The New England Black Wolves roster looks far different than it did at the midpoint of the 2015 season. With the mid season additions of Garrett Billings and Andrew Suitor, the Black Wolves have an identifiable core that they lacked. The return of Quinn Powless from his ACL tear and the additions of rookies will also shape the way the team looks.
Several players broke out with the Black Wolves in 2015, including forwards Pat Saunders and Kyle Buchanan. Saunders led the team in scoring with 68 points, by far the most of his career. Buchanan’s 62 points were second on the team, the second best total in his career.
Going into the 2016 season, the following unit is projected to be the Black Wolves offense, along with future rookies:
| Pat Saunders | Garrett Billings |
| Kevin Buchanan | Kyle Buchanan |
| Jamie Lincoln | Brett Bucktooth |
| Mark Cockerton | Matt Crough |
| Josh Johnson | Quinn Powless |
| Garrett Thul |
The Wolves retained Bucktooth, who missed the start of last season with a knee injury himself. Billings also had a knee injury when he was with Toronto before he joined New England. Those two healthy, along with Powless, bring a different kind of offense than the beginning for last season.
Jamie Lincoln scored 26 points, the most since his 45 in his rookie year with Colorado in 2012. Most of the players last season saw breakout or improved seasons which could be projected again in 2016. Kevin Buchanan’s 56 points were just one short of his career high 57.
Saunders was retained as a restricted free agent, but the Buffalo Bandits attempted to sign him as lefty forward depth. Saunders had been playing in the Canadian Lacrosse League when the Philadelphia Wings signed him in 2014 before the team became the Black Wolves.
In fact, the entire New England roster has been built through many different avenues. Cockerton, Powless, Johnson, and Crough were drafted just last season. Kevin Buchanan signed as an FA away from Buffalo in 2014. Billings was acquired at a deadline trade from Toronto for the former face of the team, Kevin Crowley. Bucktooth and Lincoln were both free agent signings while Kyle Buchanan was acquired in a trade with the then Washington Stealth.
The roster for New England doesn’t hold many super stars on offense, except Billings. The rest of the team are role players and youngsters finding their rhythm in pro lacrosse, and 2016 might be when it all comes together for the Black Wolves.
