NLL Power Rankings: Pre Season

Posted By on December 5, 2012

Colorado Mammoth….. Finished 11-5 last season, then suffered a 14-10 playoff loss at home to the Minnesota Swarm.  In 2013 the Mammoth have to be the favorite right now. Led by John Grant Jr’s record 116 points last season, Rookie of the Year Adam Jones, cagey veteran Gavin Prout, and Sean Pollock, this high powered offense can definitely fill the net and look to add more to that total by signing Colton Clark in the 2012 entry draft.   In 2012 the Mammoth scored the most goals (217), but also let up 201 for 6th in the league.  Chris Levis(G) is slated as the #1 going 10-4 in 2012,  Their only problem the last few times in the playoffs is getting past the first round.  If they can get past that hurdle they may be hoisting the Champions Cup. 

Calgary Roughnecks….Finished 12-4 (Western Div Champion Regular Season) and lost a first round playoff game to the Rush 19-11.  Led by Shawn Evans, Jeff Shattler, Daryl Veltman, Scott Ranger, and Dan Dobbie, this Roughneck team was able to score 216 times for 2nd overall in the league, and only allow a league low 170 goals against.  Goaltender Mike Poulin notched a 10-3 record.  In the entry draft the Roughnecks drafted Joe Resetaris and Matthew Dinsdale (6th & 7th overall) and look for both of these guys to help the team in there quest for their third Champions Cup.

Rochester Knighthawks.. 2012 Champions. Finished 7-9 in a tough Eastern Division.  If you look at their schedule from last season.  The Knighthawks had two losing streaks of three games, and only one winning streak of two games.  Led by Cody Jamieson’s 36 goals, and rookies Stephen Keogh, Johnny Powless and second year player Cory Vitarelli, add in returning veteran Casey Powell to the lineup and it makes this Knighthawk team strong.  Goaltender Matt Vinc had an up and down year, but I wouldn’t count on a second season of that. When talking to Pat O’Toole last season during the teams visit to Philadelphia, O’toole said “We have a very young team, and we will be going through our share of growing pains”.  Well if growing pains gets you the title, I will have those pains every year.

Toronto Rock.. Winners of the Eastern Division at 9-7 and led by All-Time Assist leader Garrett Billings, Colin Doyle, Stephan LeBlanc, & Josh Sanderson look to lead the Rock offense once again, and Goaltender Nick Rose looks to build  on his 2012 season with the Rock.  Rose continued his strong goaltending in the WLA with the Coquitlam Adanacs, add free agent Scott Evans and defender Kyle Belton and the Rock look to once again win the East and be the first team to win 7 titles in the N.L.L.

Philadelphia Wings  Finished 7-9 and in third in the east.  The Wings went into the playoffs losing there last 5 regular season games.  Facing the soon to be champion Knighthawks the Wings fell 14-13.  If one good thing came out of that game, the Wings outscored the Hawks 7-2 in the final quarter to build for this season.  Not having a draft pick until the 4th round, the Wings get Kevin Ross from the Swarm for a future first round pick, then trade David Brock and Mike Hominuk for Kevin Buchanan.  Both these guys will fill the spot left open by Brendan Mundorf who will be out until late February early March from ankle surgery.  Dan Dawson (103 pts), Drew Westervelt & Kevin Crowley (36 goals a piece) look to lead the offense.  Draft picks C.J. Costabile and Mike Manley hope they can help a already young defense which is led by veterans Paul Daawson and Brett Manney.  Goaltender Brandon Miller looks to rebound from a very sub-par year between the pipes while second year goalie Steve Fryer will be ready when called upon.  Fryer had a great summer, he was part of a Langley Thunder team that won their second consecutive WLA title and second appearance in the Mann Cup.  Fryer also picked up his first professional win.

Buffalo Bandits… Finished 4th in the East with a 7-9 record.  After starting 2-6, and not having a solid goalie, the Bandits win three of their final 4 games to make it in the playoffs. Led by veterans Johnny Tavares, Mark Steenhuis, the Bandits look to make a push to be one of the elite teams again.  In the 2012 draft the Bandits selected Dhane Smith 5th overall, and also obtained veteran Shawn Williams from Edmonton. They hope Smith & Williams can add to the Bandits offense.  A key loss here is the unsigned Luke Wiles, but to compensate the Bandits traded Jeremy Thomson and picked up goal scorer Aaron Wilson from the Rush

Minnesota Swarm… Finishing at 9-7 and a crushing defeat to the Rush in the western conference final, the Swarm went into the 2012 entry draft with 4 of the first 10 overall picks.  The Swarm selected Brock Sorenson (2), Kiel Matisz (3), Shayne Jackson (4), and Alex Crepinsek (10).  All four of these picks are expected to be inserted into the lineup for the Swarm.  Sorenson, Matisz and Jackson will be helping the offense already led by Crawford and Benesch.  Goaltenders Tyler Carlson (5-2) and Evan Kirk (4-4) look to carry the team to the top of the west and another shot at going to the champions cup.  They may not get there this year, but look out in the next few years…this team will only get stronger

Edmonton Rush.. Finished 6-10 and obviously the biggest surprise of 2012. The Rush went into the 2012 playoffs and defeated Calgary by a score of 19-11. The Rush then go to Minnesota and completely destroy the Swarm 15-3. In the Championship game at Rochester the Rush went into halftime leading 5-1 and in control of the game.  A third quarter collapse put them behind to stay as they fell 9-6 in the championship.  So you ask, What can they do?  Enter #1 overall pick Mark Matthews.  Matthews is already tabbed as the rookie of the year, and is the man slated to carry this Rush team back to the Championship once again.  Add Ryan Ward, Tom Johnson, this team will make an impact.  Goalies you have Aaron Bold who has proven he is a number 1 goalie in the NLL, now add Brodie MacDonald who has anoher year of WLA experience with the Langley Thunder leading them to there second straight WLA title and second Mann Cup appearance and you have a pair of goalies who can win.  This is a young team that can make some waves.

Washington Stealth…. Finishing at 4-12 and out of the playoffs the Stealth look to right the ship.  In 2010 they win the Champions Cup overToronto, and in 2011 they faced each other again, this time Toronto came out on top. Led by Rhys Duch, Lewis Ratcliff & Athan Iannucci, the Stealth look to once again not only make the playoffs, but to be a force in the west.  Goaltender Tyler Richard looks to get back that championship form.  The Stealth didn’t draft until round two when they drafted Tyler Garrison and Billy Hostrawser at numbers 11 & 12 overall

  1. Colorado—Need to get over the playoff hump
  2. Calgary—  Winning the West, but can they do more then that?
  3. Rochester—Still a young team, was it lightning in a bottle? Or are they for real?
  4. Toronto—    Always a threat in the East, and when playoff time comes…LOOK OUT
  5. Philadelphia—Asst GM Jimmy Butler can he make the Wings into the Titans of 2008 & 2009?
  6. Buffalo—     Can they return to the Buffalo of old?  How much is left in Johnny Tavares’ legs?
  7. Minnesota–  Too young, too soon? Are they the Knighthawk team of 2012?
  8. Edmonton—  Is Mark Matthews enough to propel Edmonton into contention for the West, and the cup?
  9. Washington–  No first round pick.  Can Duch along with Ratcliff and Iannucci  carry this team out of the basement?

All these questions and more to be answered in 31 days as the NLL season kicks off!!!!!