This
offseason for the Boston Cannons has already been a little crazy with now
former Coach John Tucker leaving the Cannons to head the newly added Atlanta
Blaze team. Not only that but the Cannons will be forced to go into a year of
an expansion year without a head coach at this time. It will be tough for the
Boston Cannons to replace such a talented coach in John Tucker who was voted
the 2015 MLL Brine Coach of the Year after leading the new look Cannons to an
8-6 record after getting rid of Superstar Paul Rabil. The loss of John Tucker
will be a tough task and the man who will have to replace him will have big
shoes to fit.
Not only will the Cannons have to find a new head coach but also
need to prepare for the Upcoming MLL Expansion Draft that will take place on
November 18th, 2015 starting at 2 P.M.. In preparation for this Expansion Draft
the Cannons have already chosen the 23 players the initially wanted to protect.
Those players are: Brent Adams
(M), Mitchell Belisle (D), Martin Bowes (M), Kevin Buchanan
(A), Craig Bunker (M/FO), Jordan Burke (G), David Emala
(A), Rob Emery (M), Tyler German (M), Adam Ghitelman
(G), John Glesener (A), Josh Hawkins (M), William Manny
(A), Scott McWilliams (D), Brodie Merrill (D), Jack
Murphy (G), Joe Nardella (M), Scott Ratliff (D), Maxwell Seibald
(M), Wells Stanwick (A), Ryan Tucker (M), Chadwick Wiedmaier
(D), Ryan Young (A).
Of those 23 players on the list of protected
players, the list will be cut down to only 10 or 12 players by Wednesday
October 7th at 5 P.M. The amount of players the Cannons decides to protect
depends on a certain variable, if the Cannons decide to protect two goalies
then they can only protect ten total players, but if they decide to only
protect one or no goalies they can protect 12 players. Their will be some tough
decisions the Cannons will have to make here is how I think the Cannons may go.
1) Will Manny-The Captain of this Cannons
team is an automatic lock their is no way the Cannons do not protect Manny, he
is the leader of this team and executes well in big time situations. Manny lead
the team in points with 44 as well as being the teams leading distributor with
15 assists, he also added 28 goals which was good for second most in goals on
the team. Manny is the do it all guy for the Cannons so would be a
huge surprise if they did not protect him not only because he is young but
he really did it all for the Cannons last year.
2) Max Seibald-The man who was apart of the
blockbuster deal that sent Paul Rabil to New York and brought him to the
Cannons, is someone that the Cannons should hold on to. Seibald in his first
season with the Cannons had a great year including being selected to the MLL
All-Star game. Seibald had 17 goals (2 2pt goals) and 9 assists giving him 28
points for the year. Seibald anchored the first line Midfield for the Cannons,
and really helped some of the younger guys step up and have breakout years.
Seibald has been in the league for 7 years though which could make some Cannons
believe they should maybe pass on him and protect a young guy but I think you
have to protect someone with as much Star power as Seibald has.
3) Kevin Buchanan-Has been a part of the
Cannons team since 2010 and has been a huge contributor since then, he has
helped bring a Championship home to Boston and has constantly helped the
Cannons every year whether it be playing Attack or helping out at Midfield,
Buchanan really seems to thrive in every situation he is placed in. Last year
Buchanan contributed 21 goals (1 2pt goal) and 8 assists giving him 30 points
total for the season which lead all Midfielders on the team. But just like
Seibald the question of age is the same deal with Buchanan who has also been in
the league 7 years, some look at age in the MLL and think it is a bad thing
while others look at and think it's a good thing and I think holding on to
Buchanan would be a great thing for the Cannons since he seems to show no signs
of slowing down, especially when he is being paired with someone like
Seibald to run the first line Midfield.
4) Wells Stanwick-Yes I think the Cannons
will protect Steele Stanwick's little brother and former Johns Hopkins star
Wells. I personally LOVE Wells' game he is a unique finisher and does whatever
you ask of him, which we saw on display in his four years at Johns Hopkins
putting up 208 career points, 84 goals and 124 assists. Stanwick came right in
from the end of his college season and only played in 6 games and had 8
points (4 Goals, 4 assists). I think the Cannons look at Wells' college film
and realize that if they can add him to the mix at Attack and actually get to
see a full season from Wells they could have a star on their hands and that is
why I believe they hold onto Wells and protect him.
5) Scott Ratliff-The most exciting
Long-Stick Midfielder to watch is absolutely sticking around with the Cannons,
Ratliff plays great defense as well as helps so much in the transition game as
well. Let these numbers sink in Ratliff had 20 points last year for the Cannons
yeah as a LSM he had 20 points! That is crazy he had 8 goals (3 2pt goals) and
9 assists. Ratliff also lead the Cannons in ground balls with 81
essentially Ratliff is just a freak of nature who can run around and shut down
any teams best Midfielder and when Ratliff gets the ball on a clear or off a
draw coming in off the wing you better watch out because this man is a freak of
nature and NOBODY passes up on someone like Ratliff.
6) John Glesener-The former Army star suited
up for the Cannons last year and when he stepped on the field he was big for
the Cannons. Glesener only saw playing time in 4 games last year having
7 goals (3 2pt goals) and 2 assists giving him 12 points on the season. Glesener
in his Rookie season really caught my eye just like Stanwick, but Glesener
caught my eye for a different reason unlike Stanwick who is
an unbelievable distributor, Glesener has an the ability to finish and
score goals at will. Glesener is 6'3 214 Ilbs. yeah that is a pretty scary and
big attack men right there he backs down from nobody and I love that.
I think just like Stanwick you give Glesener another year in this
Cannons system and the sky is the limits for him.
7) Brodie Merill- He has been around this
game for years and has slowly seen his numbers decline the last few years, but
to me you still have to hope he is what he used to be, and I think he does
have glimpses in which he shows his old self. Which is why I think the Cannons
protect him don't get me wrong Merill is still a great close defensemen and can
still stay go out their and cover the best Attackmen on any team, but Merill
now has to bully them a little bit more really use his strength against these
younger quicker Attackmen, and I think Merill can still do that for a few more
years which is why I think the Cannons protect him.
8) Josh Hawkins- A local kid from Amherst,
Massachusetts has to be protected by the Cannons right? YES! Hawkins is not
your typical short-stick Midfielder, who can go out and produce points like
it's nobody's job that is not how Josh really operates, He is a in your face
chase you around short-stick defender and he can shut down the best Midfielders
on most teams. Hawkins who saw himself get traded mid-way through last season
to his hometown team of the Cannons played well in his time with the team.
Their is one thing the Cannons have to realize if they protect Hawkins they are
getting somebody who can do a little bit offensively but they are getting
someone who is a big time defensive player.
9) David Emala-The question last year was
who was this guy? And where the heck did we find him? Before this season Emala
had played a total of 3 games in the MLL for the Charlotte Hounds, and he did
nothing putting up 0 points in 3 games. Something must have just clicked when
he put on a Cannons uniform and exploded out of the gate. Scoring 33 goals and
dishing out 5 assists giving him 38 points on the season. Emala came out of no
where and pretty much became one of the Cannons go to opinions when they
needed someone to step up big. Emala provided a great scorer at the Attack
position along side do it all man Will Manny. The whole league was blown away
by his performance, which lead him to earn the Brine's Most Improved Player
Award. Their is no way the Cannons pass on someone who seems to be as talented
and has such breakout potential like Emala, if their is one thing the
Cannons are hoping it is they can keep finding diamonds in the rough like
Emala.
10) Mitch Belisle-Is another outstanding
close defender who helped anchor the Cannons defense last year but just like
Merill they are both starting to get up their in age. But it seems like at
times that doesn't seem to be slowing down Belisle which shows why he was
selected to the MLL All-Star game last year. I love the way he plays and he is
constantly winning where ever he goes, and who doesn't want a guy on their team
that all he wants to do is win.
11) Brent Adams-Another somewhat diamond in
the rough became a nice component to the Cannons Midfield last year. Adams who
has spent four years in the MLL 3 of those years coming with the Cannons really
displayed his ability to know the system and could contribute big time now that
Rabil was gone. Adams had 17 goals (1 2pt Goal) and had 6 assists. Adams
provided a nice ability to step up and fill in that 3rd Midfielder on the first
Midfield line since the Cannons got rid of Rabil. Adams displayed a great
ability to score and move the ball and when you have Midfielders who can score
the ball that takes some of the pressure off the Attackmen which is
exactly what the Cannons did last year with their great Midfield play. Not to
mention Adams was also selected to the MLL All-Star game last year so I think
it would be hard to let someone like Adams walk.
12) Jordan Burke-This was the
toughest choice the Cannons will have to make which is at the Goalie
position Jordan Burke or Adam Ghitlelman. I think it is Burke, an NO it is not
because Ghitelman tried to go coast to coast and score the game winning goal
against the Lizards last year! It is simply because Burke is a winner in the
MLL I am not saying Ghitelman is not but Ghitelman has not won in the MLL. In
Ghitelman's 5 year career he has a record of 16-25 which is well under .500 and
when you look at Burke does he have moments where he struggles in the cage
yes everyone does but Burke has won before and most importantly he has won
here! And I don't think the Cannons are going to let a goalie like Jordan Burke
walk because he has been around this team for so long and has played well
whenever the Cannons need him to play well and that is why I think the Cannons
protect Burke over Ghitelman.
That is who I personally believe the Cannons
should hold onto I look forward to hearing how the Cannons go. I will post
a blog with my immediate reaction and any other news that happens with the
Cannons heading into this upcoming season!
