Saskatchewan swaps 23rd overall selection for Penney plus pick
The Saskatchewan Rush have announced the acquisition of goalie Eric Penney, the team trading the 23rd overall selection in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft to the Philadelphia Wings for Penney plus a second-round pick in the 2023 draft.
The Wings had signed Penney as a free agent in early January to bolster their goaltending depth behind starter Zach Higgins. It’s anticipated that Nolan Clayton will take over the full-time backup role in Philadelphia.
“We think Eric gives us more experience as a starter in the NLL,” Rush GM Derek Keenan said in a team statement. “We are at a critical stage in our season and believe Penney and (Adam) Shute can form a really solid tandem in goal.”
The Rush, who have had a shockingly rough start to their season, sit at 2-6 and fifth in the NLL’s West Division. While presently outside of the playoffs if the post-season was to start today, they are only a few wins shy of catching the Calgary Roughnecks for the coveted fourth spot in the standings.
Penney is excited about the opportunity presented to him by today’s somewhat surprising transaction.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the Saskatchewan Rush,” Penney told The Lax Mag. “I feel as though my playing style fits in really well with the defensive system they run. I am excited to be playing with a lot of great players in this organization.”
Adam Shute, Saskatchewan Rush
There had been much speculation earlier this year and again more recently regarding the Rush’s likelihood of pulling the trigger on a trade to flip their fortunes. Prior to their Week 12 loss to the Colorado Mammoth, Keenan had communicated that the team was relatively happy with the current Rush roster when he appeared on The Rod Pedersen Show.
“We’re going to stick with the group for now,” Keenan told the host. “We have a good mix now of veterans & young guys. We still have strong leadership at both ends. And we still think we can compete this year for a championship, but we gotta get on track.”
Shute, who took over the team’s #1 spot after Evan Kirk left the Rush for the Rochester Knighthawks, owns the seventh best GAA for starters in the NLL this year (9.78). The Calgary-native had been the Rush’s second stopper since 2018, seeing insignificant time behind Kirk. Shute has played nearly as many minutes in Saskatchewan’s cage this winter (479) than his previous four seasons in the league combined (589).
Based on Keenan’s quote today, like the Wings, the Rush clearly value Penney’s previous time starting in Vancouver. Over five seasons with the Stealth & Warriors Penney played 2,714 minutes.
In his solo start with the Wings this year, Penney was extremely impressive, stopping 50 shots and leading Philadelphia to an OT win over the Georgia Swarm. Penney is just a handful of goalies that have registered 50 or more saves in a single start this season. Although he’s only played 75 minutes this year, Penney’s .833 SV% is the highest in the NLL right now.
Shute had been backed up by Peter Dubenski this year. The Nanaimo-native was signed as a free agent just prior to the start of the 2021/22 season, having spent the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign with the Halifax Thunderbirds. Dubenski was drafted 34th overall by Calgary in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft, ironically, four selections ahead of Penney, who was taken by the Buffalo Bandits that year.
The Rush host the Mammoth this Saturday at the Sasktel Centre (8:30pm ET).