NLL Insider

 Ok, I thought 3 way deals were difficult enough this one involves 4 teams. Let me try to keep it simple:

Edmonton gave up AJ Shannon (to Philly), a second round pick and a couple of conditional third rounders for Lindsay Plunkett, Mike Hominuck and one of Minnesota’s 1^st round picks (originally from Toronto) for next year.

Minnesota gave up Hominuck and the 1^st rounder (they still have 3 first round picks next year), and a fourth round pick for Philadelphia’s Keith Cromwell, Dan Marohl and Edmonton’s 2^nd round pick in 2009.

Philly gave up  Marohl and Cromwell (to Minnesota) and Matt Roik, Brad Self and 2009 1^st rounder and 2010 2^nd rounder to Chicago. They picker up Brandon Miller (from Chicago) and AJ Shannon and a 2^nd (from Chicago) and 4^th round (from Minnesota)  pick for next year.

Chicago gave up Miller, Plunkett, next year’s 2^nd round pick  and acquired Matt Roik, Brad Self, a 2009 1^st rounder, 2010 2^nd rounder ,  and some conditional third rounders.

The quickest summary is this. Edmonton improved their offence now - to give them a chance at the playoffs - and they got a 1^st rounder. Minnesota improved their depth - as insurance against injury. Philadelphia gave up their backup goalie for next year’s probable starter (when Blasdell’s rental time expires) and two players they were not using for a proven left handed shooter (AJ Shannon). Chicago decided they needed a different number one goalie , exchanged a “rental” for a part-time NLL star and 2009 1st rounder.

 The Rush have the worst offence in the league and they are trading away one scorer for two. Shannon had 11 goals and 11 assists in 7 games, on pace for 25 goals and 25 assists. His best season so far was his second NLL season in 2005 when he scored 25 goals and 15 assists for the Bandits. His NLL progress was stunted by a severe knee injury in 2006 and there’s a chance that he’ll develop into more productive scorer than he has shown so far.  In return the Rush gets one of Bob Hamley’s favorite players in Lindsay Plunkett who had his best offensive year last season on Hamley’s Arizona Sting when he scored 31 goals and 35 assists for 66 points. They also get another lefty in Mike Hominuck (from Minnesota). Hominuck spent part of last year with Portland before getting traded to Minnesota. He had 18 goals and 34 assists for 52 points in only 12 before suffering a serious high ankle sprain but this year he lost his power play spot to Andy Secore and only had 5 goals and 16 assists in 7 games (pace for  11 goals and 36 assists) for the Swarm. 

Minnesota has had some recent injuries.Craig Point and Andy Secore are both doubtful for this weekend and Gm Marty O’Neill feels that late season injuries were huge factors in their last two playoff exits. He has been craving Keith Cromwell all year but it was a bonus for him when he was able to land Marohl as well. O’Neill had the two players when he was GM in Philadelphia he likes the fact that they are both big (6-1) and versatile. Marohl can work the power play if needed. He had 57 assists in 2005 and although he is a true righty he can play either side of the floor. Cromwell also has decent offensive skills. He had his best offensive year in 2005 when he scored 24 goals and 43 assists but O’Neil says that they can also use him on defense or as a transition player. Although the Swarm also gave up a 1^st round pick for next year, they still have 3 first rounders and felt that it was worth it.

As far as Chicago goes, they felt that Miller was not the goaltender he was last year when he almost led the Shamrox to a playoff birth in their first season. Although the blame can’t be laid squarely on him, Miller’s numbers are terrible compared to last season. Last year he had a 12.28 GAA and .773 save percentage and this year he has a 17.04 GAA and .707 save percentage.  Brad Self plays professional hockey in Germany and was one of Batley’s top players on the Mann Cup Peterborough Lakers. He has averaged only 8 NLL games in his last 4 years because he doesn’t start lacrosse until the hockey season is over and he was the top scorer on his hockey team this year so I can’t imagine he will be quitting hockey soon. He will help Chicago down the stretch but there’s no chance they will be going to the playoffs. The Shamrox will continue to unload vets but I can’t see them trading rental player Scott Self now that his brother is on the team.

I spoke to Philadelphia’s coach Dave Huntley a few weeks ago and he told me that he felt the problem with the Wings of last year was that offensively the Wings were a periphery team.  He didn’t mention any names but when Cromwell and Marohl each sat out 5 of the team’s first 7 games you might conclude that they were 2 players that played the outside game that Huntley referred to. The funny thing is that I’ve always felt that AJ Shannon was an “outside” player as well.  I don’t think that the Wings were looking to change much in this deal but they did succeed in getting a good scorer back for two players they didn’t want and they are hoping that Miller’s dreadful number’s this season are simply a reflection of the team he is playing for.

Who won the deal? That’s actually not a fair question because each of these teams addressed very different needs. I like what Minnesota has done to improve their depth but I still think Edmonton is the big winner. I really like what they have done to immediately improve their offence to try to make a run at the last playoff spot. On top of that they also got a first round draft choice for next year. Whether they make it to the playoffs or not you have to hand it to Hamley for shaking up this team for the second half. Now if he can somehow get Andy Turner back on the floor I’ll call him a genius.

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