Well, it looks like Portland is destined for a dispersal draft...presumably the Swarm would get the #3 pick in that draft...You have to assume Brodie Merril will go #1 to Edmonton...then it gets really interesting...Conway,Codron,Powell, and Disher all stand out. I think Toronto is likely to take Conway at #2, so who does the Swarm get at #3? If Keenan ends up in Edmonton, could we trade #3 for Secore straight up? If Disher is a free agent, would we be able to sign him? How does the entry draft come into play? What kind of package would be needed to get Doyle in blue and yellow? What about Rabil? Can the Swarm get Zack Greer at #3 in the entry draft or do we need to sweeten the pot with Rochester and move up to #2? The Swarm could be only a player or two away, or we could be looking at a radically different lineup Jan 2010. The one thing I think I know, is that the Swarm need a dominate lefty...

If you want a dominant lefty, look no further than Garrett Billings of Langly in the WLA, he is a big body 6'3" and can put the ball in the net, currently he has 34 points in 7 games in WLA this season, he should be there at #3 in the Entry draft, lets just hope Marty/Arlotta choose wisely.

LW

I'm counting on Billings or Greer being available at #3...the question is, will either one of them alone be enough to get the Swarm back in the playoffs?

Billings would be my choice over Greer.

Billings has really helped Langly earn some respect this year in WLA, not getting much help out there, so yes he may be enough to carry the Swarm into the playoffs.

LW

Secore had a good season his last year with the Swarm but he's not coming back. He was playing gimpy and hasn't had the same performance since. Unless they gave up nothing at all to get him, I'm quite sure the powers that be aren't at all interested in him.

I know Greer is close to if not the top of the Swarm Draft board, though I'd guess Billings is right up there too. They'd both be good additions.

I really don't think the Swarm need much to be back in the playoffs. We should see Buchanan get even better, Watt has some chance too. The defense is what failed us this past year. That needs to be addressed and if people like Ward and Patterson get back on their A game we're good to go.

No need for Disher...

I would be very disappointed if the Swarm don't end up selecting either Greer, Billings, or Brad Richardson who are all great box players, especially if they are passed over for someone like Seibald who is definitely unproven and not likely ready for the jump.

LW

With the inclusion of Ilija Gaijic and possibly Cody Jamison in this years draft it makes it very interesting for the Swarm.
If Cody is available for the draft one would think that he and Sid Smith would be 1-2.
THis would leave Greer, Billings, Gaijic and Brad Richardson available for the Swarm.

Greer and Billings are left handed forwards who can put the ball away.

Gaijic is a very gifted right handed transition player who can play PP and PK. He is also a rugged player who likes to mix it up on the floor.

Brad Richardson is a good defender who could boost a weak defense from last season.

I guess Marty's dilema is which part of the team do you try to improve with this pick; left handed scoring with Billings or Greer, the transition game PP and PK with Gaijic, or the defense with Richardson?

I am sure it will be a tough decision, I really don't think the Swarm could go wrong with any of the above mentioned players. I hope that they choose a player that will improve the product on the floor and not a player who will just improve the attendance.

LW

First things first, the dispersal draft. I think that will shape the Entry draft decisions a TON. You have to figure Merrill is a lock for #1. #2 is tough. If the Swarm end up being about to get Codron that could be a huge defense help and open it up to picking up some of the good offensive types in the Entry. Also, I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the Point-Hill/Wilson trade included a conditional draft pick which may be Rochester's dispersal pick. That would give us two of the top 6 players from portland.

If true, that combined with pick #3 will be a very nice influx of talent for the roster.

Is this dispersal draft a one-year deal (a la the Arizona Sting) or a permanent dispersal (a la the Chicago Shamrox)? The article doesn't say, but you've gotta think that distinction has to figure pretty strongly in everyone's drafting decisions.

I agree that we don't need Disher back. As I mentioned in my '09 goalie stats breakdown last month, even if Patterson and Croswell both continue to struggle in 2010 (which I highly doubt), the Swarm have a good prospect in Angus Goodleaf waiting in the wings.

BTW no, I haven't forgotten about Parts II-IV of my stats breakdowns. It's just that there's been a lot of raw team stats to transcribe from Pointstreak to my spreadsheet, crunch into more interesting (if unofficial) stats, and then put those figures onto game-by-game graphs. Hopefully I'll have Part II up sometime tomorrow, maybe even tonight.

Since it hasn't been stated I would say that the draft is permanent.

It looks like the LumberJax dispersal draft will be on July 7.

With picks at 3, 6 and 14 at least, the Swarm should be able to pick up a good player or two. Then again, some wheeling and dealing may be done.

Brodie Merill is definitely the top pick in this draft, no matter whichever teams ends up with the first pick when the draft occurs.

The Swarm are definitely looking for lefhanded scoring options and the LumberJax have:

• Matt Brown - How available will he be while doing double duty as U of Denver Assistant Coach
• Tim Campeau - Will be entering his second year after scoring thirteen goals in rookie year.
• Peter Jacobs - 19 yrs old, two years in league. 20 goals last year
• Derek Malawsky - Also will be an UFA. Already forced trade (for Kelly Hall in Jan 05) to not play for the Swarm after coming to the Swarm in a trade prior to the team's first season.
• Peter Morgan - Led Jax with 29 goals last year but will be an unrestricted free agent this year.

Two transition threats that the Swarm should be interested in are Tyler Codron and former Swarm Scott Stewart. Codron would be my pick (outside of Merrill of course). Young, big and fast - a great combo. Ryan Powell would also be a nice addition to the team even being righthanded. He can work down low and can also distribute well. Cory Conway is another young righthander who can rip the twine. Pat Jones is the LumberJax captain and has done well with face offs. Former Swarm Matt Disher may be of interest in goal but may want to play closer to home. The Jax do have two young goaltenders in Joel Weber and Matt Flindell if the Swarm want to go that way.

I think if the Swarm retain number three, they go after Codron. With number six, they go after Campeau or Jacobs if available for lefthanded depth. Maybe at fourteen they take a try at lefhtanded rookie defenseman Dayne Michaud.

LumberJax Roster

Corporal I assume you'll have a breakdown of the draft posted up here when it's complete?

Theoretically, the Dispersal Draft will be happening in about 15 minutes. Hopefully Tutka will have info on it. Should also be able to find out if that trade really did happen.

http://www.nllinsider.com/2009/07/07/break...ted-free-agent/

According to Tutka the draft has just started and Brodie Merrill is looking to become an UFA:

The draft either has not yet started or the league is slow on the update.

http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=4011

All done.

We got Scott Stewart and Richard Morgan. It remains to be seen if they will just be traded right away.

The Swarm select:

3 - Scott Stewart
6 - Richard Morgan
14 - Tim Campeau
25 - Bruce Alexander

No word yet on any trades, so more movement may be made. Stewart returns to Minnesota, Richard Morgan is a 6' 8" defenseman. Campeau is a lefty forward and Alexander is a defenseman and UFA. The Swarm actually had Alexander slated to be in their first ever camp in 2004 but he did not report or ever play for the Swarm and eventually went to Portland.

If the rumored trade that we have talked about in the last day is to happen, it would look like Stewart, R. Morgan and Wilson will go to Edmonton for S. Self and Benesch.

We shall see.

How about we just keep Wilson. I like that plan.

So far so good.

Wilson's not going anywhere.

A bunch of others will be with those trades though. Wonder if Marty's done?

Not a chance...if Ryan Ward can get traded, anyone can...

Did you read the interview with Marty?