The Rochester Knighthawks have signed restricted free agent Garrett Billings to an offer sheet. The Toronto Rock now have until Monday evening to match the offer or Billings’ rights go to Rochester.
“He takes the sport very seriously and I really like Garrett as a person,” said Knighthawks VP of Lacrosse Paul Gait. “He’s always been a great lacrosse personality and has done great things in Toronto.”
Billings, who is in his sixth season in the NLL, has become of one of the most consistent point producers in the game. Over his five seasons with the Rock, he has collected 158 goals and 315 assists in 78 games. The past three seasons, Billings has been a First Team All-Pro and a finalist for the NLL MVP Award. He has also won back-to-back league Sportsmanship Awards (2013 and 2014).
In 2014, Billings led the NLL in average points-per-game (6.73) and finished third in the league with 101 points (32+69) in just 15 games due to an injury. By recording 101 points, he became the first player in league history to record three-straight 100-plus point seasons. He finished the 2014 campaign fourth in the league with 69 assists and 14th in goals with 32. It was a season in which he posted 10-plus points in three contests and registered a 12-point performance, which tied the single-game high by an NLL player in 2014.
The Langley, BC native, who played his college lacrosse at the University of Virginia, was the Rock’s first-round (sixth overall) selection in the 2009 NLL Entry Draft. He finished his first season with 33 goals and 50 assists en route to All-Rookie Team honors. Billings won a Champion’s Cup with the Rock in 2011.
