NLL Insider

NLL Insider spoke with Toronto Rock two-way stud, Chad Thompson, and confirmed with the former OLA Jr. A defender of the year, that after sitting out the 2008 NLL and MSL seasons, he is on track to return to the Rock’s lineup for the start of the 2009 season after recuperating from a nasty ACL tear sustained during the summer of 2007 playing for the Barrie Lakeshores.

The 24-year-old defender is a former first round pick of the Philadelphia Wings and after being dealt to San Jose, Thompson was the little talked about piece of the now infamous Colin Doyle trade, that saw Doyle shipped to the Stealth, along with Darren Halls and a first round pick in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft (Tom Johnson) for Ryan Benesch, Kevin Fines, Thompson and the Stealth’s 2008 (traded in Lewis Ratcliff deal) and 2009 first rounders.

The former Orillia Rama Kings’ captain will likely play a pretty big role in Rock’s two-way game this winter, especially with former Rock captain and now coach Jim Veltman trading in his sweater for a suit.

Thompson’s aggressive, transitional style of ball is one the Rock have been lacking in over the past few seasons. A successful return to the Rock lineup might also soften some of the jabs the Rock’s critics continue to throw at the franchise’s front office after the Doyle trade and playoff absence this past season.

With the addition of free agent pickup Jason Crosbie, Arizona Sting Dispersal Draft selection Craig Conn, the return of Thompson and a likely full-time ball player coming out of the NLL Entry Draft in a couple weeks, things are looking pretty positive in the Rock’s camp this off-season.

A few questions still remain however. Will the Rock trade (or draft) for a backup keeper to replace Expansion Draft loss, Mike Poulin, or simply stick with Mike Attwood? How close to 100% will Conn be coming into camp after his own blown out knee issues? And although the Rock stated publicly that Benesch would remain with the team after their late season fall-out, rumours are still swirling that the two will likely part ways prior to the start of the season.

Stay tuned to NLLInsider.com for more NLL off-season updates and check back later this week for a full NLL Entry Draft preview.

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