The NLL is one of the toughest leagues to crack an active roster. There are no minor league affiliates; there is simply a four-man practice squad. With there only being nine teams in the NLL, there’s only 180 active roster spots for players to compete for. With little turnover on rosters each season, many elite level players are left without NLL contracts. In the coming weeks I plan on revealing some of the top lacrosse players currently without NLL contracts. This week we will take a look at two recent Mann Cup Champions in Tom Montour & Scott DeFrancesco
Tom Montour (T)—Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) / Oshweken Demons (CLAX)
The 32 year old Montour, is one guy I cannot wrap my head around when thinking of players without NLL contracts. Montour is a veteran of 98 NLL regular season games, spanning 2003-2012. He’s produced every season he’s been on an active NLL roster, with his best season coming in 2007 when he racked up 11 goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 16 games. Overall Montour has appeared in 105 NLL games when including playoffs and has posted 50 goals and 99 assists for 149 points. For a transition player that has produced over a point per game throughout his NLL career he deserves a roster. Some may say at 32 Montour is past his prime, but this past summer Montour was an integral part of the Mann Cup Champion Six Nations Chiefs. During the MSL regular season Montour tallied two goals and five assists for seven points in a predominately defensive role for the club. Although during the playoff run he was thrust into more of an offensive role and was effective, racking up three goals and eight assists for 11 points in eight appearances. Montour is a tenacious defender, who at 32 still has great speed, he has great offensive and defensive instincts and is a very shifty and elusive offensively. He sports a cannon of a shot and has a great finishing ability. Teams may be scared away from Montour because of his age, and choose to go with a younger version of him, although I firmly believe that there is a spot for Montour on a NLL roster.
2013-14 CLAX Stats: GP 6, G 1, A 14, PTS 28, PIM 34
2013-14 MSL (Reg) Stats: GP 14, G 2, A 5, PTS 7, PIM 13
2013-14 MSL (Playoff) Stats: GP 8, G 3, A 8, PTS 11, PIM 0
2013-14 Mann Cup Stats, GP 3, G 0, A 0, PTS 0, PIM 2
Scott DeFrancesco (O)—Brooklin Merchants (Sr. B) / Six Nations Chiefs (MSL) / Durham Turfdogs (CLAX)
Scott DeFrancesco has produced offensively at every level of lacrosse and with every team he’s suited up for. The 6’3″, 185 lbs DeFrancesco was the lone bright spot on a lowly Mississauga Tomahawks squad between 2004-2007. Despite playing with little talent around him DeFrancesco racked up 200 points in just 74 regular season games. In his fifth and final year of Junior eligibility DeFrancesco took his talents to the West Coast and suited up for the Coquitlam Adanacs in an attempt to capture a Minto Cup, while DeFrancesco once again produced at a potent pace (34 goals and 50 assists for 84 points in 21 games) the Adanacs bailed out of the BC Jr. A Lacrosse League’s playoffs a series early. During DeFrancesco’s Junior career he even produced as a call-up with the then-powerhouse Brampton Excelsiors, scoring three goals and one assist in four appearances with the club. Despite playing the majority of his Sr career in the Ontario Sr. B loop, DeFrancesco has excelled in his time at the Major Level. During his 13 career Major Series appearances (which include five playoff games) DeFrancesco has over a Point Per Game average. In 79 career Sr. B games, he has a total of 254 points. And in his brief 36 game CLAX career he has managed a total of 107 points. To say Mr. DeFrancesco is a potent offensive threat would be an understatement. DeFrancesco’s elite level speed and athleticism along with his shiftiness make him extremely hard to defend. He works the pick and role game very well and is just as much of a threat inside as he is shooting from the outside. DeFrancesco can be trusted to be your number one option on offense or he can fit in as a depth forward and still produce, as he has playing alongside NLL Superstars Cody Jamieson, Jeff Shattler and Colin Doyle while suiting up for the Six Nations Chiefs the past two summers. If a team is willing to give him an opportunity DeFrancesco has the work ethic and mindset to be successful at the NLL level.
2013-2014 CLAX Stats: GP 6, G 8, A 9, PTS 17, PIM 29
2013-2014 Sr. B Stats: GP 17, G 21, A 25, PTS 46, PIM 38
2013-2014 Sr. B Playoff Stats: GP 2, G 2, A 1, PTS 3, PIM 0
2013-2014 MSL Stats: GP 4, G 7, A 1, PTS 8, PIM 0
2013-2014 MSL Playoff Stats: GP 4, G 1, A 2, PTS 3, PIM 4
