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Predicted Protected List for Expansion DraftJune 29, 2005The NLL is releasing the protected lists for the expansion draft on June 30th. Every team can protect either of the following: 13 runners and 1 goalie or 10 runners and 2 goalies As a player is taken, the team can pull back a player. The Swarm, as well as other, non-expansion teams will only lose two players in the draft. I think they may go for the first option, especially after the trade for Beirnes & Gibson. I have made a list for both options for what I think will happen. 13 runners and 1 goalie list:
10 runners and 2 goalies list:
Some notes: I think they see Patterson as the goalie of the future. He has looked very good for Maple Ridge this year, without him, that team may have only won one game at the most. Then again, Disher has looked just as good for New Westminster. Since they just traded for Beirnes and Gibson in what amounted to being the two players to be named later for Conn, I believe the Swarm may want to validate the acquisitions to the fans, who had some issues with Conn leaving. Berthiaume got hurt early in the season in a freakish accident on the field in Victoria which didn't look good as I saw it at http://www.rockslax.com/. They had to carry him off and he hasn't played since. The Swarm may have issues with his health. The same maybe said about Campbell. I am not sure if this is a fair assessment but it may go in Swarm thinking. Bateman and Kemp are both from Alberta, with Kemp, I believe, living much closer to Edmonton. However, I don't think the Swarm want to take the chance of letting these two guys go. However, if both were protected and one was taken, the other could be withdrawn. The players that are unprotected on my mock lists, my feeling is that two of following: Berthiaume, Disher, Kilby & Hill will be picked if 13 runners are protected. If ten runners are protected, Pollock and Jenner will be picked. What I do know is this, I sure don't want to be Marty O'Neill tonight as he compiles his list. |