Since Sandy Brown took over as Major League Lacrosse commissioner, the discussion has been about a new beginning for the league, an “MLL 2.0” as league officials have dubbed it.
The 2019 season is the dawn of that new era, and there are plenty of changes in store.
Not only does the league have a new literal face, rebranding with a new logo — red and blue with a white silhouette of a player in movement, similar in color to that of the NBA, NFL, and MLB — there are also new metaphorical faces.
With the advent of the Premier Lacrosse League, many perennial MLL All-Stars — such as Paul Rabil, Kyle Harrison, Tom Schreiber and Will Manny — will no longer play in Major League Lacrosse. Those fan favorites left huge holes in their respective former teams’ rosters, but the old sports cliché is “next man up.”
Moreover, three MLL teams have ceased operations. Where there are openings, MLL league and team officials are confident new players will rise to the occasion.
“We have diamonds in the rough that haven’t had that opportunity,” Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks said. “Lacrosse has grown so much. There are so many good players. The opportunities are out there for superstars.”
For our season preview, we’ve identified a face of the franchise, MVP frontunner and under-the-radar player from each of the remaining six teams. The MLL season opens May 31, when the New York Lizards host the Denver Outlaws.
Denver Outlaws
2018 record: 8-6 (won championship)
Head coach: Tony Seaman (1st year)
Face of the Franchise
Max Adler, FO
Adler caught the attention of lacrosse fans as a former Division II player who finished third in the league in faceoff winning percentage (57.7 percent). Adler’s day job is working at ESPN, but he is “all in,” as the league’s new hashtag says.
“He gets hurt in the championship game in the second quarter. Most guys would’ve packed it in, and all of a sudden, he dominates,” said Denver head coach Tony Seaman, who was previously the team’s general manager. “He’s the greatest spokesman the league could have. Max loves the league. He loves the Outlaws. He loves our guys. He’s a leader.”
Draft List
Max Tuttle, M, Sacred Heart
Daniel Bucaro, A, Georgetown *
Chris Aslanian, A, Hobart *
Brandon Jones, D, Air Force *
Kyle Marr, A, Johns Hopkins *
Jeff Rowlett, D, North Carolina
Kyle Pless, D, Rutgers *
Hugh Crance, D, Notre Dame
Sean Eccles, M, Albany *
Timmy Kelly, A, North Carolina *
Matt Neufeldt, LSM, Denver
* signed contracts
MVP Watch
Zach Currier, M
“The Wizard,” as he has been nicknamed in a video posted by Major League Lacrosse, is praised for his stick skills and versatility, a strong player on offense, defense, and on the faceoff wings. In seven games in 2018, Currier scored 12 goals and added 10 assists. Without the overlap between the MLL and NLL, however, Currier is primed for a big season.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Seaman said, “and can become such a good offensive player.”
Under the Radar
Eli Gobrecht, D
Denver is known for its ability to find diamonds in the rough, and Gobrecht is a prime example of that. The seventh-round supplemental draft pick out of Division III Ithaca played in all 14 games in 2018. He finished fourth in the league in caused turnovers (14) in 2018 and comes into the new season forming a strong duo alongside Finn Sullivan.
“[Former Rattlers attackman Jordan] Wolf is the one guy who has given us trouble. We put Gobrecht on him and shut him off. That worked well for us the last three quarters,” Seaman said. “What I love about Eli is whatever role you put him in, he’s going to do his very best.”