Rush NLL Draft History
Published on August 13, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB--- Players come and players go. So too do high draft picks. The Edmonton Rush will enter their eighth season in the National Lacrosse League this winter, but only twice in franchise history, have the Rush kept and used a first-round pick in the NLL Entry Draft. They'll have a third chance in the upcoming draft, and for the first time ever, the Rush will pick No. 1 overall. The NLL announced today the 2012 Draft will be held Monday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. MST) in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel.
Most often in the past, though, the Rush have traded away high spots in the draft, trying to find instant fixes instead of developing new talent. To say the least, it has had mixed results.
Here's a year-by-year look at the Rush's draft history including what was the end of result of draft-choice wheeling and dealing.
2005
Entering their inaugural season in the NLL, the Rush were part of three separate draft occasions - Entry, Expansion, and Dispersal.
The Rush opted for first overall pick in the Dispersal Draft and selected former Anaheim defender Rory Glaves with the pick. The stay-at-home type rearguard became an outstanding penalty killer and the cornerstone of the Rush defence until traded in 2011.
The Rush were very busy on the day of the Expansion Draft, not just picking up players, but also trading away a handful of those who were selected. With the No. 2 selection, Edmonton picked up goaltender Rob Blasdell from San Jose, and then dealt him to Arizona for a first-round pick in 2007. The Rush made four other trades that day, though none were bigger than shipping Expansion Draft pick Scott Campbell to Toronto for Jimmy Quinlan - the Sherwood Park product who would go on to become the Rush's Captain and all-time team leader in games played and points. Of note from the Expansion Draft, the Rush acquired Edmonton native Kevin Howard from Calgary, and Pat Campbell from Rochester - the exuberant goaltender who would become an instant fan favorite at Rexall Place.
The Entry Draft would prove to be a day of deep reflection for Rush fans. Edmonton held the No. 2 pick, behind fellow expansion club Portland, yet opted to deal the pick to Rochester for a package of Andrew Turner, Buck Stobart, and Cam Bergman.
Turner was the first captain in team history. After two seasons, Turner quit lacrosse completely. Stobart was injury-riddled while with the Rush, and Bergman, who scored the game-winner in the Rush's first-ever victory, ultimately moved away from the game as well.
By shipping out the No. 2 pick in the Entry Draft, the Rush passed on the chance to draft one of a handful of players who are now established NLL standouts including Shawn Evans, Luke Wiles, Matt Vinc, Jeff Zywicki, and Jeff Shattler.
2006
The Rush had a pair of first-rounders in the Entry Draft and traded them both. One pick was dealt to Chicago for a trio of established stars in Dan Stroup, Chris Gill and Ryan O'Connor. The other was shipped to Buffalo in exchange for AJ Shannon.
The group acquired from Chicago gave the Rush some much-needed scoring depth, particularly Gill who set the Rush's single-season goal-scoring record and also notched the first six-goal (sock trick) game in team history. Stroup was also a valuable contributor especially on the power play, while O'Connor was best noted for scoring the Rush's first-ever overtime winning goal.
Shannon, known for a booming shot, continued to struggle with injuries and was a non-factor for much of his stint in Edmonton.
By dealing away their first-round picks, the Rush took themselves out of the running for players who are now among the NLL's very best - scoring machines Ryan Benesch and Athan Iannucci along with rugged faceoff specialist Geoff Snider.
2007
The Rush took part in a pair of drafts heading into this season - a Dispersal Draft for the Arizona franchise along with the Entry Draft. The Arizona dispersal marked the first of four straight years there would be a Dispersal Draft in the NLL.
In the Dispersal Draft, the Rush held the 12th pick and selected Andy Secore, who became of the team's top offensive marksmen and remains in the club's top-five all-time goal-scorers.
The Rush's first-round pick in the Entry Draft was dealt away, and it was a somewhat successful deal as they acquired goaltender Curtis Palidwor from New York. Palidwor went on to set new Rush team records between the pipes, and was the team's MVP for the '07 season. The Titans went on to select Jordan Hall with the No. 1 pick in the Draft, with Hall become an all-star with New York and Rochester.
Overall, the Entry Draft produced little for Rush, and the team traded a pair of second-round picks which landed the team veterans Jason Wulder and Ben Prepchuk. The duo wound up have just a few productive outings for the Black and Silver.
2008
There was plenty of expectation heading into this year's Entry Draft as the Rush held the fourth and 10th pick - a great position to be as they needed to make some headway after missing the playoff for a third straight year.
Bellarmine University's Jamie Floris went at No. 4 and Dowling College product Ryan Campbell was taken in the 10-spot, and neither player wound up having much of a stint with the Rush. Another first-rounder the Rush possessed at one point was traded to San Jose for speedy ball-scooper Ian Hawksbee, who went on to become a valuable transition player for Edmonton. San Jose used to pick to select Paul Rabil - someone who would play prominently in the Rush's plans four years later.
The Dispersal Draft of the Chicago franchise landed the Rush Scott Self and Callum Crawford, both of whom would be moved later on for valuable commodities.
2009
Without a doubt the Entry Draft and Dispersal Draft from this year was the Rush's shining moment when it comes to selecting talent.
The Rush landed a pair of first-rounders thanks to trades including one that shipped veteran Mike Accursi to Buffalo. With the ninth pick, the Rush snared University of Albany star Corey Small, who was the Rush's leading scorer just one year later, and remains one of the club's top offensive standouts. With the 12th and final pick of the first round, the Rush opted for Scott Tinning from Brampton. While Tinning was ultimately a misfire, the Rush were bang-on with later-round picks which they had failed at miserably in previous years.
With their second-round pick, the Rush grabbed Brampton's Dane Stevens, who will return to the club this coming season after a strong rookie campaign. Edmonton's third-round pick, Brett Mydske, was a pure steal as he's become a terrific transition player and has played in an NLL All-Star Game and with Team Canada at the World Indoor Championship.
The Rush were huge recipients at the Dispersal Draft of the Portland franchise, picking up all-world transition star Brodie Merrill with the first overall pick, and then grabbing goalie Matt Disher in the second round.
Merrill, a former Rookie and Transition Player of the Year, was the first true star ever to suit up for the Rush, and he instantly helped push the team a new direction. He continued his all-star play and pushed the Rush into their first playoff berth in franchise history. Once in the playoffs, it was Disher's turn to take over as he set an NLL record for saves in a playoff game as the Rush stunned the defending champion Calgary Roughnecks in the West Semifinal.
2010
The Dispersal Draft of the New York and Orlando franchises landed the Rush Bill Greer with the seventh pick - an acquisition that would pay dividends in the Rush's draft plans two years later. The Entry Draft saw the Rush not pick until Round 3 after the team dealt its first-rounder to Calgary for rugged defender Ryan McNish.
The Entry Draft did yield some finds for the Rush as they grabbed transition John LaFontaine from Whitby, and pulled off another late-round steal by finding New Westminster's Jarrett Toll in the fifth round.
2011
The Rush packaged off first-rounders again so they didn't pick until Round 3 of the Entry Draft. One of the first-round picks the Rush had at one point was used by Minnesota to take goaltender Evan Kirk. The Rush's first- and second-round picks were traded to Rochester for Gavin Prout and Dean Hill. By not having a first-round selection, the Rush were unable to take a run at a young talent pool that included Adam Jones, Jordan MacIntosh, and Johnny Powless.
Edmonton did have far better fortune in the Dispersal Draft of the Boston franchise, as the Rush were able to pick up all-star transition and All-Rookie Team member Kyle Rubisch. In his first year with the Rush, Rubisch was a dominant force, becoming an all-star again and going on to win the NLL's Transition Player of the Year award.
2012 ... and Beyond
In the past year, GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan orchestrated nine trades, and all but two of them involved the Rush acquiring draft picks. No trade was bigger, though, than when the Rush dealt Brodie Merrill to Philadelphia for a package that included the Wings' first-round pick in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Keenan's shrewd wheeling-and-dealing ended up getting the Rush two first-round picks in the 2012 Entry Draft including the first overall selection, and their own selection at No. 8, plus a second-round pick. While one first-rounder comes from Philadelphia, the other is a winding tale that started when the Rush received Athan Iannucci as part of the Merrill package from the Wings.
Iannucci refused to report to Edmonton, and was later traded to Washington for a first-round pick and Paul Rabil, who then refused to report to Edmonton and sat out the remainder of last season. The Rush recently traded Rabil to Rochester for Jarrett Davis.
The Rush have Philadelphia's first-rounder in 2013 but traded their own pick to Minnesota for hard-shooting sniper Zack Greer. Edmonton holds a whopping four second-round picks in the '13 Entry Draft - two coming from Minnesota for a recent deal that shipped last season's leading scorer Shawn Williams to the Swarm, and another two from Toronto after the Rush sent Bill Greer to the Rock.
"This is an important draft for the Edmonton Rush, this is another deep draft with skill and athleticism at all positions which gives us more opportunity to add to our young and talented foundation." states General Manager and Head Coach Derek Keenan.
The 2012 draft order, as of August 13. The order is subject to change pending trades of selections among the clubs.
FIRST ROUND
1. Edmonton (from Washington)
2. Minnesota (from Buffalo)
3. Minnesota (from Philadelphia via Edmonton via Buffalo)
4. Minnesota
5. Buffalo (from Toronto via Minnesota)
6. Calgary (from Colorado via Rochester)
7. Calgary
8. Edmonton
9. Colorado (from Rochester)
10. Minnesota (from Boston)
SECOND ROUND
11. Washington
12. Washington (from Buffalo)
13. Buffalo (from Philadelphia via Rochester)
14. Toronto (from Minnesota via Buffalo)
15. Edmonton (from Toronto)
16. Buffalo (from Colorado via Toronto via Edmonton)
17. Calgary
18. Buffalo (from Edmonton via Minnesota)
19. Washington (from Rochester via Edmonton)
20. Toronto (from Boston)
THIRD ROUND
21. Washington
22. Buffalo
23. Philadelphia
24. Minnesota
25. Toronto
26. Rochester (from Colorado)
27. Toronto (from Calgary)
28. Edmonton
29. Rochester
FOURTH ROUND
30. Washington
31. Buffalo
32. Philadelphia
33. Minnesota
34. Toronto
35. Minnesota (from Colorado)
36. Calgary
37. Edmonton
38. Rochester
FIFTH ROUND
39. Washington
40. Buffalo
41. Philadelphia
42. Minnesota
43. Toronto
44. Colorado
45. Calgary
46. Edmonton
47. Rochester
SIXTH ROUND
48. Washington
49. Calgary (from Buffalo)
50. Calgary (from Philadelphia)
51. Minnesota
52. Toronto
53. Colorado
54. Calgary
55. Edmonton
56. Rochester
(End of Draft)
The NLL Draft will be held Monday, October 1, 2012 in Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle, 7:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. MST)
National Lacrosse League Stories from August 13, 2012
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- Knighthawks Have Five Picks in NLL Draft - Rochester Knighthawks
- Knighthawks Launch "Championship Moment" Contest - Rochester Knighthawks
- Rush NLL Draft History - Edmonton Rush
- 2012 NLL Entry Draft to be Held on October 1st in Toronto - Toronto Rock
- National Lacrosse League 2012 Draft to be Held on October 1 in Toronto - NLL
- Wings Acquire Forward Kevin Buchanan from Buffalo - Philadelphia Wings
- Bandits Acquire Pair from Philadelphia, Sign Williams - Buffalo Bandits
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