Summer of the Boston Cannons and Who will Cannons Protect

     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!