07/15/13 - The Swarm trade Ryan Benesch and Andrew Watt to
the Buffalo Bandits for the Bandits first round picks in the 2015 and 2016 NLL Entry Drafts and their third round pick in the
2017 NLL Entry Draft.
Benesch joined the team for the 2010 season from Edmonton where he was acquired in trade for Ryan Ward
amongst others. Benesch in his four years became the Swarm's all-time leading goal scorer with 141 goals,
second in points with
334 and third in assists with 197. He holds the all-time record for goals in a game with seven which he achieved in 2011 against
Washington. He is the only player in team history with a sock trick in a game (six goals). His 46 goals in 2011 were a Swarm
single season record and in that year he finished second in scoring in the NLL. He is the only player in team history to have his
own goal theme song - Benny and the Jets by Elton John. Named a NLL All-Star in 2011 & 2012 and first team NLL All-Pro in 2011.
Watt was drafted eighth overall in the 2008 NLL Entry Draft by the Swarm and played from 2009 - 2013 for the team. His
fourteen shorthanded goals are the most in Swarm team history. He led the league with shorthanded goals
with four in both 2009, 2011 & 2012. Named a NLL All-Star in 2011.
This trade is yet another controversial trade in the Arlotta era of Swarm lacrosse in which talented, in their prime veterans
are traded away for long-term future draft picks which will not the see the floor for the team for at least two to three years. Keeping
costs low by trading away "high-priced" talent is the overriding theme in this trade as have been nearly all the trades since
the departure of Marty O'Neill in June 2011.
With the picks acquired, the Swarm now have three first round picks in 2015 and two in 2016. With four this upcoming draft and two in
2014, the Swarm have eleven first round picks in the next four drafts. This is how the Swarm will replenish the team as injuries, non-performance
and, mainly, cost containment will require veterans to be moved and replaced by future top-end rookie talent.
