Boston Cannons – Kevin Buchanan – Now, Buchanan is not a poor lacrosse player at all. He led the Cannons in goals last season and ranked third on the team in points. However, in the form of a breakout season, I feel like Buchanan is going to have an MVP type season. With Rabil on the roster, a lot of focus tends to transfer to him. This leaves players like Buchanan open. I feel as if Buchanan is going to put up MVP type numbers this season.
Charlotte Hounds – Jovan Miller – Miller posted twenty-one points last season on thirteen goals and six assists. Miller is a speedy, young, and athletic mid-fielder who gets up and down the field with ease. With the hounds entering their second season in the league, their team will get tighter and overall play with improve. Miller has the ability to make defenders miss in front of the net as he can develop his own shot. Don’t be surprised if you find Miller atop the Hounds’ stat sheets this season.
Chesapeake Bayhawks – Ben Hunt – It would be hard for any underrated player to find himself a top the Bayhawks’ stat sheets with the amount of talent on that roster. However, Ben Hunt has the ability to do just that. He put up nineteen points last season with fifteen goals and one assist. Hunt is now entering his fourth season in the league and is ready to propel to the top of the league. He is a midfielder who excels on the offense side of the ball. With Hunt possibly blooming this season, the Bayhawks are going to be an even scarier team.
Denver Outlaws – Chris Bocklet – The Denver Outlaws had their best season in franchise history last season. They had the league MVP on their roster. However, come playoff time, their play was nothing near how they played in the regular season. They relied too heavily in the big names on their roster. There are players on their roster who have the potential to be a star in this league and Chris Bocklet is one of those players. Bocklet put up twenty points last season, with seventeen goals and three assists. With defenses tending to focus on Mundorf, the defending league MVP come this season, players such as Bocklet are going to find themselves with more opportunities, and Bocklet is going to take advantage of those opportunities.
Hamilton Nationals – Brett Queener – Queener was the Nationals’ goaltender last season. The Nationals were nothing to brag about last season as they were bottom dwellers in their league. Queener is a veteran of the league and has had some decent seasons in the past. However, the Nationals are another young, athletic, and rising team. I feel that the defense of the Nationals will improve next season allowing tougher shots on goal and better opportunities for Queener. Also, the Nationals offense will improve allowing them to control the pace of the game and have more possession of the ball.
New York Lizards – CJ Costabile – Costabile is entering his second season in the MLL following his rookie campaign in the NLL. Costabile is a big bodied, really athletic defender who can lock down the best the other team has to offer already in his early career. A dominate defender is sought after by every team. Anyone who can lock down the best attacker an opposing team has to offer is defiantly a wanted player. Costabile is going to be one of the best defenders in the MLL come next season.
Ohio Machine – Steele Stanwick – This was the easiest of the players to select to have a “break-out” season. Stanwick played just half of the 2012 MLL season but still put up twenty-eight points on eleven goals and seventeen assists. In just half a seasons of play Stanwick was fourth on the Machine in points. With a full season of play approaching, Stanwick has the ability and potential to put MVP type numbers. Stanwick is one of the best passers the league has to offer. He seems to always find the right person in the right time. Because of his feared passing ability, this opens lanes for him to score as well. Don’t be too shocked when Stanwick’s name is mentioned in the MVP discussion next season.
Rochester Rattlers – John Galloway – Galloway has increasingly gotten better from his rookie year to his sophomore season last year. His rookie year he only won’t two games with a goal allowed average over thirteen. Last season he won six games with a GAA under thirteen. He is part of a young and athletic Rochester Rattlers’ squad that is also getting better with experience and age. If Galloway betters himself as well as he did between his rookie and sophomore season for this season, he’ll be in discussion for goaltender of the year.
