close out the draft with pick #119, defense prospect Jayden Struble and pick #151 netting huge forward prospect, Adam Edstrom. A draft that resulted in many additions and subtractions is summed up below.

Additions

MCT 2024 1st
Conditional 2024 1st
Nic Robertson
Kirby Dach
Adin Hill
Jack McBain
Marcus Foligno
Alex Goligoski
Matthew Villalta
Brock Faber (#20)
Elmer Soderblom (#46)
Marcus Bjork (#57)
Tye Kartye (#66)
Matej Blumel (#94)
Jayden Struble (#119)
Adam Edstrom (#151)

Subtractions

Mason Marchment
Ethan Bear
Owen Power
Dylan Larkin
Conor Garland
Nathan Walker