The Trade and Now
February 23, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB----When the news first broke, some viewed it as a dark day for the Edmonton Rush. The best player on the team and one of the best in the entire National Lacrosse League, Brodie Merrill, had been traded to Philadelphia.
Merrill, who had been drafted first overall the year the Rush entered the NLL by the expansion cousin Portland Lumberjax, was a past Rookie of the Year, a winner of the league's top Defensive Player award, and two-time recipient of the NLL Transition Player of the Year. He virtually defined the transition position, setting franchise and league records for goals, assists, points and loose balls.
And then on August 9, 2011, he was no longer a part of the Rush.
The Rush sent Merrill, forwards Dean Hill and Mike McLellan, a fifth-round pick in 2011, and a fourth-round pick in 2013 to Philadelphia in exchange for forward Athan Iannucci, forward Alex Turner, goalie Brodie MacDonald, and the Wings' first-round picks in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
To say the least it was a monster deal, not only in the National Lacrosse League, but in sports across the board. An award-winning first-overall pick, veteran talent, an all-star, futures, depth and potential all rolled into one swap. It was a trade that caught the entire league off-guard and by storm. It was a controversial move, certainly on the Rush's part, surrendering arguably the best transition player the NLL had ever seen for what largely amounted to draft picks - an angle that became much more apparent when it was quickly learned that Iannucci had no intention on reporting to Edmonton.
Merrill pays a return visit to Edmonton next weekend when the Rush take on the rival Toronto Rock, Merrill's hometown team which acquired him in August 2014.
Years after the Rush traded Merrill, many moves have since been made. In fact the entire Philadelphia team has moved, becoming the New England Black Wolves in 2015. Here's what sorting out the pieces of that giant 2011 puzzle look like from the Rush's perspective:
Athan Iannucci - Completely balked at coming to the Rush, and, as it turns out, that was for the best ... Was never same after the record-setting 2008 season that saw him put up 71 goals. Highest total since - 29 ... Had just 14 goals last season, his first in Colorado after two so-so years in Washington
Rush View - Sent Iannucci to Washington along with a second-rounder in 2012 in exchange for Paul Rabil and the Stealth's first-round pick in 2012. With Washington bottoming out, the Rush got the No. 1 pick in the draft and chose superstar-in-the-making Mark Matthews. Like Iannucci, Rabil didn't want to come to Edmonton and held out. Eventually he was dealt to Rochester. Turned out to be another shrewd move as the Rush acquired solid two-way guy Jarrett Davis and Rabil snubbed the Knighthawks too
The Picks - The 2012 first-rounder from the Wings was packed off to Buffalo along with a second-rounder in 2011 ... Philly's 2013 first-rounder went from Edmonton to Minnesota in a multi-faceted deal ... The Wings' 2014 first-rounder was swapped for Minnesota's in the MacDonald/Carlson exchange
Rush View - The Buffalo deal brought Chris Corbeil to Edmonton and he has become arguably the second-best defender in the NLL behind Rush teammate Kyle Rubisch. Of note, the Bandits used the 2011 second-rounder to take heart-and-soul warrior Jeremy Thompson, and a year later, he was shipped to the Rush for Aaron Wilson ... Edmonton and its frequent trading partner Minnesota traded a number of pieces and parts which in the end got the Rush rugged defender Nic Bilic and another key offensive contributor in Robert Church ... The most-recent deal between the Rush and Swarm gave Edmonton the first overall pick in the 2014 NLL draft and it was used to grab Ben McIntosh who already has the inside track to being the NLL Rookie of the Year
Alex Turner - Solid role player for the Rush in 2013 but saw limited action a year later ... Was dealt to the Swarm and ultimately made his way to Colorado for this season.
Rush View - Took a third-rounder from the Swarm in next year's draft
Brodie MacDonald - Played barely over 200 minutes during three seasons and sported a 2-2 mark as Aaron Bold's understudy, but teammates couldn't have asked for more from a young backup netminder
Rush View - Veteran Tyler Carlson now riding shotgun for Bold after MacDonald sent to Minnesota in package deal that include swap of 2014 first-rounders ... The Rush got Ben McIntosh with their first-rounder, while the Swarm snared Miles Thompson
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 23, 2015
- The Trade and Now - Edmonton Rush
- From Chance Encounter to Season Ticket Holder - Rochester Knighthawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
