Photo by Derek Cain
The Minnesota Swarm were busy come the trade deadline early today. Having already traded captain Andrew Suitor to New England for Joel White and a 2017 second round draft pick, the Swarm made a move to send Logan Schuss to his hometown team the Vancouver Stealth. In return the Swarm received three time NLL Champion Johnny Powless.
Schuss has missed a number of games and practices this season due to job commitment which is in the Vancouver area. Schuss, who is only in his second year in the NLL, has only played in 9 games so far this year, although in those 9 games he has accrued 33 points (14 G, 19A). Although the Swarm are losing one of the more consistent parts of their offense they should be gaining a much more regular scheduled player in Powless.
Powless, a four year vet of the NLL, has had his difficulties since being traded to Vancouver from the three time defending champion Rochester Knighthawks in the off season. Despite garnering 39 points (7 G, 32 A) in 11 games this season, he never seemed to fit with the Stealth’s offense. Now on his third team Powless will get to team up with a number of players he should be used to knowing, like Dean Hill and Miles Thompson. Powless Brings a game that will boost both Thompson’s game but also goal scorer Shayne Jackson and veteran Callum Crawford. He is the quintessential feeder, but what makes him so good is that he is able to penetrate defenses and then dish it off to the open man. This is something Minnesota has been missing. Although the Swarm have gotten by with a hodge podge of players picking up the slack of a true feeder, they now have a player who will be able to work off of and find the big scorers of Thompson and Jackson, while also bringing Jordan MacIntosh and Dean Hill to prominence in the offense.
This trade seems like one that will benefit all parties involved, Schuss gets to play more, Vancouver gets a stellar young forward, Minnesota gets one of the youngest multi- champions ever to play, and Powless gets somewhat of a new start in an offense that needs what he brings.
The Swarm sit at 4-8 on the season and are still in the hunt to make the playoffs if they can string together wins in quick succession. Minnesota’s fan base will get a chance to see this new look team in person on Friday night when they take on the New England Blackwolves at the Xcel Energy Center.
