San Diego Seals

2018 record: N/A

Coach: Patrick Merrill (first season)

Key returners: N/A

Key additions: Austin Staats, F; Brodie Merrill, T; Dan Dawson, F

Key losses: N/A

Outlook

Lacrosse is back in California for the first time since the Stealth left San Jose in 2009, and boy does it look luxurious. With training camp partially being held outside and team photoshoots at the beach, it is no wonder the Seals were able to lure a handful of veterans to the team as free agents.

The Seals hit defense and transition hard in the expansion draft and concocted an interesting offensive unit through a combination of the expansion draft, entry draft and free agency. Will it be enough for San Diego to be a contender for a West playoff spot right away?

Storylines to Watch

1. Can Austin Staats be the player everyone expects he can be?

The story of the 2018 draft was whether Austin Staats would forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility to enter the NLL at the ripe age of 20. He did, and the Seals were thrilled to land what could be a generational talent to build their expansion team around.

First off, Staats is a winner, having claimed a Founders Cup, two Minto Cups and a Mann Cup. He showed his ability to play against men in 2016, when he notched 46 points in 15 playoff games during the Six Nations Chiefs’ run to the Mann Cup. Patrick Merrill also knows how to utilize the young star, having coached him with the Six Nations Arrows.

2. What will a Patrick Merrill-coached team look like?

The former NLL defender is getting his first opportunity to be a head coach in the league only two years after his final season as a player. With him serving as both the bench boss and general manager, the Seals have put a lot of trust in his ability to learn on the fly.

3. What do the veterans have left in the tank?

The Seals added some flashy names this offseason, notably Brodie Merrill, Dan Dawson, Garrett Billings and Joe Walters. Billings starts the season on the inactive roster and Walters was a surprise late cut, but Merrill and Dawson remain to serve as leaders.

With his brother coaching the team, Merrill was expected to leave Toronto to go west. Dawson’s future was a bit up in the air after a midseason trade sent him from Rochester to Saskatchewan last season. Both players are 37, so the question is, can they still make an impact on the scoreboard?

Player to Watch

Connor Kelly

Reportedly quite impressive while playing for the U.S. team at the LASNAI. The former Maryland Terp was one of three Americans to crack the inaugural Seals roster. Also keep an eye out for Casey Jackson, who hasn’t gotten a lot of run in the NLL yet but has impressed in summer ball.

MVP Candidate

Austin Staats

Has a real shot at being the Seals’ top player from day one.

Verdict

With the rebuild going on in Vancouver, it almost seems likely the Seals won’t finish last in the West.