NLL Entry Draft preview

Published on August 29, 2007 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, August, 29, 2007 - Portland LumberJax Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan and Assistant General Manager Daren Fridge will be in Denver, Colorado this weekend for the 2007 National Lacrosse League (NLL) Entry Draft. The six round draft features the best lacrosse talent from U.S. college programs as well as Canada's junior lacrosse system.

The Entry Draft begins at 2 p.m. MST (1 p.m. PST) on Saturday, September 1 and can be followed live and free on www.NLL.com. The live, free webcast is powered by B2 Networks. The webcast can be viewed on any computer with a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher.

The Jax have five picks in the draft; beginning with the sixth overall pick in the first round. The Jax then have the 23rd overall pick (second round).

"It's a pretty decent draft and I think there will be some very good players available in the first two rounds," said Keenan. "Our priority in the early part of the draft will be offense. We feel like we can draft a player who can come in right away and play.

The Jax will be spectators in the third round before selecting with the 44th pick (fourth round), the 58th pick (fifth round), and the 72nd pick (sixth round). All picks are subject to change leading up to the draft because of trades and deals between teams and coaches.

"Further down we'd like to find a goaltender that we can develop for the future," added Keenan.

The Jax were very active in the draft last season, selecting Matt Holman and Ian Crashley with back-to-back picks in the second round (No. 21 and 22). The Jax also picked up Greg Peyser (No. 29) and D.J. Driscoll (No. 36) in the third round, Jake Deane in the fourth round (No. 49), and Matt Savoie 62nd overall in the fifth round.

Holman finished the 2006 season on a goal scoring surge. He scored 12 of his 14 goals in the final four games of the season. Crashley played in 12 games and collected 52 loose balls. He scored his first goal during the second game of the season in a win over the Philadelphia Wings on January 13. Driscoll played in three games and collected 13 loose balls.

The weekend's activities begin on Friday, August 31 during the NLL Combine. The league's combine will feature 42 of the top draft prospects by invitation only. The potential draftees will participate in clinics and drills, before a Combine Game on the turf at the Pepsi Center at 6 p.m. MST. Both of the events are open to the public and free of charge. The complete 2007 NLL Entry Draft order is listed below.

2007 Portland LumberJax Entry Draft Order

#6 (first round)

#23 (second round)

#44 (fourth round)

#58 (fifth round)

#72 (sixth round)

2007 NLL Entry Draft Order

FIRST ROUND

1. Boston

2. Philadelphia (from Portland)

3. New York

4. Calgary (from Philadelphia)

5. Chicago

6. Portland (from Edmonton via Minnesota)

7. San Jose (from Toronto)

8. Minnesota (from San Jose)

9. Minnesota

10. Buffalo (from Calgary)

11. Toronto (from Buffalo)

12. San Jose (from Colorado)

13. New York (from Arizona via Edmonton)

14. Rochester

SECOND ROUND

15. Boston

16. Calgary (from Portland via Edmonton)

17. New York

18. Minnesota (from Philadelphia via Arizona)

19. Chicago

20. Edmonton

21. Toronto

22. Calgary (from San Jose via Buffalo)

23. Portland (from Minnesota)

24. Calgary

25. Edmonton (from Buffalo)

26. Colorado

27. Buffalo (from Arizona)

28. Rochester

THIRD ROUND

29. Boston

30. Colorado (from Portland)

31. New York

32. Philadelphia

33. Chicago

34. Edmonton

35. Boston (from Toronto)

36. San Jose

37. Buffalo (from Minnesota)

38. Calgary

39. Buffalo

40. Colorado

41. Buffalo (from Arizona)

42. Rochester

FOURTH ROUND

43. Boston

44. Portland

45. Philadelphia (from New York)

46. Philadelphia

47. Chicago

48. Edmonton

49. Toronto

50. San Jose

51. Toronto (from Minnesota)

52. Calgary

53. Arizona (from Buffalo)

54. Colorado

54. Toronto (from Arizona)

56. Arizona (from Rochester)

FIFTH ROUND

57. Boston

58. Portland

59. New York

60. Philadelphia

61. Chicago

62. Edmonton

63. Boston (from Toronto)

64. San Jose

65. Buffalo (from Minnesota)

66. Calgary

67. Buffalo

68. New York (from Colorado)

69. Arizona

70. Rochester

SIXTH ROUND

71. Boston

72. Portland

73. San Jose (from New York)

74. Philadelphia

75. Chicago

76. Edmonton

77. Philadelphia (from Toronto)

78. San Jose

79. Minnesota

80. Calgary

81. Buffalo

82. Colorado

83. Arizona

84. Rochester

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