Changes abound for Bandits
Published: October 04, 2009, 7:04 pm
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When the Buffalo Bandits won the National Lacrosse League championship in 2008, there seemed to be no need to change the roster in 2009. Why break up a winning combination?
No such feeling exists as the Bandits prepare for the 2010 campaign., which starts Jan. 9.
"The biggest problem we had last year was competition," Bandits coach Darris Kilgour said. "A lot of guys felt secure in their spots after winning a championship. But after losing, 9-3, in the Eastern championship game [to the New York Titans last May], everything went out the window.
"I gave up the GM role because I was very unhappy with the way the season ended last year. I don't want my name attached to that, but I know it will be. I told my team that this is something they'll go to their graves with. ... We were the better team and we lost to [the Titans] three times [during the regular season and playoffs]."
The Bandits have already changed their roster in anticipation of next season. The moves started a little more than a month ago, when Phil Sanderson and Pat McCready — who were both unrestricted free agents — were dealt to Toronto. Chris Driscoll was acquired for Sanderson, while McCready went for draft choices.
"Patty is a guy who likes to take his time making decisions, and we were running out of time," Kilgour said. "Cory Bomberry is an unrestricted free agent. There's Mike Accursi, who we didn't want to let go. We had to make a decision. We only had two spots [to tag someone as a franchise player]. Sanderson and McCready were contacted, neither one responded and signed a contract.
"We traded Phil before the deadline. We tagged McCready and couldn't get him to sign, so we were forced to make a move. Both are great veterans and great guys who I played with."
The Bandits added another veteran when they acquired Hamburg's Frank Resetarits from Washington for a third-round draft choice on draft day early in September.
"When John Mouradian [general manager of the Stealth] walked up to me and mentioned that deal to me, I sort a did a "Ha, ha, ha. What do you want me to say, yes, yes, yes?'" Kilgour said. "He said, "I'm very serious. Frank came to me and said he couldn't do the West Coast trip any more.' [Mouradian] wanted to do [Resetarits] a favor because he was a very loyal player, he made the trip to the West Coast for two years. Johnny and I know each other, so it worked out."
Resetarits had 50 points in 21 games with the Stealth.
"I'm very happy to have Frank around," Kilgour said. "Obviously, we didn't have the chance to get him when he first came out. To get him now is a bonus. I'm looking forward to having him on the team. He's a great shooter, he's right-handed and we're a little weak on the right side. He's very strong offensively. We couldn't pass him up for a third-round pick. He's looking for a change, and he was very excited about coming back to Buffalo."
Jon Harasym also came over on draft day for a draft pick. Harasym is an ex-Bandit who was lost to Chicago in the 2006 expansion draft.
In the draft itself, the Bandits gave up a second-round pick in 2009 and a first-rounder in 2011 to move up into the first round and select Kyle Clancy, a forward from Peterborough, Ont.
"It's a steep price when you look at it on paper, but when you look at it by what's going to be on the floor, hopefully we'll make out on that," Kilgour said. "As for the first-round pick, I think it's been proven in this league that if you are willing to make deals that you can get that pick back. The next couple of years, we're really loaded up on the front end."
Kilgour mentioned one other change as he and new Associate General Manager Derek Graham continue to prepare for the 2010 season. Kenny Montour will enter training camp as the team's No. 1 goalie, with Mike Thompson serving as the backup.
"It's going to be earned, but he [Montour] earned the starting role right now," Kilgour said.
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