For three of the nine teams in the NLL, the 2015 season is half over; the remaining teams are on;y a game or two shy of the mid-point. With that in mind, it’s time to have a look at the frontrunners for the MVP award this year.
Josh Sanderson, Toronto Rock—At 37 years of age, Shooter Sanderson is on pace to have the best year of his career. That’s saying something, since he has broken the 100-point barrier four times already. This year he has put up a whopping 62 points in nine games—if he picks up just one point per game the rest of the way, he’ll have completed his most productive year since 2010. Above and beyond all the points, Sanderson also has the most loose balls (56) of anyone in the top 20 scoring leaders this year.
Rob Hellyer, Toronto Rock—Right behind Sanderson in league scoring is teammate Rob Hellyer. He’s on pace for 120 points this year, which of course would blow away the league record. Hellyer also needs just six more goals to tie his own personal best. The question I have at this stage of the season is whether or not teammates Sanderson and Hellyer might split the MVP vote. If they do, a third possibility might sneak between them to steal the award.
Shawn Evans, Calgary Roughnecks—In what has otherwise been a disastrous season for the Roughnecks, Evans has been having yet another monster year. On the heels of back-to-back 100-point seasons and an MVP in 2013, Evans has 60 points in just eight games, putting him on pace for 135 over a full schedule. The things that might hold him back from winning a second MVP in three years are penalty trouble which may eventually slow his scoring pace and playing for the worst team in the NLL.
