NLL active rosters are some of the toughest rosters in pro sports to crack. With just nine teams made up of 16 runners and two goalies dressing on a game by game basis, many elite level lacrosse players are finding themselves without jobs as the NLL season is set to kick off in just under 24 hours time. Here are some of the best players left off both active and practice rosters as the season kicks off.
Mike Burke (O)
Mike Burke had an interesting offseason; the former Edmonton Rush offensive player was originally signed as a free agent by the Toronto Rock. However Burke was subsequently traded to the New England Black Wolves as part of the Brodie Merrill deal, but when Burke failed to stand out in Black Wolves camp, he was released by the team. The Toronto Rock then signed Burke again, as they looked to fill a need on the right side of their offense. Though Burke showed well in Rock camp, he was subsequently released again. Mike Burke is one of those players who if the NLL had one more team, would be an unquestioned everyday NLL player. He should find himself on an active NLL roster at some point this season when injuries occur. Burke has always been a potent offensive threat, having racked up 292 points in 66 career games at the Junior A level with the Brampton Excelsiors. Burke has also seen offensive success at both the MSL and CLAX levels, scoring 44 goals and 72 assists for 126 points during his 45 game Major Series career, as well as adding 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in just five Canadian Lacrosse League games.
Potential Landing Spots: Toronto, Calgary, New England
I have Toronto, Calgary and New England as possible landing spots for a few reasons. The Rock staff are clearly interested in Burke as they signed him twice in one offseason, and he’s long been on the team’s radar since his early NLL days with the Edmonton Rush. With some uncertainty on their right side, Burke may not need an injury to earn a roster spot, as rookie Brandon Benn is unproven at the NLL level and Brett Hickey has limited experience in the NLL. If one or both of Hickey and Benn struggle to produce early on, don’t expect the Rock to stand idle, as they’ll look to improve quickly. While Calgary is deep up front, one injury to the right side of their offense may have them searching for candidate to fill in. Brian Beisel is the Roughnecks eastern area scout these days and is very familiar with Burke’s play, having coached him in Junior with the Brampton Excelsiors. Burke could be a fit in Calgary, although of the three teams mentioned it’s the biggest long shot. The Black Wolves had enough interest in Burke to ask for him in a trade for Brodie Merrill, that alone should signify interest. However he was released fairly early in camp, for a player I myself thought had a strong chance to make the final roster. The Black Wolves right side boasts the likes of Kevin Crowley, Brett Bucktooth, Kyle Buchanan and Quinn Powless. If the right side doesn’t produce, look for Burke to be one of the first calls the Black Wolves make.
Colin Boucher (D)
After signing really early on in NLL offseason with the Colorado Mammoth, the 6’5″, 235 lb defender look poised to finally crack an NLL roster after years of hard work. However Boucher was released by the Mammoth, and has yet to be picked up by another NLL club. While Boucher may not have the hands of some of the elite defenders in the NLL, he’s as physical and intimidating as they come. Boucher uses his natural physical attributes along with his strong anticipation skills and excellent defensive instincts to excel on the back end. Boucher has worked his way from the Huntsville Sr. B Hawks, to the powerhouse St Catharines Saints Sr. B team, to the Mann Cup Winning Six Nations Chiefs. The final step in his journey to the NLL would be finally securing himself an active roster, as he’s spent time on the Buffalo Bandits practice roster in the past. Boucher is another player who would undoubtedly be an NLL regular if the league had one more team, or even one more roster spot per team. He’s so close, I would bet by midway through the season he’s seeing active duty on some team’s backend.
Potential Landing Spots: Buffalo, Rochester, New England
If/when Boucher lands on an active NLL roster, I expect it to be one of Buffalo, Rochester or New England. Buffalo has a familiarity with Boucher, who not only spent last season on their practice roster, but his head coach with the Six Nations Chiefs, Rich Kilgour, is an assistant with the Bandits and has seen Boucher thrive throughout the past two seasons with the Chiefs. The Knighthawks love their big physical defenders, and Boucher fits the mould. Not only does Boucher fit the mould of the Knighthawks defensive core, he has a familiarity with a number of the current Knighthawks players, having won multiple Mann Cups with several of the current Knighthawks. The Black Wolves are another NLL team that seem to be trending towards the big physical defenders. If the current defense core struggles, they may look to someone with more NLL experience, however Boucher would be as good an option as any. If you can succeed on a team like the Six Nations Chiefs and play over other NLL regulars in a Mann Cup final you are more the deserving of a spot on an active NLL roster.
Kevin Croswell (G)
Croswell looked to have the backup job in New England all but secured, until the Black Wolves traded for Tye Belanger. Belanger found himself on the outside looking in, in Colorado, and when he became available the Black Wolves jumped all over him. Croswell has faired well throughout his lengthy pro career; while the win/loss numbers may not be earth shattering, he has been a reliable option in goal for over eight NLL seasons. Croswell’s niche in the NLL has been as a backup goaltender, and that’s where he’ll likely find himself when a team is in dire need for a reliable veteran goaltender on their roster.
Potential Landing Spots: Minnesota, New England, Buffalo
If Croswell is to find himself back in the NLL in 2015, it will likely be with one of New England, Minnesota or Buffalo. The Black Wolves are probably the most obvious team of the three. New England was all but set with Croswell as their backup until Belanger came available late in training camp. He would easily adjust to the team, be familiar with the defensive schemes, coaching staff and players. In Buffalo, while David DiRuscio has proven he is one of the elite young goaltenders in the business, if Cosmo goes down, the Bandits would probably like to have some veteran leadership at least on the active roster behind DiRuscio. Minnesota, Croswell spent five seasons with the Swarm organization from 2008 to 2011, and would surely welcome returning to the organization. The Swarm coaching staff is also the Peterborough Lakers MSL coaching staff, a team which Croswell has suited up with during previous summer seasons. They have a familiarity with Croswell, and they have two young, unestablished goalies currently occupying their two goaltending spots. While I have tremendous confidence that Zack Higgins and Brodie MacDonald can hold down the fort in Minnesota, if one goes down, I believe Croswell makes tons of sense.
Gavin Prout (O)
Prout was signed by the Rochester Knighthawks a few weeks into training camp, when the Knighthawks were notified that Jeremy Noble would not be joining them this season. Prout showed he still had something left in the tank throughout training camp and the preseason, but when the Knighthawks signed Aaron Wilson late in training camp, the writing was on the wall for Prout. Prout is undoubtedly nearing the end of his career, and is by no means the same Gavin Prout that was putting up 70-plus points a season, nine out of 13 seasons he was an NLL regular. However he can still contribute in a depth role, is a likeable guy in the dressing room and not only brings skill, but veteran leadership. Prout could easily come into a team an put up a 15-20 goal, 40-50 point season, in the right situation.
Potential Landing Spots: Rochester, Minnesota, Colorado
Two of the more easy teams to suggest Prout may end up with are Rochester and Colorado, and for seemingly obvious reasons to the average NLL fan. Prout narrowly missed out on an active roster spot with the Rochester Knighthawks, with Rochester carrying four offensive righties, one being rookie Chris Attwood and the others the oft injured Craig Point, the aging Aaron Wilson and Dan Dawson, the possibility that one of them goes down is fairly likely. And with Prout having been around in training camp, and the team growing fond of him, landing back in Rochester would make a ton of sense. While its hard for me to see Prout pulling a Minnesota Swarm jersey over his head, it does make sense. Prout played summer lacrosse for a few seasons in Peterborough under members of the current Swarm coaching staff, so the familiarity factor is there. Prout also would add depth to a thin right side, as Callum Crawford is the only pure offensive threat with NLL experience. Miles Thompson will produce just fine, but adding a veteran presence like Prout to their right side may end up being needed. With Colorado, Prout has strong ties to the Mammoth franchise, leading them to their only NLL Championship and being the heart and soul of the Mammoth franchise for a number of years. Athan Iannucci, Drew Westervelt and Sean Pollock are the only righties listed on the Mammoth active roster and if one goes down, they’ll need to add. Prout makes a ton of sense.
Other Players to Keep an Eye on,
Luke Wiles (O)—Formerly of the New England Black Wolves
Marty Hill (O)—Formerly of the Buffalo Bandits
Mike Lum-Walker (D)—Formerly of the Toronto Rock
Casey Jackson (O)—Formerly of the Calgary Roughnecks
Glen Bryan (D)—Formerly of the Buffalo Bandits
Jim Purves (T)—Formerly of the Toronto Rock
Mat McLeod (T)—Formerly of the Colorado Mammoth
