The 2018-19 NLL season, salvaged when the league and players reached a collective bargaining agreement, starts Dec. 15 with a revamped schedule. Check back to uslaxmagazine.com as we roll out our season preview — including Jack Goods’ projections, team-by-team capsules and additional features, some of which appeared in the December edition.
Toronto Rock
2018 record: 8-10 (fourth in East)
Coach: Matt Sawyer (third season)
Top returners: Rob Hellyer, F; Adam Jones, F; Tom Schreiber, F
Key additions: Johnny Powless, F; Creighton Reid, D
Key losses: Brett Hickey, F; Brodie Merrill, T; Sandy Chapman, D
Overview
The Toronto Rock were one of two East teams watching the playoffs from home after a tight race to the finish last year, a disappointment after Toronto made an appearance in the East Division finals the year prior.
Of course, it’s easy to argue the Rock were one Tom Schreiber injury away from making a second straight postseason appearance.
Toronto returns the top scoring offense in the East, minus Brett Hickey, who was taken in the expansion draft by Philadelphia. The rest of the squad looks more than capable of filling in, especially with Schreiber now healthy, giving the Rock hope that they can take the step forward expected previously.
Storylines to watch
1. Can the Rock get a full season from Tom Schreiber?
Captain America was the biggest story of 2017, bursting onto the scene as the league’s Rookie of the Year while playing box lacrosse for the first time. Unfortunately, a knee injury held him back from a true encore performance. He notched 64 points in 11 games, which was actually a better point-per-game total than his 94-point rookie season.
Schreiber underwent surgery in the fall and has been back on the floor with Toronto during training camp and exhibitions. Toronto went 2-5 without him, so they are thrilled to see that.
2. Are the young players ready to step up on defense?
The Rock lost two valuable veterans in transition and defense in Brodie Merrill, who signed with San Diego, and Sandy Chapman, who retired. Luckily for Toronto, it has two young talents fully capable of stepping up. Challen Rogers was named the Rock’s captain on Thursday at 24, solidifying his role. At only 20, Latrell Harris already looks like a stud in transition.
Those two young guns will be well supported on the back end with strong veterans, including Brock Sorensen, Damon Edwards, Brad Kri and Creighton Reid.
3. Can Toronto take care of business at home?
The Rock went 3-6 at Air Canada Centre last season. The team hasn’t hit .500 at home since Matt Sawyer took over, as the Rock went 4-5 in friendly confines in 2017.
Player to watch
Johnny Powless
Powless joins his fifth team in as many years. No offense to Dan Taylor, but Toronto landed a 25-year-old player with five 50-plus point seasons under his belt for at 25-year-old who hasn’t totaled 50 points in his career. He obviously had a down year in 2018, but seems worth the risk.
MVP candidate
Tom Schreiber
Schreiber would have finished with 104 points if he kept up his 2018 pace in a full season, which would have ranked fourth in the league.
Verdict
Picking the East is killer this year, but it’s hard to see the Rock not at least being in the competition for the playoffs.