One of these years, the Philadelphia Wings long ago understood, they would be learning to live without goaltender Dallas Eliuk, perhaps the best netminder in professional lacrosse history.

Today, that became reality, when the Wings honored Eliuk's request for a trade, sending the fifteen-year veteran and a 2006 second-round draft choice to the Portland LumberJax for a 2007 first-round pick.

It was a trade nobody in the Wings organization wanted to make.

"This was the hardest decision I've ever had to make as owner of this franchise," Wings co-owner and president Russ Cline said. "Dallas has been an integral part of our organization for fifteen years. He is synonymous with indoor lacrosse in Philadelphia."

The trade became a necessity, though, when Eliuk, 41, requested a trade to a team closer to his home in Vancouver -- and Portland is as close as they come, just a five-hour drive away.

"I think the world of Philadelphia," Eliuk said. "This was a very difficult decision, but right now, I have to think of my family first and be closer to home.

"I want to thank Russ, the entire Wings organization, and Wings fans for the loyalty and support they have shown me over the past 15 years."

Eliuk was so deadset on shifting to a West Coast team, according to a report last week on the The Lacrosse Journal web site, that he was petitioning for hardship free agency, in the event a deal could not be reached.

Although that may have left the Wings in a weakened trading position, Philadelphia still has two experienced goaltenders on its roster, Matt Roik and Erik Miller.

Eliuk leaves Philadelphia, the only NLL team he has ever played for, as the league's alltime leader in shots faced (7,040) and saves (5,372), has been named an All-Pro nine times, won four championships (1994, 1995, 1998 and 2001), and reached the title game three other times (1992, 1993, 1996).

With his first appearance for Portland, Eliuk will break a tie with Gary Gait and Tim Soudan by playing in sixteen seasons.