Recent trades in Knighthawks history are undoubtedly major components to their back-to-back National Lacrosse League Championships.
The first and most remarkable trade that has made the Knighthawks the Champions they are today would be the trade that sent John Grant Jr. and Mac Allen to Colorado for Matt Vinc, Brad Self, and Matt Zash (retired). When the Knighthawks former goalie Pat O’Toole retired, it was essential for the team to get a goalie that could live up to the expectations O’Toole had set. Having extremely valuable players like Grant meant that they could offer up one outstanding player in order to get what they needed. This blockbuster trade had many thinking that this was a huge mistake at the time but Vinc surely proved the naysayers wrong. Brad Self, who was also acquired in that deal, has been essential to the teams’ transition. Last season, Self collected 96 loose balls and 22 points.
When the Knighthawks sent Shawn Evans to Calgary, they earned the fifth spot in the 2011 draft where they acquired Johnny Powless. This trade can be viewed as either a positive or negative trade for the history books. Evans was named NLL MVP in 2013 and led the league in points (112) so the Knighthawks may somewhat regret that they were so quick to trade him. But on the other hand, they had Jamieson, who is right up there with Evans, and Powless has made a name for himself on the team as well. Powless is Young, talented, and has the potential to be with the team for many seasons so in the long run, this trade only helped the Knighthawks.
Back in December 2012, Dan Dawson was acquired from the Philadelphia Wings in a six player, two draft pick deal. At the time of the trade, Dawson was a six-time NLL All-Star and seven-time NLL All-Pro Selection. Paul Dawson was also traded to the Knighthawks in this trade which sent Paul Rabil, Jordan Hall, Joel White, Rob Campbell, and a second round pick in the 2014 Entry Draft to Philadelphia. Sending Jordan Hall away was the biggest loss that the Knighthawks would have to make up for but Dan Dawson long surpassed what Hall could have done. Dawson is seventh on the NLL’s all-time assists and points list. He had 22 goals and 52 assists last season for the Knighthawks.
These three trades have shaped the Knighthawks into the team they are now. They prove that you cannot underestimate the value or potential of trades that occur in the league.
