NLL Insider

NLL Insider has learned from several sources that the Edmonton Rush and Portland Lumberjax are close to finalizing a deal that would likely see keepers Matt Disher (pictured) and Matt King changing teams before Tuesday’s 3PM NLL trade deadline.

Sources say that Disher, along with a mid round pick in likely this year’s draft, will be shipped to Portland in exchange for King, defender Ian Crashley as well as Portland’s first round pick in the highly coveted 2009 Entry Draft.

That 2009 pick will allow Edmonton to have a chance at drafting the likes of Zack Greer, Garrett Billings, Corey Small, Brad Richardson, Cliff Smith, Joel Dalgarno or Sid Smith, making up one of the strongest first rounds the league has seen in a number of years. Don’t be surprised to see other trades later today to include first or second round picks from the same draft class.

Even after last week’s win against Colorado, sources tell NLL Insider that the franchise has not been happy with the hot-and-cold goaltending they’ve received from King and future hall of famer, Dallas Eliuk. The move also appears to have paved the way for 2007 draft pick tender, Joel Weber, as the Jax’s keeper of the future.

Weber has yet to see any time this year playing behind King and Eliuk, but is considered by many to be one of the best goaltending prospects coming out of the junior ranks in Ontario over the past few years.

Sources also tell NLL Insider that the Lumberjax are very much a buyer during this year’s trade deadline and will likely only make deals to strengthen their chances for a serious Cup run in 2008. As reported a number of weeks back, do not expect Portland to deal Arizona Sting rental players Dan Dawson, Derek Malawsky and Brad MacDonald before Tuesday’s trade cut-off.

Portland GM and Head Coach, Derek Keenan, has gone on record numerous times over the past few weeks during the league’s media conference call saying that his only priority right now is getting the Lumberjax into the post-season and from there taking aim at the Champion’s Cup. Despite their record, the franchise from top to bottom is apparently extremely optimistic of their chances should they land a playoff spot.

The Jax currently sit at 4-7, good enough for third place in the West, a half game ahead of Calgary and two-and-a-half games behind division leaders San Jose and Colorado.

Although a slew of rumors have made the rounds about what will happen to the former Sting players if the on-the-shelf franchise remains unsold, the league has remained strong with their stance that the players will indeed revert back to the franchise (Arizona Sting) once the 2008 season is put to bed, after that though, it’s still fairly unclear what exactly will happen, but it definitely doesn’t sound like they will remain with their current clubs.

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