The Major League Lacrosse season starts Saturday, April 21. These team-by-team previews — in order of finish as projected by US Lacrosse Magazine contributor Phil Shore — were written before the MLL collegiate draft.
Find those results here.
1. Ohio Machine
2. New York Lizards
3. Dallas Rattlers
4. Denver Outlaws
5. Chesapeake Bayhawks
6. Florida Launch
7. Atlanta Blaze
8. Boston Cannons
9. Charlotte Hounds
Dallas Rattlers
2017 Record (in Rochester): 8-6
MLL Playoff Finish: Lost in semifinals
Coach: Bill Warder (1st season)
Power Rankings (Scale of 1-5)
Offense: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Defense: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Faceoffs: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goalie:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Key Losses: Jeremy Boltus, A; Greg Danseglio, D; Kyle Denhoff, M
Top Returners: Jordan Wolf, A; Joel White, D; John Galloway, G
New Arrivals: Chris Bocklet, A; Jesse King, M; Randy Staats, A
MVP Watch
Jordan Wolf, A
For the first time since his rookie season, Wolf did not play at least 10 games. A broken hand limited Wolf to only nine games played in 2017. He still finished in the top 15 in the league in points (44) and goals (29). Warder plans on continuing to push the pace with Wolf. “You look top to bottom, I don’t think you’ll find his ability to dodge and create and be a one man wrecking crew,” he said. “I’d take him on my team any day of the week, any time. He’s a matchup problem.”
Under-the-Radar Star
Conor Gately, A
A supplemental draft pick, Gately scored two goals in his MLL debut against the Boston Cannons in 2017. He would play in six games total in 2017, and he scored at least one goal in every game. He had five multi-point games and finished with 10 goals and four assists. The Rattlers were 5-1 in games Gately played in.
Scouting Report
Three things you need to know about the Rattlers
1. Happy to have Staats back.
The Rattlers originally selected Staats in the fourth round of the 2015 collegiate draft, a steal that happened because teams were concerned about his NLL commitments. According to Warder, the franchise was very happy with his production his first season, but couldn’t keep him on the protected roster, which was when Atlanta jumped on the opportunity and “stole him.” Dallas traded three collegiate draft picks to the Blaze this summer in order to acquire Stattas and Jesse King. Warder has high expectations for Staats’s return. “He can dodge, feed, play midfield, play attack, he’s a big body to cover,” Warder said. “You’ve got to pole him. He’s a scoring, dodging threat. Comparing him, he’s one of the best lacrosse players in the world.”
2. High praise for Matt Dunn.
The Rattlers have one of the best defense in the league. They feature former MLL Defensive Players of the Year Joel White and Mike Manley, both of whom are very well known. Warder had high praise for another defender, however: Matt Dunn. In his second year of MLL action, he played in all 14 games and was second on the team in caused turnovers. Other members of the defense may be more well-known, but Warder feels the former first-round selection is vastly underrated. “He’s one of the best players in the world,” he said. “For him not to get invited to the world team is a shock.”
3. Chemistry is strong.
One thing often said about the Dallas locker room is that this may be the closest team in the league. The core of Galloway, White, Manley, Wolf and Ranagan has been together for several years. When the player movement option came in the offseason, every eligible Rattler re-signed with the team even though the team was relocating across the country. The bond the players on this team have makes the Rattlers even more dangerous than the talent they have. “This is an intensely close team,” Warder said. “They care about each other. Coach Soudan built that culture. When we had Greg Bice and Anthony Kelly, it was about family. You build that family culture of taking care of each other. Every team in the MLL has talented, world class lacrosse players. The records come down to a couple goals over the course of the season to see who the playoff teams are. What put us over the top is trusting each other and team chemistry. Coach Soudan developed it. They believe in each other. It’s huge. That’s why they chose to stick together.”
Biggest Question Mark
Can Dallas survive when missing key players?
The Rattlers made the playoffs in 2017 thanks in large part to a strong summer run. Five of the team’s eight victories came after June 1. April through May wasn’t the worst run the team went on during the season, but a lot of players did miss time. Only three players – Michael Lazore, Matt Dunn, and John Lade – played in all 14 games. Of the 10 players that produced double digits in points, only three played in at least 10 games. Adding Staats and King means more players with NLL overlaps. They could also run into an issue with players in the FIL World Championship, as they have four players on the final Team USA roster and four players on the 34-man roster for Team Canada. Two others, Randy Staats and Ty Thompson, were part of the 27-man roster in 2014. What is known is that many players in Dallas will miss time. How the players perform in place of them could determine how far the team goes in the competitive MLL season.
Enemy Lines
What the opposition has to say about Dallas
“They did a great job of holding that Rochester roster together. At one point, it looked like they were going to breakup. A lot of their experienced guys applied for player movement, but once they found a home, most re-signed with the Rattlers. … I know they’re excited to be in their beautiful facility and play in front of the crowd in Frisco. They’re going to be a contender once again. With Wolf, White and Galloway, you know they’re going to be strong. … It’s impressive what Rochester has done. Going to Dallas, they’ve kept that group together. That’s one thing that’s cool about the league. They’re not getting paid millions of bucks, but their team moves across the country and they stick together. That’s cool to see.”
Number of Significance
2014
The 2014 season was the last time Zack Greer saw MLL action. He played in four games that season, scoring four goals and adding eight assists. He also played in both playoff games, helping the Denver Outlaws win their first MLL championship. He has not played in the league since then, but he currently resides in Texas. The Rattlers selected him in the fifth round of the supplemental draft and signed him to a multi-year contract through 2020. In 30 career games, Greer has 59 goals and 24 assists.
Bottom Line
There’s no more concern over where this team will play. After years of different home sites and constant relocation rumors, the Rattlers players and coaches can finally take a breath. Most of this successful roster is still together, and the talent on the team makes them a championship contender.