The official free agency lists are in and “empty” positions are up for grabs. However, the combination of the National Lacrosse League’s way of operating coupled with my lack of roster knowledge make for my very open and possibly obscure predictions.
In this article especially, any readers may feel free to comment any thoughts, suggestions and/or recommendations.
It’s a long way to the top
If you wanna rock and roll!
–ACDC
At least, that’s what one would assume when they hear the term “free agents.” In the National Football League (NFL), a player becoming a free agent is usually a precursor for, “Goodbye. Good luck with your next team.” This is also true for the NLL, BUT only rarely.
You see, the NLL has free agency regulations based on player ages and roster size restrictions rather than a team’s level of interest. A team still has the power to make anyone with expired contracts a free agent yet more often that not it is due to the age rule. Regarding the league, a new CBA deal between the league and player associations has been solidified, and many team roster changes are going to be made. As previously posted on the site by Marisa Ingemi, I’d like to highlight a few CBA outlines:
1. – Lowering of the qualifying age for Unrestricted Free Agency from 32 to 30 years old.
– Reduction of Franchise Designations per team from two to one.
– Ability for veteran players with ages 34 or older to reject Franchise Designation.
Other highlights of the CBA include:
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Increase of regular season schedule from 16 to 18 games.
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Expanded playoff format to include two-game series in the Divisional Finals and Championship rounds from previous single-game elimination format.
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Luxury Tax system inclusive of player salaries, bonuses and promotional consideration.
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Reduction of active rosters from 23 to 20 and increase of Practice Player rosters from three to four.
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Most players’ base salaries minimum and maximum limits will remain unchanged for the first two years of the agreement.
— Marisa Ingemi/Press Release, InLacrosseWeTrust
Teams will have two more games in the season, 3 less active players per game (18), and earlier free agency eligibility (meaning other teams looking at older players have better chances of snagging those players. Having 18 allotted competitive roster positions comes down to three lines of 5 players with 3 extra substitution players. In a sport such as hockey and indoor lacrosse, that’s a hell of a ton of running.
In the Buffalo Bandits’ case, most of their team members are well-aged and wise. This is a good aspect for the team because with age and wisdom come game experience and expert understandings of strategies and opponents. Troy Cordingley has different direction for the team; instead of looking for experience his goal is youth, stamina, power and energy. Even if the team needs to rebuild Cordingley hopes to replace much of the Bandits’ age with youth.
To top that off, one must also take into account the players. How many righties and lefties on the team are there? What type of playing style and strategies does Cordingley want to use, and which players can best fulfill those obligations? How is the league growing and would a younger team benefit this coach and team, or hinder their progress? All these questions go into the team decisions on a daily basis, I am sure.
Cordingley is already bringing on younger players. With 22 Bandits listed in one of three categories as free agents (restricted, potentially restricted, unrestricted), my early evaluations of those leaving the team, either due to cuts or player choices, are:
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Drew Petkoff
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Jamie Rooney
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Mike Hominuck
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Derek Suddons
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John Tarvares
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Ken Montour
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Tracey Kelusky
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Billy Dee Smith
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Chad Culp
Those remaining for potential playing time are:
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David Brock
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Steve Priolo
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Kurtis Wagar
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Nick Cotter
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Joe Smith
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Anthony Cosmo
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Shawn Williams
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Aaron Wilson
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Scott Stewart
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Ryan Benesch
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Jay Thorimburt
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Andrew Watt
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Rory Smith
Billy Dee Smith is older and less decorated than Andrew Watt, and the recent summer acquisition will probably take Smith’s roster spot. Tracey Kelusky and Mike Hominuck are sure-to-be goners due to the roster size reductions outlined in the new CBA. Hominuck is likely to find a place elsewhere while Kelusky has struggled his past two seasons.
Many of the other players who may get cut are left handed, and the Bandits are already left-heavy. To balance the team, Cordingley will most likely look to younger right handers for void filling.
Whether or not my predictions are correct one thing is certain. Cordingley’s younger direction will benefit the team when less players are accessible during competition, and the experience for the youthful team will quickly come early in the season, if not during preseason practices and scrimmages.
