Over the years, the National Lacrosse League has seen plenty of team dispersals. The players from these drafts end up scattered throughout the league, and it’s hard not to wonder where those folded teams would be now if they were still in the league.
We’ve gathered and put together what some of these teams might look like if they were still in the NLL today, not counting potential rookies or other signings. Of course, older teams do not have complete rosters and some players were on more than one dispersal.
Ottawa Rebel 2003
Scott Self was selected in four dispersal drafts. In this one, he was added by the Columbus Landsharks.
Brad Self, also in several dispersals, was selected by the Colorado Mammoth.
Vancouver Ravens 2004
Ian Hawksbee, defense. Selected by the Philadelphia Wings, currently with the Vancouver Stealth. Played last season with the Colorado Mammoth.
Anaheim Storm 2005
Bill Greer, defense, Toronto Rock. Was selected by the Colorado Mammoth in the dispersal draft.
Arizona Sting 2007
Mike Grimes, defense. Grimes was selected by the Minnesota Swarm and he ended up with the Vancouver Stealth. He returned to Minnesota last season on the hold out list.
Dan Dawson, forward. The first of two times Arizona would disperse him. Selected by Portland.
Scott Self in the second of four dispersal drafts. Selected by the Chicago Shamrox.
Jamie Rooney was selected by the Philadelphia Wings.
Greg Downing drafted by the New York Titans.
Boston Blazers 2007
Patrick Merrill, defense. Selected by the New York Titans, ends up with the Toronto Rock.
Arizona Sting 2008
Dan Dawson, forward. Dawson ended up with the Blazers thanks to a dispersal and left them the same way.
Scott Self, forward. Ended up with the Chicago Shamrox who later folded, and now with the Rochester Knighthawks.
Mike Grimes, defense. Went to the San Jose Stealth. The first of two dispersals for Self.
Jamie Rooney, forward. Went to the New York Titans. The first of two dispersals.
Chicago Shamrox 2008
Anthony Cosmo, goalie. Drafted by the Boston Blazers, who he’d later leave via dispersal.
Scott Self was dispersed twice in one year. Ends up with the Edmonton Rush.
Mike Kirk was selected by the Rochester Knighthawks. They would take him again when Boston dispersed.
Brad Self, defense. Selected by Colorado. Currently with Rochester.
Callum Crawford, forward. Was selected by the Edmonton Rush. Ended up with the Minnesota Swarm and currently with Colorado.
Pat Saunders, forward. Selected by Rochester, currently with the New England Black Wolves.
Portland Lumberjax 2009
Brodie Merrill, defense. Merrill went to Edmonton where he remained until he ended up in Philadelphia via a trade for Athan Iannucci. Currently with the Toronto Rock.
Tyler Codron, defense. Drafted by Toronto and currently with Colorado.
Orlando Titans 2010
Matt Vinc, goalie. Drafted by the Colorado Mammoth and traded right away to the Rochester Knighthawks for John Grant Jr. in one of the biggest trades in league history.
Rory Smith, defense. Smith was drafted by the Minnesota Swarm and has bounced between Colorado, Buffalo, and now with Vancouver.
Jordan Hall, forward. Hall was drafted by the Knighthawks. He spent a stint in Philadelphia before returning to Rochester.
Bill Greer, defense. The second draft Greer was a part of.
Boston Blazers 2011
Dan Dawson, forward. Dawson was selected by the Philadelphia Wings but eventually traded to the Rochester Knighthawks.
Kyle Rubisch, defense. Drafted by the Edmonton Rush and he remains with the organization. Rubisch at the time was an up and coming young defenseman and now he is one of the league’s best.
Anthony Cosmo, goalie. Drafted by the Minnesota Swarm and traded to the Buffalo Bandits when he would not report.
Mike Kirk, defense. Drafted by the Rochester Knighthawks and he has become one of the cornerstones of the franchise defensively.
Josh Sanderson, forward. Drafted by the Minnesota Swarm and traded to the Toronto Rock.
Greg Downing, defense, Minnesota Swarm.
Kevin Buchanan, forward. Was drafted by Buffalo before going to Philadelphia and now with the New England Black Wolves.
Mitch Belisle, defense, Minnesota Swarm.
Nick Rose, goalie. Drafted by the Calgary Roughnecks before being traded to Toronto where he starts along with Brandon Miller in net.
Jamie Rooney, forward. Drafted by the Washington Stealth but currently with the Buffalo Bandits.
Ryan Dilks, defense. Dilks was claimed off waivers from Toronto for the Blazers and emerged as a speedy defenseman. Has become a star with the Edmonton Rush.
Ryan Hotaling, transition. Drafted by Colorado and currently with the New England Black Wolves.
Damon Edwards, defense. Drafted by Buffalo. He stopped in the Canadian Lacrosse League for a while before settling with the Toronto Rock.
