There has been an apparently consistent theme to Steve Dietrich’s trades for the Buffalo Bandits this year: forget draft pick spots, we want experienced youth.
Back in the later parts of summer and throughout September Dietrich made numerous moves and transactions involving draft picks:
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A transaction with the Calgary Roughnecks including a 10th overall pick in the 2013 Entry Draft and a second round selection in the 2015 Entry Draft for Joe Resetarits
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20th overall pick in the 2013 Entry Draft and a 5th round selection in the 2015 Draft with the Vancouver Stealth for Mitch Jones
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Gave the Toronto Rock a 6th round selection in the 2014 Draft and the 53rd overall pick in this year’s 2013 Entry Draft
The trade with the Vancouver Stealth got the Bandits Mitch Jones, a forward coming from a mere 4 points in 4 games last season. The bigger trade of the three listed above, and the one I think shaped the direction for Buffalo this season, is the first with the Calgary Roughnecks in which the Bandits secured Joe Resetarits.
By acquiring Resetarits and giving the Roughnecks their draft positions, the Bandits set themselves up with two consecutive picks in the second round. That’s when they selected Nick Diachenko from Coutice, Ontario. Earlier this month, I wrote an article about Diachenko being a plausible replacement for the void created when Jon Harasym retired. Diachenko comes from the Blue Hens where he surpassed and held many school team records. He will make for a strong transition player in the NLL.
Mitch Jones will help fill the offensive gap at forward, but the statistically stronger forward is Joe Resetaris. Maybe with a combination of Resetaris, Ruan Benesch and Diachenko the Bandits’ offense will improve immensely.
Looking back at Buffalo’s recent track records, their biggest downfall has been older age and, therefore, slower agility and speed. Cordingley has already spoken of his hopes to render those two issues with younger players. Resetaris and Diachenko are not only youthful but come with solid lacrosse resumes, as well.
Whether the back-to-back second-round draft picks were an intentional set up for the Bandits or if the situation just happened to play out that way, without trading for Resetarits Buffalo would not have Diachenko. At the least, their chances of selecting him would be slimmer. Looking back at the “trading season” as I sometimes refer to the offseason, Dietrich and the Bandits have made the correct moves and initiated the processes for correcting and strengthening their team for the future.
