The Rochester Knighthawks and Saskatchewan Rush have announced a trade with Saskatchewan sending the ninth and 14th overall picks in the 2015 NLL Draft to the Knighthawks in separate deals in exchange for Rochester’s first-round selections in the 2016 and 2018 NLL Drafts.
The Knighthawks now have four of the top 16 picks in what has been called one of the deepest drafts in league history.
“With the draft being so deep, it was hard to turn down an opportunity to get some great players,” said Knighthawks Owner and General Manager Curt Styres.
The Knighthawks obtained the picks in separate deals with the Saskatchewan Rush. In the first trade, Rochester dealt its first-round selection in the 2018 Entry Draft to Saskatchewan in exchange for its 14th overall selection in the 2015 Entry Draft. In the other deal, the Knighthawks sent their first-round selection in the 2016 Entry Draft to the Rush in exchange for the ninth overall selection in the 2015 Entry Draft.
On Monday, September 28th, Rochester will make six selections in the NLL Entry Draft, which will take place at 7 p.m. ET at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC) in Oakville, Ontario. The Knighthawks own the second, ninth, 14th, 16th, 26th and 38th picks. With two of the picks in the first round and two in the second round, it marks only the third time in 21 years that the Knighthawks have four selections so high in the draft.
This year’s talented draft includes top prospects like Wesley Berg (University of Denver), Graeme Hossack (Lindenwood University), Jesse King (Ohio State University), Randy Staats (Syracuse University) and Lyle Thompson (University at Albany).
2015 NLL Draft order as of September 25 (subject to change pending trades):
FIRST ROUND
1. Georgia Swarm (from New England Black Wolves)
2. Rochester Knighthawks (from Vancouver Stealth)
3. Georgia Swarm
4. Calgary Roughnecks
5. Georgia Swarm (from Colorado Mammoth via New England Black Wolves)
6. Georgia Swarm (from Buffalo Bandits)
7. Calgary Roughnecks (from Rochester Knighthawks via New England Black Wolves)
8. New England Black Wolves (from Toronto Rock)
9. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush)
SECOND ROUND
10. Toronto Rock (from New England Black Wolves)
11. Buffalo Bandits (from Vancouver Stealth)
12. Saskatchewan Rush (from Georgia Swarm)
13. Calgary Roughnecks
14. Rochester Knighthawks (from Saskatchewan Rush via Colorado Mammoth)
15. Calgary Roughnecks (from Buffalo Bandits)
16. Rochester Knighthawks
17. Toronto Rock
18. Saskatchewan Rush
19. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory)
20. Georgia Swarm (compensatory)
21. Vancouver Stealth (compensatory)
THIRD ROUND
22. New England Black Wolves
23. Vancouver Stealth
24. Calgary Roughnecks (from Georgia Swarm via Saskatchewan Rush)
25. Calgary Roughnecks
26. Rochester Knighthawks (from Colorado Mammoth)
27. Buffalo Bandits
28. New England Black Wolves (from Rochester Knighthawks)
29. Toronto Rock
30. Saskatchewan Rush
31. Saskatchewan Rush (compensatory)
FOURTH ROUND
32. Colorado Mammoth (from New England Black Wolves)
33. Vancouver Stealth
34. Georgia Swarm
35. Calgary Roughnecks
36. Buffalo Bandits (from Colorado Mammoth)
37. New England Black Wolves (from Buffalo Bandits)
38. Rochester Knighthawks
39. Vancouver Stealth (from Toronto Rock)
40. Saskatchewan Rush
FIFTH ROUND
41. New England Black Wolves
42. Vancouver Stealth
43. Georgia Swarm
44. Calgary Roughnecks
45. Colorado Mammoth
46. Vancouver Stealth (from Buffalo Bandits)
47. Saskatchewan Rush
SIXTH ROUND
48. New England Black Wolves
49. Vancouver Stealth
50. Georgia Swarm
51. Calgary Roughnecks
52. Colorado Mammoth
53. Toronto Rock (from Buffalo Bandits)
54. Toronto Rock
55. Saskatchewan Rush
