Analyzing the Jeremy Noble Trade
In a move everyone expected to happen sooner or later, the Colorado Mammoth finally pulled the trigger on a deal that netted them 2014 second overall pick Jeremy Noble. The Mammoth sent a third round pick in the 2015 NLL draft, along with first rounders in 2016 and 2017 to the Knighthawks in exchange for Noble and a third round pick in the 2017 NLL draft.
In acquiring the 5-foot-9, 170 pound righty from Orangeville, Ontario, the Colorado Mammoth get a proven offensive weapon, and more importantly a proven winner. Noble has won everywhere he has been, winning three Minto Cups with the Orangeville Northmen in 2008, 2009 and 2012, an MLL championship with the Denver Outlaws and a World Field Championship with Team Canada. Noble is also quite decorated as an individual, having been named the Most Outstanding Player during the 2010 OLA Junior Playoffs, the OLA Junior A Most Outstanding Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2012. Noble was also twice named a league All-Star during his five-year Junior A career with the Northmen. Throughout his five seasons with the Northmen, Noble appeared in 79 regular season games, racking up 139 goals and 182 assists for 321 points. Noble also added 112 goals and 190 assists in 87 career playoff games. Last summer with the Oakville Rock, Noble got his first taste of pro lacrosse suiting up for six games with the Rock, tallying six goals and 12 assists for 18 points.
Noble will bring a ton to the Mammoth offense. His lacrosse IQ is off the charts, the way he thinks the game is on the same level as the elite players in the NLL today. Noble possesses an excellent outside shot that is both hard and accurate, he reads defenses well, and excels in the pick and roll game. While Noble is an excellent finisher in tight, he excels in possession of the ball, as his vision and playmaking ability are elite. Size has always been a question mark with Noble, however his tenacious, fearless style of play allow him to excel. Noble’s desire to win, compete level and leadership qualities will go a long way in the Mammoth dressing room.
Noble has a connection with a couple current Mammoth players, as he suited up with goaltender Dillon Ward and offensive star Adam Jones during his junior days with the Orangeville Northmen.
From a Rochester perspective, their hands were kind of forced here as Noble refused to report to the Knighthawks due to work commitments in the Denver area. Considering the Knighthawks had only a few possible trade destinations for Noble, I believe they got a fair return for him. Noble wasn’t suiting up for Rochester and likely wasn’t planning on doing so in the near future either—acquiring two first rounders and a third for a player who wasn’t likely to don your team’s jersey is a good deal in my books. Rochester now has a ton of picks in the next three NLL drafts. With the core of their roster relatively young, the Knighthawks have set themselves up in a fantastic spot moving forward, as they’ll be able to continuously add top young talent to an already deep and talented roster.
Noble is the first domino to fall prior to the 2015 NLL trade deadline, with the ongoing Garrett Billings trade talk swirling, Noble may not be the only big name player to move in the coming weeks. To make room for Noble on the Mammoth’s active roster, they have released 32 year old Sean Pollock from the roster. Pollock is currently fourth in Colorado team scoring with 27 points in nine games. The release of Pollock continues the Mammoth’s trend of going young.
