NLL Insider

NLL Insider learned earlier today that a trade between the Calgary Roughnecks and Toronto Rock, that would see Lewis Ratcliff and Josh Sanderson swapped, was on the verge of being nixed after it appeared the trade was sent in after the NLL’s 3PM EST trade deadline.

NLL Insider has now heard from several sources that the deal has in fact been proved to have been in accordance with league rules and is very much official.

The blockbuster move will see Sanderson playing for his father Terry Sanderson, who is currently the Necks’ assistant coach, again, while Victoria native Ratcliff will likely be a fly-in player for the somewhat surging Toronto Rock.

NLL Insider heard at approximately 4PM that the deal had been sent into the league but was not going to be accepted by league officials initially since it appeared the trade came in just after the deadline. Sources now say that the sides have been able to show that they did in fact have the deal put to bed in time, but for reasons still unknown, were not able to get it in in the appropriate manner.

Sources say that league officials took an in-depth look at the situation and have agreed that the teams did in fact comply with trade deadline rules and official word of the deal will be made later this evening.

It has been rumored for the past year-and-a-half that the Rock had been shopping Sanderson around, apparently coming incredibly close to moving him to Philadelphia in exchange for Sean Greenhalgh before the start of the 2007 season. The deal apparently fell apart at the last second.

Sources tell NLL Insider that Ratcliff wasn’t meshing with the new coaching style in Calgary, headed by former Buffalo Bandits’ assistant coach and current Brampton Excelsiors’ head coach, Troy Cordingley.

The same can be said for Sanderson and current Rock head coach Glenn Clark, who were part of a heated on-floor argument during a MSL playoff series that pitted Sanderson’s Excels against Clark’s Barrie Lakeshores this past summer.

Sources close to the players tell NLL Insider that both are happy about the trade and the situations they are headed to.

The move gives the Rock one of the game’s best natural pure scorers, while Calgary gets the leader on offense the team seems to have been lacking for most of this season, in Sanderson.

Update: NLL Insider has also learned that draft picks will likely also be involved in the deal.  An 08 1st rounder going to Toronto and an 09 condititional draft pick, either 1st or 2nd round, going to Calgary.

Stayed tuned to NLL Insider for more on player’s reaction to this deal and others in our in-depth post trade deadline day analysis later this week.

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