Animal was traded at the very beginning of the offseason, so the first thing he did was say goodbye to everyone in the Orange County organization. There was little bad blood in this parting, so Animal was able to take his time speaking with his general managers, his teammates, and other team staff before departing. Although potentially a shock to those in the outside world, Animal had quietly expressed his intentions within the team, without making his trade request known to the media. On the plane leaving Orange County, Animal felt sad about leaving behind the Otters, a team he expected to play on potentially his whole career, but he felt excited about the new potential opportunities awaiting him in Yellowknife. Animal received a very warm welcome from the team, with many players excited about having him added to their team. In Orange County, the relationship between Animal and Reginald Hammerfall, the other Otters running back, was somewhat tense. Almost immediately when Animal arrived in Yellowknife, he was approached by Wraiths running back Lane Wilson, who offered his strong support to Animal. This brought great relief to Animal, who had been feeling nervous about taking carries from an established player. All fears about another tense situation were gone, and the main focus was made clear: winning, no matter the cost, and without egos. Animal spent the rest of the offseason in private workouts with his new teammates, learning the Wraith playbook, and studying film for the upcoming season. He was impressed by the camaraderie shown by the team, and he was impressed by their draft strategy, which took place later in the offseason. When he got the time, he also explored Yellowknife and integrated himself into the community, joining some teammates in their offseason charity activities, such as football camps for young children. Lastly, Animal went wardrobe shopping, as he found that the climate change between Orange County and Yellowknife was a massive adjustment.