Colorado Mammoth general manager Steve Govett was ready for one move but surprised by another in Wednesday’s National Lacrosse League expansion draft.
Edmonton selected a speedy, promising left-hander in Randy Daly, 25, with the 12th pick.
But Govett didn’t expect Portland to choose Del Halladay with the second-to-last selection in the 18-player draft. Halladay, 32, was Colorado’s second-leading goal scorer in 2003 with 30.
In 2004, Halladay scored 24 goals, tied for third-best on the NLL’s highest-scoring squad, which finished a league-best 13-3. Last season, while playing through a midsection injury, he scored 11 goals in 11 games and was scratched five times as the Mammoth tailed off to an 8-8 finish.
As an unrestricted free agent, Halladay can sign with any NLL team unless Portland tags him as a franchise player by the Aug. 1 deadline.
“After eight years in the league, to go to an expansion team is a bit of a stretch, but it’s not out of the question,” said Halladay, who owns and manages a winery in Penticton, British Columbia, an easy commute to Portland, Ore. “If I’m not a franchise player, I would look at other options.”
Portland general manager Derek Keenan said Wednesday that Halladay is likely to gain the franchise tag.
“With him still available, it was an easy pick,” Keenan said.
Keenan has loaded his team with youngsters who do not qualify for the franchise label: at least 32 years of age with six years of NLL experience.
With the retirement of Paul and Gary Gait, the Mammoth must replace all three forwards on the left side. Govett plans to do that via the upcoming entry draft and the dispersal draft of players from the defunct Anaheim Storm.
