Alex Urquhart
It is free agent time in the NLL, and means in depth coverage and analysis of every team in the league. Minnesota is what today is going to be. The Swarm have gone to the Conference Finals in both of the last two years. They have been able to get into the playoffs after having fairly lack luster regular seasons. But they have been winning it matters.
With the brand spanking new CBA that the League and Players agreed to. The new CBA has lowered the qualifying age for Unrestricted Free Agents from 32yrs old to 30yrs old. Also the new CBA reduces the Franchise Designation from two to one. It also spells out that a veteran over 34yrs old can decline the Franchise Designation. The other big change in the new CBA is the roster reduction of 23 to 20, with an increase of one for practice squad players.
These new developments are going to make the Free Agency this year much more interesting than past years have been.
Minnesota’s Potential Restricted Free Agents:
- Mitch Belisle
- Callum Crawford
- Jeff Gilbert
- Joe Cinosky
Most likely the Swarm will re-sign Crawford, and Belisle, while they most likely won’t re-sign Cinosky, who was a no show last season. Unfortunately Gilbert may be left tell later and after seeing if he gets offers from other teams.
Minnesota’s Restricted Free Agents:
- Greg Downing
With the Swarm’s great transition players it seems unrealistic for them to re-sign Downing right now.
Minnesota does not have any current Unrestricted Free Agents.
Most likely the Swarm are looking to keep as much as possible from last year’s team, while opening up spots for guys like Logan Schuss, Cam Flint, Jason Noble, and Scott Jones. These guys with later rounder’s will defiantly make a huge difference for the team, even if they steal jobs from beloved Swarm players.
