While the Buffalo Bandits ended their 2015 NLL regular season on a positive note with their respectable 11-7 finish and making the playoffs, it was their abrupt exit in the first round to the defending NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks (who also swept the season series with the Bandits) that left Banditland fans scratching their heads and asking what happened?
Offense:
The Buffalo Bandits offensive efforts this season was truly a sight to behold. One of the big changes this year was the addition of Dhane Smith to full-time forward. Not only did Dhane greatly improve on his own game, but he also helped elevate the offensive output of forwards Ryan Benesch and Mark Steenhuis. Benesch had a landmark year for himself as he led the league with 55 goals (career best), tallying 58 assists (career best), 113 points (career best) and 99 loose balls (career best). Steenhuis also relished at the opportunity to showcase his offensive skills once again and was truly put to the test this year. Steenhuis was third on the team in scoring and saw his stats rise again from 63 points (31G, 32A) the previous year to 95 points this year (36G, 59A).
Overall: With recent news of Steenhuis being out for either part or all of the 2016 NLL season with partial ACL and MCL tears (combined with his franchise tag status from last year), the Bandits will need to desperately scour free agency to replace the gaping wound left by Steenhuis’ absence and his 95 points. With Steenhuis out, this does though leave a very big chance for one of the Bandits practice squad players like Corey Fowler or Mitch Jones to step up and take a shot for the opening or maybe Bandits legend John Tavares might be lured into sticking around for the 2016 season in the hopes of a larger role in the offense and to not leave his team in the dark offensively. The other possibility is that Tavares may retire during the off season and create an even larger hole in the offense and possibly leave the Bandits taking some really big risks in free agency to reel in some very big name talent.
Transition:
In 2015, the Bandits continued with their exceptional work in their transition game. The teams’ ability to utilize each transitional player’s special abilities (from Wilde’s speed to Kedoh-Hill’s scoring touch) helped lead the team to success night in and night out. The star of the Bandits transition game in 2015 was faceoff king Jay Thorimbert. Thorimbert had a truly banner year for himself as he recorded 13 points (7G, 6A) and set NLL league records in both loose balls (246) and faceoff wins (338). Thorimbert was also a solid defender and great at pushing the ball up the floor.
Another transitional highlight was the return of Alex Kedoh-Hill to the Bandits. It looked like the year away from the NLL helped the transition specialist as he recorded 49 points (23G, 26A), 101 loose balls and forced 23 turnovers while giving the Bandits a solid starter game in and game out.
Overall: With the stellar play of Thorimbert and Kedoh-Hill combined with the youth and speed of Mitch Wilde and the gritty defensive effort from newcomer Nick Weiss, the Bandits have an incredible combination of youth and experience at transition and hope to see that same success return next season.
Defense:
The Buffalo Bandits defense was a little shorthanded during the 2015 NLL season as the team only listed three pure defensemen to the starting roster. 2014 NLL defensive player of the year nominee Steve Priolo, Billy Dee Smith and Derek Suddons were definitely a force to be reckoned with during the regular season and into the playoffs. Their tall stature and incredibly physical play were something that opponents feared and yet also respected. The only bad side to being big and physical is their ability to be noticed when penalties are called.
Billy Dee Smith was sixth in the league this year with 53 penalty minutes while Priolo was eighth in the league with 48 penalty minutes. Unfortunately for Priolo and Smith, their ability to draw penalties put the Bandits defense in too many short handed situations that led the opponent’s offense back into games when they were down a goal or two. Priolo though did help his standings with the team by being a defensive scoring threat yet again. Priolo scaled back his offensive output this year (20 points) compared to last (26 points) and still lived up to reputation as coast to coast Priolo for his ability to take the ball deep into the opponent’s zone and ripping a goal or two.
Overall: The Bandits need to either draft more pure defensive players to the roster or through free agency as while the team does put up a very tough and skilled front, the times when possibly one or two inexperienced transition players join in can lead to gaps in man coverage. Goaltender Anthony Cosmo had himself a lackluster (compared to last season) 2015 NLL regular season. Cosmo was ranked sixth in the league with an 11.31 GAA while also leading goaltenders in saves with 681 but that was also compared to his second last standing in goals allowed with 191. The lack of true defensive players left Cosmo many a time trying to do too much and being too overworked. Hopefully the team will look into upgrading the defense and restoring Cosmo’s confidence in his abilities to return to 2014 season form.
