The Denver Outlaws season ended in a Championship loss to the Chesapeake Bayhawks, but since then it has been a rebuilding process towards next season. The Outlaws have made many moves to revamp their roster, and that includes moving some top players.
“It is always difficult losing a talented player, but it is important to make sure that as a General Manager that I try to make us as good as a team as possible not just to go out and collect the best players.” said GM Tony Seaman, about losing Mark Matthews. “We needed to make some moves in the offseason that made us better for 2013 then we were in 2012.”
“Mark is a talented player.” continued head coach Jim Stagnitta. “The personnel decisions we make are certainly made with a plan and in the best interest of the team. We had great depth at the attack. The emergence of Chris Bocklet last season and the addition of Jeremy Boltus gives us a lot of options on that end of the field. We used Mark as a midfielder most of last season and while he accepted that role he was ultimately out of position. We will miss Mark while at the same time I believe we have made our team more balanced and addressed our needs through the trade.”
Denver also made other moves this off season, acquiring Zack Greer and Jeremy Boltus. “We believe that Jeremy Boltus gives us a right-handed attackman with outstanding ability to feed the ball and at the same time have the ability to get to the goal.” said Seaman. “We hope he will be a “point guard” on the attack for us this season. Zack Greer is not only expected to play but to help us contend for the Steinfeld Cup. He is an outstanding lacrosse player that has had tremendous success in this league. He gives us a player that can score goals both at the midfield and attack positions.”
Stagnitta agrees, saying he even met with Greer this off season and he is ready to go. “Zach is definitely expected to play. I have met with him on two occasions. He is a proven veteran and one of the best off-ball players ever to play the game. He wants to play on the Canadian national team and this gives him the opportunity to prepare for that. He was in the plan when we moved Mark.”
I asked Stagnitta how concerned he was about their MVP, Brendan Mundorf, who was injured in the playoffs and missed most of the championship. “No concerns- Brendan is as dedicated and hard a worker as I have ever been around. He has worked extremely hard to get back to 100 percentand I expect he will get back to his MVP-level in 2013.”
Seaman reiterates that Mundorf will be ready for the season. “Brendan Mundorf is the center of our offense and he heart of this team. His rehab has been going very well and there is no doubt that he will be ready to go in 2013.”
Seaman also spoke about the loss in the playoffs last year, and said it all starts with the regular season. “To have the terrific regular season that we had in 2012 and to finish the regular season with the best record in the league was quite an accomplishment for the Outlaws. To lose the MVP of the league to an injury the day before the semi final game on Championship Weekend and to be down by eight goals at half time and come back in the second half to win that game was outstanding. Losing the championship game is a great motivating factor as we prepare for the 2013 season. We learned a great deal as a result of that championship game about what we needed to change in order to challenge for another championship run in 2013. We believe as a staff that we have taken the necessary steps to challenge once again for that run in 2013. Time will tell.”
Stagnitta wrapped it up with the same thoughts. “We made the additions, adjustments and decisions we felt necessary to compete for the championship. We had some injury issues down the stretch and were able to overcome them to get to the championship game. We are all a year older and a year wiser. I wouldn’t call it rebounding, I consider it taking it the next step.”
