Phil Shore, our resident Major League Lacrosse writer, previews all nine MLL teams, in reverse order of projected finish, leading up to opening day Saturday.

Check uslaxmagazine.com/mll before and throughout the season for more analysis and stories from the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league.

Chesapeake Bayhawks

Projected finish: 5th
2016 record: 8-6
Coach: Brian Reese, 2nd season

Power Rankings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense: 4
Defense: 3
Faceoffs: 2
Goalie: 3

Key losses: Greg Coholan, M; Joe Walters, M; Mike Lowe, D

Top returners: Matt Danowski, A; Matt Abbott, M; Myles Jones, M; 

New arrivals: Lyle Thompson, A; Dan Groot, M; Will Koshansky, D

MVP Watch

Myles Jones, M

His rookie season was very anticipated, and even though he was part of a surprising mid-season trade, he didn’t disappoint. In nine games, he scored 17 goals and added 13 assists. “He could’ve had 20 if we finished the passes he made,” Reese said. With a full offseason under his belt to recuperate, and being available for a full season, he could be even more dangerous in 2017.

Under-the-Radar Star

Matt Donovan, A

He was drafted in 2015 but didn’t make his debut until the end of July, 2016. He was very dynamic in such a short time-frame, scoring 11 goals in five games. “Matt Donovan is our most electric, explosive attackman,” Reese said. “Hopefully we can get him back.”

Scouting Report

Three things you need to know about the Bayhawks:

1. Looking to play fast in the midfield.

In addition to Matt Abbott and Jones, the Bayhawks made several additions to the midfield in the offseason. The team traded for Dan Groot and Ryan Tucker. Groot had one assist and 17 ground balls in 2016 for Ohio, while Tucker had 11 goals (including one two-pointer) and 12 assists for Atlanta. Resse belives the combination of these four midfielders will help fill in for the absence of Joe Walters. “We’re not going to put one guy in and have him be as good,” he said. “We’ll have to play a different style. We have to create more offense early on. (John) Maloney and Abbott and we traded for Dan Groot and a lot of guys that can play two ways. It’s not going to be grinding in six-on-six.”

2. Confident about faceoffs.

The Bayhawks finished eighth in the league in faceoff winning percentage in 2016 (44.1). Charlie Raffa played in only three games all season – the second, third and last – and won 41.7 percent of his faceoffs. Mike Poppleton was acquired midseason and won 35 percent of his faceoffs in three games with the Bayhawks. Anthony Kelly had a 47.7 winning percentage, but the veteran was picked up by the Atlanta Blaze in the 2017 supplemental draft. Despite their struggles, Reese believes the unit will improve in 2017. “Getting Charlie and having Mike in there – he’s scrappy – both of those guys will add to those numbers,” he said. “Plus the guys on the wing, Maloney, Abbott, (Matt) Bertrams, having those two-way, fast middies will help them as well.”

3. How much will newly acquired Lyle Thompson be available?

Chesapeake traded the No. 8 pick in the 2017 collegiate draft, Mike Lowe and Mark McNeill for Lyle Thompson, Jeremy Thompson, and the No. 38 pick in the 2017 collegiate draft. “He’s got a lot of great things going on in his life and I don’t think they matched up with the Florida Launch schedule at all,” Florida head coach Tom Mariano told Lax Sports Net. “It looked like he would maybe make one game for us.” You don’t give up a first-round pick for a player who won’t play, however, and in the team’s press release, Reese sounded more optimistic. “Lyle is a special offensive player that will amaze our fans, but also make the right plays on the field,” he said. “He makes everyone around him better.” The Bayhawks then signed Thompson through 2021.

Biggest Question Mark

Will they stay healthy?

Since winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013, the Bayhawks have been unlucky with the injury bug. The 2016 season was no different. Donovan only played five games. Raffa played only three games and Anthony Kelly played in 10. Veteran defender Michael Evans missed all of July due to injury. The team traded for all-star defender Dana Wilber prior to the season, but he didn’t play a single game. There are a number of talented players, but when does the team get them all on the field together?

Enemy Lines

What the opposition has to say about Chesapeake:

“I think if Chesapeake can find someone to fill Joey Walters position to be a big time threat in their midfield, there’s potential for them to compete for a championship. … I don’t know if I would put them in the top three or four, but they’re always dangerous to play. … They were one of the better teams we played. … Myles Jones was a great addition. He really started to figure it out. He’ll be a catalyst.”

Number of Significance

7

The Bayhawks tied for fourth in the league with seven 2-point goals. Myles Jones had over half of the team’s 2-pointers, scoring four of them. That was good enough to tie for third in the league, and he was the only player of the 14 who scored more than one two-point goal to play in fewer than 10 games. A full season of Jones, as well as the addition of Ryan Tucker (who has four two-pointers in 20 career games), should boost Chesapeake’s totals.

Bottom Line

Opinions from around the league on how Chesapeake will finish in 2017 vary. To break away from the pack, however, Chesapeake needs to stay healthy – especially on defense – and improve at the faceoff X. Over the past few seasons, the team has gotten younger and more athletic in the midfield, and they will need all those additions to step up and fill in for all the great things that former scoring leader Joe Walters was able to do.