The New England Black Wolves are heading into just their third season of play since moving to Philadelphia. Already, the young team has seen a worst-to-first turnaround, the acquisition of a former league MVP, and a playoff run.
In the brief history of the club, however, has also been an odd trend. While during their tenure as the Philadelphia Wings, the franchise was not one to sign big name free agents, especially Canadians, the Black Wolves have made several splashes, including former Calgary Roughneck Shawn Evans.
Last offseason, the Wolves made an acquisition in veteran defenseman Derek Suddons, signing the former Bandit. It wasn’t the only interaction with Buffalo, either, as the Bandits almost signed restricted free agent Pat Saunders to a three year deal, and the Black Wolves stepped in and matched the offer sheet given to their forward.
The trend of an offseason back-and-forth with Buffalo has continued into 2016, as New England has already signed away two key components of the Bandits roster. First, New England signed transition player and faceoff man Jay Thorimbert to a two year deal, and then signed forward Chad Culp to a two year contract.
Culp has played his last six seasons with Buffalo after stints with Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, and New York. With 471 career points, the 34-year-old veteran has been a key piece for several Buffalo playoff runs. His career high in points came in 2008 when he tallied 55 with Minnesota. This past post season with the Bandits, Culp produced 13 points in four games, including nine assists.
Thorimbert, who had taken most of the draws for the Bandits since 2011, was drafted by the Bandits before he spent two years between Boston and Minnesota. He returned to Buffalo in 2011, and last year he won more than half his draws with 289 wins out of 500 taken. With 79 points in his career, his high came in 2010 when he scored 14 with Minnesota.
Thorimbert joins a Black Wolves team that had already re-signed their faceoff specialist in Ryan Hotaling to a two year contract this offseason. For the Bandits, they have to replace that production at the faceoff X, and their only returning roster player with experience is Nick Weiss, who took 33 draws last season.
Meanwhile, Culp joins what was an already strong New England offensive unit from last season that includes Evans, Saunders, Kevin Crowley, Kyle Buchanan, Jordan Hall, and Shane MacDonald. Kevin Buchanan and Brett Bucktooth remain unrestricted free agents on the Black Wolves offense, while Kyle Buchanan signed a qualifying offer before he could become an RFA. Culp, a lefty forward, could fill any gaps if they were to lose Kevin Buchanan.
The Bandits still have several players left to re-sign in restricted and unrestricted free agency. Mitch Jones remains their key RFA remaining, while David Brock, Billy Dee Smith, and Andrew Watt are three veterans still unsigned.
Free agency is only nine days old in 2016, but already has seen several splashes on the unrestricted side. The Black Wolves have a history of adding former Bandits, and they’ve done it again with two key veteran signings.
