The NLL season is finally here, and as the season gets into full swing, be sure to check back to uslaxmagazine.com as we roll out our season preview — including Jack Goods’ predictions, team-by-team capsules and additional features. Next is a look at the Philadelphia Wings, who opened their season on Dec. 14 on the road against Georgia.
Philadelphia Wings
Head coach: Paul Day (second season)
2018-19 record: 4-14 (sixth in East Division)
Playoff finish: Did not qualify
Overview
Last season brought the triumphant return of the Philadelphia Wings franchise, a meaningful moment for the league but an inconsequential one on the field. The Wings struggled to a 4-14 season, placed last in the East Division and traded away a player that appeared to be the franchise’s main building block in No. 2 overall pick Chris Cloutier.
The Wings made an aggressive move to bring in a new face of the franchise last year in Kevin Crowley and now has a year and a full training camp under its belt to build chemistry. Is that enough to compete with the more established teams in the league?
What’s new
The Wings offense, already in a decent spot for a second-year team, added two players with strong pedigrees in Cory Vitarelli and Kevin Buchanan. Vitarelli notched over 40 points for a second straight year in a season split between Rochester and Colorado. Buchanan, who played for the previous Wings franchise back in 2013, was limited to just four games last season but compiled 74 points in 2017.
The offense also gets Brett Hickey back in the fold after he was limited to three games due to injury in 2018-19. He totaled 40 points in his last season with Toronto and scored 45 goals for the Rock the year prior.
The Wings and Bandits swapped goaltenders, with Zach Higgins heading to Philadelphia in exchange for Doug Buchan. Philadelphia mainstay Brandon Miller is also back for the team in goal after a year away from the league.
Defensively, veteran Ian Llord is returning to Philadelphia, the city where he started his career. Nick Finlay moved south after playing in nine games over the past two seasons with the Saskatchewan Rush.
What’s gone
Jordan Hall, who saw a return to form in his first year with the Wings, opted to leave the franchise to return to Georgia. He was third on the team last year with 67 points.
Transition player Frank Brown and defenseman Matthew Bennett were both selected by the Rochester Knighthawks in the expansion draft. Vaughn Harris, who has shown his ability to play anywhere on the floor the last two years, is a free agent after finishing seventh on the team in points.
What’s the same
The Wings will get a full year of Crowley, their star forward who was acquired early last season after he opted to hold out from New England. He finished tied with captain Kiel Matisz, also returning, for the team lead with 82 points despite playing in only 15 games.
Matt Rambo, fresh off an MVP season in the Premier Lacrosse League, was second among rookies in scoring last season with 56 points. Fellow American Trevor Baptiste also had a stellar first season, leading the league with 362 faceoff wins.
What could they use
Philadelphia’s on-field performance was actually better than the final record shows, but the Wings struggled to finish games. That began with their first-ever game, when Buffalo scored the final two goals in a 17-15 Bandits victory. The same thing happened a little over a month later, as the Bandits scored four straight to end it in a 14-10 win.
With some late game tune-ups, the Wings could be closer to competing than the 4-14 record would indicate.
Biggest question
Can the defense hold up? Philadelphia allowed the most goals of any team last season with 246.
MVP Watch
Kevin Crowley
Crowley finished 15th in the NLL in points last season despite missing three games. His pace would put him at 98 points over an 18-game season, which would have been good for sixth in the league. He’s recorded at least 70 points in all but one season he’s been in the league.
Verdict
Georgia and New England seem likely to edge Philadelphia in the division race, and a wild-card nod seems just as unlikely. Philadelphia is building but is probably still a couple years away from the complete team its hoping for.