GM: ‘ We believe in these guys’
Roughnecks get vote of confidence as team makes one deadline day deal
What you see is what you’ve got for the Calgary Roughnecks.
Despite being last in the West Division with a 3- 9 record, the players received what was essentially a vote of confidence from their general manager on Tuesday when the National Lacrosse League’s 1 p. m. trade deadline came and went and no new players were shuttled into town.
“The last few days were busy with phone calls and talks, but I don’t think we got real close on anything in particular,” said general manager Mike Board. “We wanted to improve if we could, but we didn’t really see anything that fit without giving up key pieces.”
Often in the NLL, the off- season and the draft are busier when it comes to player movement. In his four years as GM, this has been the way it has always unfolded for Board and that’s the way it went again this year, too.
His lone deal was shipping 23- year- old forward Matthew ( Marty) Dinsdale to the divisionleading Edmonton Rush in exchange for a third- round draft pick in the 2015 draft.
Dinsdale, who had one goal in six games this season, became expendable when Calgary signed veteran free agent Sean Pollock two weeks ago.
“We weren’t actively shopping Marty by any means,” said Board. “But shortly after we picked up Pollock, they contacted us and said ( they) may be interested in Dinsdale. We ended up talking over the weekend and ended up being able to do a deal with our rivals up north.”
Dinsdale was a first- round pick of the Roughnecks in 2012, seventh overall.
“He was in and out of the roster sometimes, but he was nothing but a good professional and Edmonton got a good person and a good player,” said Board. “It just didn’t work out here, but we wish him the best moving forward and I think he’s excited for the opportunity.”
Board admitted the day may have played out differently had he not been able to pick up Pollock earlier after being released by Colorado.
“We needed to add some grit, sandpaper up front,” Board said. “Sean goes out there and he’s setting picks and creating havoc and eventually that makes space for the guys that put the ball in the net. He’s a very unselfish guy and he’s fit in real well.”
Board maintains the Roughnecks are a better team than their record shows. The Riggers are still digging out from a 0- 6 start.
“We weren’t sharp at the start of the season and it was a lesson learned, but since then, we’ve been 3- 3 and we’ve gone through a real tough stretch in our schedule playing Rochester a couple times and Toronto,” said Board. “As a management and coaching group, we believe in these guys. We believe that they can get it done and they need to believe that, too.”
After a frustrating 12- 10 loss to the Rock on Saturday, the Roughnecks are back on the floor this weekend for a crucial home- andhome with Colorado ( 7- 5). They play in Denver on Friday and are back at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday.
The team was frustrated after last game, playing as well as they did without winning, and Board hopes they stay fired up.
“Their work ethic and their effort has been very good, you can’t fault that. It’s not like they’re taking nights off. They’re playing hard,” said Board. “That was a hard- fought game from start to finish and to not win it, they got a little bit frustrated. That’s OK, we don’t mind that carrying over into the next game too. Keep fired up.”
As for the rest of the division, Colorado’s lone move Tuesday was adding University of Denver alumnus Cam Flint from the Minnesota Swarm. The 2013 fourth overall pick cost the Mammoth a secondand third- round pick in 2016.
In a swap of young, talented forwards, Vancouver ( 4- 7) picked up Logan Schuss from Minnesota in exchange for Johnny Powless. Other than adding Dinsdale, Edmonton ( 7- 4) stood pat.