Orlando Titans Dispersal Draft - Maybe?, Powell, Greer, Smith, Hall, Boyle, Alrich, etc. Options

[Corporal]

The Orlando Titans are having issues and it appears the NLL has set a deadline for the Titans to resolve them or else. That deadline appears to be very soon and the rumor is that the Titans will suspend operations for at least 2011, which probably means they are gone forever.

For the Swarm, that means the chance to get a couple or so NLL-ready players for free in a dispersal draft. The Titnas have been to the Eastern Final the last three years, so the players have proved themselves.

If the Titans go down, a dispersal draft will be held and the Swarm will be selecting 4th, 14th, 24th, etc. There is always the chance that trades could occur during the draft.

With Marty O'Neill in charge, lefthanders are always at the top of the list. Always adding depth on defense is good. A new wrinkle this year is that teams can dress 20 players over 18 in previous years and that means probably one if not both the two extra players will be on defense.

By the time the Swarm draft, goaltender Matt Vinc and forward Casey Powell will probably be gone. Jordan Hall, Pat Merrill, Rory Smith and Pat Maddalena may become free agents based on nonpayment of salary by the Titans, so they may not be in the draft.

Matt Vinc - Goaltender - NLL Goaltender of the Year in 2010. Probably goes to Colorado with first pick as Colorado needs a number one.

Casey Powell - righthanded forward - NLL MVP in 2010. Dynamic scorer probably goes to Philly with second pick. If available for the Swarm, I can't see the Arlottas passing on him. A Powell in Minnesota would be good for business, if he would play here.

Ryan Boyle - righthanded forward - 2005 NLL Rookie of the Year - One of the best feeders in the league. He would be ideal to run the offense like Ryan Ward did.

Jordan Hall - lefthanded forward - very versatile player who was the first pick in the 2007 NLL Entry Draft. Young and talented, maybe the best player in the draft going forward. However, he may become free agent, so can go whereever he wants. If available in draft and falls to four, the Swarm should take him.

Bill Greer - older brother of Zack Greer - lefthanded defenseman - plays well on transition. Solid veteran like Scott Self.

Matt Alrich - Rightanded transition - Solid two way player with size.

Rory Smith - lefthanded defenseman - led NLL in penalty minutes in 2010 with 104. Loves to fight and is improving defensively. May become free agent with Hall.

If Jordan Hall is available in the draft at four, the Swarm take him. If he is a free agent, the Swarm should still try to get him. If Powell will play in Minnesota, he would be good too. Greer if available in second round would be nice or the Swarm could trade for him. Ryan Boyle may be a great fit on this team.

Roster

(IMG:http://www.swarmitup.com/images/TitansRoster.jpg)

[Corporal]

Vinc may also become an unrestricted free agent:

http://www.nllinsider.com/2010/07/29/matt-...ed-free-agency/

The NLL has to agree with the players and the PLPA if Vinc and the other four (Hall, Smith, Merrill and Maddalena) can become unrestricted. If they don't agree, they go to arbitration. That appears to be holding up the date of the Titans dispersal draft.

[LaxWizz]

With the news today that only Maddalena and Merrill are UFAs, this means the Swarm should be able to get a very useful player in the dispersal draft which will include Vinc, Powell, Hall and Rory Smith among others.
The Swarm have needs to be addressed and could be filled within this draft.
My belief is that Hall is the best fit for the Swarm right now but he will not likely be available at #4, but Rory Smith should be there and should be the Swarm pick, according to me anyway.
Smith is a decent defender who is tough as nails, something the Swrm have been lacking since the departure of Kilby a few years back.

I say take Rory Smith now and Andrew Suitor in the entry draft and opponents will have to buckle their chinstraps and keep thier heads on a swivel when they play the Swarm.

I guess we will have to wait and see who/what Mr. Arlotta believes is the best for the Swarm.

[Corporal]

Both Smith and Suitor would be nice additions and like LaxWizz says, both will make opponents think twice before taking liberties. Both play well on defense too, so they are not just there to fight.

Problem is that Marty and the Arlottas don't listen to LaxWizz much, so we probably won't get either, but there is a first for everything they say. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Corporal]

Dispersal Draft will be on Friday, August 6 at 12:00 pm Central.

Vinc, Powell and Hall should be gone like LaxWizz's says, so look for one of the following when the Swarm pick four:

Rory Smith
Bill Greer
Ryan Boyle
John Orsen
Brendan Mundorf

Mundorf lives in Denver, so if he is willing to play in Minnesota, he would be a nice lefty forward. But my hunch, it is the Mammoth or nothing for Mundorf.

Marty likes the players to be younger, probably less expensive also. Smith would fit that bill the best.

My choice would be Smith.

[LaxWizz]

Both Smith and Suitor would be nice additions and like LaxWizz says, both will make opponents think twice before taking liberties. Both play well on defense too, so they are not just there to fight.

Problem is that Marty and the Arlottas don't listen to LaxWizz much, so we probably won't get either, but there is a first for everything they say. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It is about time they started listening to me.
I have watched both of these young men develop over the last 5-6 years. Thety are both pros and are team guys who don't give an inch. Just have a look on youtube to see just how well they get along, practice may be interesting. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[LaxWizz]

oops

[BiteMeBob]

http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=4590

1. Colorado, Matt Vinc
2. Boston (from Philadelphia), Casey Powell
3. Rochester, Jordan Hall
4. Minnesota, Rory Smith
5. Philadelphia (from Boston), Brendan Mundorf
6. Boston (from Buffalo), John Orsen
7. Edmonton, Bill Greer
8. Philadelphia (from Calgary), Ryan Boyle
9. Toronto, Mike McLellan
10. Washington, Chet Koneczny

Round 2
11. Colorado, Jarett Park
12. Philadelphia, Stephen Peyser
13. Rochester, Dan Hardy
14. Minnesota, Tim O'Brien
15. Boston, Greg Peyser
16. Buffalo, Jesse Guerin
17. Edmonton, Matt Alrich
18. Calgary, Kurtis Wagar
19. Toronto, Mat MacLeod
20. Washington, Matt Zash

Round 3
21. Colorado, Chad Thompson
22. Philadelphia, Jeff Bigas
23. Rochester, Kenny Nims
24. Minnesota, Matt Bocklet
25. Boston, Mike Ammann
26. Buffalo, Matt Brown
27. Edmonton, Pass
28. Calgary, Keith Cromwell
29. Toronto, Pass
30. Washington, Pass

Round 4
31. Colorado, Marc Burton
32. Philadelphia, Dan Cocoziello
33. Rochester, Mike Evans
34. Minnesota, Pass
35. Boston, Chris Passavia
36. Buffalo, Pass
37. Calgary, Rob Smith

Round 5
38. Colorado, Bryan Barrett
39. Philadelphia, Pass
40. Rochester, Bobby Horsey
41. Boston, Pass
42. Calgary, Brian Spallina
(all eligible players selected, end of draft)

[Swarm Fan]

I really like the Rory Smith pick. He really impressed me when he was on the Titans...lots of hustle in that kid. I also noticed he wore no or very thin shoulder pads..

The pick I wonder about is O'Brien over Alrich. Seems like Alrich would have been a good pick there in the 2nd round.

Corporal, are you going to update the depth charts? This is going to be a tough roster to crack...

[MNSWARM81]

Rory Smith/Tim O'brien are about just as much of a talented lacrosse playesr as Derek Boogaard is a hockey player.Bad picks by Swarm, although I can see Matt Bocklet being a good addition he will be good in transition and a hound on loosies.

[LaxWizz]

Rory Smith/Tim O'brien are about just as much of a talented lacrosse playesr as Derek Boogaard is a hockey player.Bad picks by Swarm, although I can see Matt Bocklet being a good addition he will be good in transition and a hound on loosies.

Wait until you see Rory play in person before passing judgement, you can't judge a player by just reading the boxscore.
Bocklet won't make this team, he couldn't even crack a regular spot on a terrible Wings team in 2009.

[Corporal]

D-L-Rory Smith

(IMG:http://www.swarmitup.com/images/Swarm%20Players/RorySmith.JPG)

Position Defenseman
Shoots Left
Height 6-1
Weight 210
Birthday February 1, 1987
Birthplace Mimico, Ontario

4th selection in the dispersal draft. League leader in penalty minutes last year. Should match up with Snider, Beers, Murray, Kilby and McNish when they come to The Hive. Plays with New Westminster in the summer.

[MrsMcSwarmFan]

From the NLL transactions page:

08/09/2010
MINNESOTA SWARM: Have traded Tim O'Brien to the Toronto Rock in exchange for a second round selection in the 2011 Entry Draft.

[niknak]

From the NLL transactions page:

2nd in 2011?

Hmm, I guess they decided O'Brien wouldn't have been much of an upgrade over the talent we had.

[LaxWizz]

2nd in 2011?

Hmm, I guess they decided O'Brien wouldn't have been much of an upgrade over the talent we had.

Looks to me as a pre-arranged deal with Toronto. I thought it was a little strange for them to take Tim at 14. Corporal mentioned that would have been a good pick to use on someone like Guerin instead but pre-arranged deals happen all of the time.

[Swarm Fan]

Agreed with all..a 2nd rounder in 2011 is great news...it means to me the Swarm continue to look to the future and that the roster is deep and they didn't think anyone else available would make the roster...now the Tim O'Brien pick makes sense...also nice to see John Arlotta quoted more in the press releases...