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.

Rookie of the Year

Austin Staats, San Diego

The battle between Chris Cloutier and Staats for this award has the potential to be a must-watch.

Goalie of the Year

Christian del Bianco, Calgary

At only 21, del Bianco has already proven he’ll be a force to reckon with for years. 

Transition Player of the Year

Zach Currier, Calgary

Currier was a candidate for this award as a rookie after setting a first-year record for caused turnovers and becoming one of three players to eclipse 200 ground balls while not being a primary faceoff man.

Defensive Player of the Year

Graeme Hossack, Rochester

Kyle Rubisch’s recent run of four straight DPOY nods shows the league isn’t afraid to honor someone back-to-back. 

Scoring Title/MVP

Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan

Matthews blew away the field last season, finishing nine points ahead of Robert Church. Hard to pick against the 2017 MVP in his prime, especially when he’s eclipsed 110 points in three of four seasons. MVP likely comes down to Matthews or Lyle Thompson.