Like the majority of the other teams in the NLL, the Minnesota Swarm began looking for ways to improve, as soon as the offseason started, be it through the draft, trades, or free agency.
Beginning in June, the Swarm and the Edmonton Rush worked out a deal that sent goaltender Brodie MacDonald and the third overall pick in the 2014 draft to Minnesota in exchange for Tyler Carlson and the first overall pick in 2014. In July, the Swarm again worked with Edmonton, picking up Alex Turner in exchange for a third round draft pick in 2015. Turner made a brief appearance with the Swarm back in 2010, but won’t this year after he bolted for Colorado.
Jordan MacIntosh, David Earl, Cameron Flint, and Jason Noble were chosen to represent Canada in the World Lacrosse Championships and would go on to bring home the gold.
In August, we start seeing contracts being signed. One year contracts were signed by Scott Jones, Jordan Houtby, Reid Acton and Greg Downing. The Swarm acquired veteran Mike Grimes and a 2016 third round pick from Vancouver for Tyler Hass and Dane Stevens. They also worked out a deal with Toronto that brought them Ethan O’Connor and a 2017 first round pick in exchange for Brock Sorenson.
September is always a busy month. One year contracts were signed by Dean Hill, Ian Crawford, and Zach Palmer. Sam Bradman was signed for two years. Former Swarm forward Rory McDade was signed as an assistant coach for 2015.
Jordan MacIntosh was nominated for and won NLL Transition Player of the Year while Logan Schuss took home Rookie of the Year honors.
The Swarm had six picks come draft day. With the third pick of the first round, they selected F Miles Thompson from Albany. Fifth draft pick was used on F Shane MacDonald from Brampton Jr. A. The 10th pick was Joe Maracle, forward from Six Nations Jr. A. In the fourth round, with the 29th pick, T Eric Guiltinan from the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves Jr. A was selected. The Swarm selected at 38th D Patric Miles from New England College and Oakville. Closing out the draft for the Swarm at 40, was D Paxton Leroux from the Peterborough Lakers Jr. A.
October was a month for contracts. Two year contracts were signed by Shane MacDonald, Joe Maracle, Eric Guiltinan, Pat Miles, Brodie MacDonald and Miles Thompson. One year deals were signed by Mike Grimes, Corbyn Tao, Dominique Alexander, Andrew Casimir, Nick Cotter and Marcus Holman.
In November, one year deals have so far been signed by Mitch Belisle and Pat Laconi.
