In January 2016, the Boston Cannons selected Virginia midfielder Greg Coholan with the sixth pick in the MLL collegiate draft.

On Saturday, June 17, 2017, Coholan finally made his Cannons debut.

The delay didn’t come because the Cannons benched him. It came because they traded him before he ever dressed for them, only to reacquire him later. Not even two weeks after the draft, Boston sent the rights to Coholan to Chesapeake — along with Tyler German, Ryan Young and a 2017 first-round draft pick — in exchange for goalie Tyler Fiorito and a supplemental draft pick.

“We were in a spot where the goalie position is so important in this league,” Cannons general manager Kevin Barney said. “Having a high-end caliber goalie has always been important to us. When Jordan [Burke] decided to retire, Jack Murphy has been a phenomenal back up. He hasn’t gotten his chance to show it, but I’d had talks with Chesapeake when they got [Brian] Phipps. When Jordan decided to retire, I reached back out and wanted to talk about Fiorito. He was phenomenal against us the year before. We knew we’d have to pay for it.”

Coholan didn’t take the trade personally.

“I tried not to focus on it because I was in season with Virginia, but I just looked at it as people are interested in me,” he said. “Boston drafts me and Chesapeake makes a deal to acquire me. It’s all based on who the coaches think would make a good fit. MLL has been a ride for me, so I just tried to go with the flow. Wherever I end up, I try to play my best and help the team any way I can.”

Coholan played four games for the Bayhawks in his debut season, during which he was slowed down by a torn labrum. He scored two goals and added four assists.

In September 2016, he was traded to the Atlanta Blaze for midfielder Ryan Tucker. He played five games for the Blaze at the start of the 2017 season, and he scored six goals and added four assists. (Through eight games, he is still seventh on Atlanta’s roster with 10 points.)

“Atlanta was a good experience,” he said. “We had a lot of team chemistry in training camp. We were getting to a good flow and had to make adjustments for Kevin Rice getting hurt. More people took on stronger leadership and playing roles.”

Atlanta moved Coholan to the practice squad, however, allowing Boston to put him on its active roster. Barney said adding Coholan was an easy decision.

“We were very happy when they put him on their practice squad. We had maybe a two-minute conversation,” he said. “It was a funny phone call Wednesday night. When it cleared, we were able to get him. I called Greg and said it was full circle, but somehow he was a Boston Cannon, where you’re supposed to be.”

Coholan isn’t the only 2016 draft pick to change teams quickly. Four first-round selections — including the first three picks — and five of the first 10 selections were all traded at least once prior to the start of their second season.

Atlanta traded No. 1 overall pick Myles Jones to the Chesapeake after only two games. The Florida Launch sent Matt Landis, the third overall selection, to Boston prior to the start of the 2017 season.

Dylan Donahue, the second overall pick by the Charlotte Hounds, also was traded prior to the 2017 season. He was sent to the Atlanta Blaze in a deal for Deemer Class, the 10th pick of the 2016 MLL draft.

“It was definitely surprising,” Donahue said. “It’s kind of the way the league is. There are only 19 guys on a roster, so you have to find guys that work well right away. Coach [Dave] Huntley called me. I was working in New York City. I was checking into a hotel room. That was the first I heard of it. I was going to miss my guys. I was definitely excited to play with [former Syracuse teammate] Kevin [Rice] and the rest of the Blaze team.”

Donahue played in six of Atlanta’s first eight games, and is sixth on the team in scoring, with eight goals and four assists.

“I love it,” he said. “I love the guys. I love the coaches. They have a great staff. The facility is unmatched. It’s a really cool experience, especially in an upcoming lacrosse area in Atlanta. It’s cool to be a part of.”

Things did not go as well for Class in Charlotte, however. He went scoreless in three games before he was traded back to Atlanta for Colin Dunster. Class has yet to suit up again for the Blaze.

“Deemer Class was the second pick in the Blaze franchise and to get him back is very exciting,” Atlanta general manager Spencer Ford said in the team’s press release announcing the trade. “He has a great ability to score from all spots on the field, but he will bring back something that has been lacking from our midfield—a shooter who can stretch the D and potentially open up the inside.” 

Barney was surprised that so many from the 2016 draft class had already been traded, but offered his professional opinion on why the trend occurred.

“Sometimes these guys right out of college, regardless of how touted they are … they get their few runs and they come in a pressure point of the season. Everyone is at the point where we need to win now or we’re done,” he said. “It’s a stressful time. Things change pretty quickly.”

“Some of the offseason stuff was more the nature of the league,” Barney added. “Most of these guys don’t start a job until July or August. Then they settle in and realize, ‘Hey, I’m going to be working here, and it’s going to be more challenging for me,’ and teams look around. That’s a big thing that happened with Matt Landis. We took Brandon Mullins. He was in that top-10 group. He was one who stuck around with his team. It all depends. Last year, when the draft is in January, your team need changes due to trade or supplemental picks that worked out or didn’t. Your team makeup changes.”

Coholan scored his first goal as a Cannon in his second game with the team, a 16-15 overtime loss to the Ohio Machine. He also picked up three ground balls.

It is once again a small sample size, but Barney is pleased with what he has brought to the table.

“He’s a great lacrosse player. He’s a great shooter and finisher,” he said. “He hasn’t gotten a ton of runs for us yet, but he’s done what we’ve wanted and has produced when he has. He’s filling in the role we want.”

At Tuesday’s MLL trade deadline, the Cannons made a big splash, sending Will Manny and Joe LoCascio to the New York Lizards for Dave Lawson and Chris LaPierre. Boston also acquired rookie midfielder Cal Dearth from Charlotte.

The Cannons now have a crowded group of offensive midfielders — including Lawson, Kevin Buchanan, Max Seibald, Sergio Perkovic and Justin Turri — but Coholan is up for the challenge of keeping his spot in the lineup.

“It’s hard when you have so many talented players and guys coming in at different times because of the college draft or the NLL,” he said. “You just wait it out, hope you’re impressionable and they keep playing you.”

It has been a long journey in MLL in a very short amount of time for Coholan as well as the rest of the 2016 draft class. He and Donahue, however, both are happy to even be in the league and used their experience to offer guidance for younger players that may go through some of the same issues they have.

“You just try to benefit the team the best way you can,” Donahue said. “Don’t forget, you play the game because you love it. Play hard. You’ve got to work hard each week on your own because you’ve got to be ready for gameday.”

Coholan echoed that sentiment.

“Stay persistent in everything you’re doing,” he said. “There are different trades that go on and different drafts. You never really know if you’re going to be solidified. At the end of the day, it’s lacrosse. We love the game. It’s why we play it. Always be ready to go, and don’t be discouraged about being traded or getting benched for a game, because the majority of people have gone through it all.”