Conspiracy Theory from the Centre of the Universe

I have to start with a disclaimer. Unlike the folks at NLL Insider I don't have a wiretap in the head offices of the National Lacrosse League. Unlike the kids who post on the NLL Forums I am not an owner or manager of a team, I'm not a player, nor can I call any of the above my friends or family or friends of family, and I'm certainly not a random troll. I've said 'hi' to a few of the guys at Toronto Rock season ticket holder events. That's it. I have no inside information at all!


I have noticed a pattern in some of the Rock's off-season moves. Let's go through them so we're all up to speed (compiled from NLL Transactions Page and NLL Insider transcripts of wiretaps).

1. July 2nd - the Rock trade Scott Campbell to Boston for a second rounder in 2010.
2. July 20th - the Rock release Kim Squire.
3. August 4th - Orlando Titans fold (for the season).
4. August 6th - the Rock draft Mike McLellan and Mat MacLeod in the Titans dispersal draft.
5. August 9th - the Rock trade a second rounder in 2011 to Minnesota for Tim O'Brien.
6. August 11th - the Rock sign returning players Stephan Leblanc, Garrett Billings, Creighton Reid, Jeff Gilbert, Mike Hobbins and Drew Petkoff as well as Boston's Restricted Free Agent Paul Dawson to deals (Dawson rumours circulated earlier on the 8th at NLL Insider).
7. August 12th - Boston trades Dawson's rights to Calgary for a fourth rounder in 2011. Calgary matches Toronto's offer.
8. August 13th - Calgary trades Josh Sanderson and a first rounder in 2010 to Boston for Daryl Veltman, Kyle Ross, Jon Harnett and a first rounder in 2010.
9. August 18th - Toronto signs Boston's John Orsen to a qualifying offer.
10. August 22nd - Boston matches the Orsen offer.
11. August 23rd - Toronto signs Calgary's Kyle Ross to a qualifying offer.
12. August ? - Calgary matches/doesn't match/trades Ross.

So here's my thoughts on each of the moves.

1. Campbell is a competent defender with a lot of heart. Either he wasn't athletic enough for the new pressure D system the Rock implemented last year, or he wasn't quite the right team guy (cough - personality conflict with the coaches). Last year he was used sparingly, and when he did see the floor it was mostly on O, presumably to protect the skill guys. This is a good move for both the Rock and Campbell. He gets a chance to play, and the Rock can push their younger D-men and their more talented O-men.
2. K. Squire didn't play much last year, but he looked okay when he did. Geoff McNulty looked good when he played, even if he's "undersized."
3. This sucks. Good team that pushed the Rock in the Eastern Final. Don't expect them back as they are looking for a buyer and teams have a horrible habit of vanishing like Hoffa.
4. Good pick-ups. Lots of depth on O this year. Doyle, Manning, Leblanc and Billings are pretty much locks for the first four on the depth chart (unless either of Leblanc or Billings hits the sophomore slump). Look for the big four to eat up 75-80% of the playing time on O. There should be healthy competition with the two additions (McLellan and MacLeod) and Beirnes, Hominuck, Wasson and McNulty for the limited playing time remaining on O.
5. I've never understood the need for an enforcer in hockey or lacrosse. Since rosters expanded this year, I suppose there is room for O'Brien to sit on the bench and make a couple of appearances, especially against the dirtiest team in the league, the Goondits. He won't help against the Chickenhawks since the Evans Bros are a couple of loose-strap divers. Given how the off-season is unfolding, it wouldn't surprise me if he saw some floor time against the Blazers or the Roughnecks. But regardless, I just don't understand how beating the living daylights out of a guy for injuring your star player helps. It doesn't miraculously heal your star player. Having a goon doesn't deter accidents, in fact having a goon is most likely to result in a staged <yawn> fight ... that's assuming your goon can be trusted not to "accidentally" injure someone (a star) on the other team. Chivalry (aka the man code) is long since dead, and goons are the frilly pink icing on the celebratory cupcakes!
6. I like all of the guys they brought back. Dawson might've been a nice addition. I hear he used to play keeper, and the Rock really need a younger one of those. Going after RFA's is rare though, and Dawson doesn't seem like much of an upgrade as a defender over Campbell.
7. This caught me off-guard. Extremely well-played by Boston, with an air of vindictive. It doesn't break my heart not having Dawson.
8. This really caught me off-guard. The fully baked theory has always been that Terry Sanderson (the Rock's GM) does whatever it takes to get Josh Sanderson (his son) on his team. Was Josh asking for a trade so he could be closer to home? If so, was this a big middle finger from both the Blazers and the Roughnecks directed at the Rock? Don't forget, last off-season the Rock "poached" Terry Sanderson and head-coach Troy Cordingley from the Roughnecks. If that was in the least bit resented by Calgary (who we all know has an inferiority complex for Toronto), then it wouldn't surprise me.
9. Okay, now I'm really starting to think that T. Sanderson is just stirring the pot with Boston. Orsen is good, and would be a definite upgrade over Dawson and Campbell. Why go for Dawson first? Better to either get Orsen or get him out of the division. Ahhh hindsight.
10. No surprise here. He's a good defender, and the Blazers are probably thoroughly annoyed with the Rock for attempting to sign two of their RFA's and driving up the price on both.
11. Yeah, ummm, apparently there is also enough vindictive hostility for T. Sanderson to send some out to Calgary by Expresspost. The Rock don't need a defender this badly. They've got a stable of young studs and a couple of vets. What the Rock really need is a younger goalie.
12. Whatever happens here will confirm this whole half-baked theory. The Rock are trying to get better within the rules of the CBA and game, and the Blazers and Roughnecks are making rash moves (that may or may not benefit their teams) just to stick it to the Rock.

So there you have it. The Rock are the envy of the league, and they've made both Boston and Calgary angry this off-season. No tin-foil hats are necessary, especially if you live in the Centre of the Universe.

Oh, and if anyone is reading this who can do anything about it: please go back in time 20 years and clone Bob Watson. The Rock are going to need a younger clone, soon!

PS - I have no reason to join or post on the NLL Forums, because RockStar#666 usually hits the nail on the head every single time, and since he follows the summer league stuff, he's got a lot more claim to intelligent insight than I do.