NLL Insider

Brodie Merrill could become an unrestricted free agent. (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

NLL Insider has learned that there is a possibility that Brodie Merrill will be granted unrestricted free agency, with the ability to sign anywhere in the National Lacrosse League.

Sources tell NLL Insider that Merrill, similar to what we saw when the New York Saints folded and Gavin Prout, Derek Suddons and Gee Nash were also deemed unrestricted free agents, is owed an undisclosed sum from his standard player agreement with the Portland Lumberjax, who failed to file for arbitration to resolve any disputed amounts owed to Merrill or of course pay him the remaining sum within an appropriate amount of time.  

It’s unknown how much, or little, Merrill would be owed by the on the shelf Lumberjax, or what part of his agreement those remaining amounts stem from.

With the Portland Lumberjax Dispersal Draft slated for today, it is also not clear what this latest monkey wrench will do to the draft, Merrill considered the overwhelming favourite to go first overall. It’s expected Merrill will still be taken in the draft however, NLL Insider learning that all teams are well aware of these latest developments.

Although Merrill’s contract advisor, Richard Furlong, and the PLPA are adamant that Merrill should be granted UFA status due to the current situation he finds himself, the NLL has a vastly different stance, commissioner George Daniel telling NLL Insider earlier today, “The league has received a notice from the PLPA claiming that Brodie Merrill is an unrestricted free agent. The claim is based on an alleged default of his contract with Portland.

“After reviewing the matter, the league finds no merit with the PLPA’s claim. The league’s position is that Portland was not in default of its contract with Brodie Merrill and that the player is not a free agent.”

It’s expected that the matter will go to an arbitrator before anything is settled or made official.

Stay tuned to NLL Insider for more on this developing story, as well as results of today’s dispersal draft, slated for 1PM EST.

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