NLL Insider

This article appears in Volume 12, Issue 1 of Inside Lacrosse Magazine. To buy a copy of this issue, click here.

Once thought to be a lost cause due to an ongoing labor dispute between the league and the PLPA, the start of the 2008 NLL season is now just 12 days away. With that in mind, IL’s NLL editor Brian Shanahan offers up his predictions for how things will shake out in the East and West Division standings during the regular season, his 2008 playoff prognosications, and his preseason list of All-Pros and award winners.

East Division

1.		Rochester Knighthawks
2.		Buffalo Bandits
3.		Philadelphia Wings
4.		Toronto Rock
5.		Minnesota Swarm
6.		Chicago Shamrox
7.		New York Titans

West Division

Playoff Predictions:

East Division
Rochester over Toronto
Philadelphia over Buffalo

Divisional Finals:
Rochester over Philadelphia

West Division
Colorado over Edmonton
San Jose over Calgary

Divisional Finals
Colorado over San Jose

Champion’s Cup Final
Rochester over Colorado

Shanny’s Preseason All-Pro Team
First Team
F John Tavares, Buffalo
F Colin Doyle, San Jose
F Dan Dawson, Portland
F John Grant Jr, Rochester
D Brodie Merrill, Portland
G Steve Dietrich, Calgary

Second Team
F Gavin Prout, Colorado
F Lewis Ratcliff, Calgary
F Jeff Zywicki, San Jose
F Mike Accursi, Edmonton
D Ryan Cousins, Minnesota
G Anthony Cosmo, San Jose

Shanny’s Preseason Awards
MVP
West: Dan Dawson, Portland
East: John Grant Jr., Rochester

Defender of the Year
West: Brodie Merrill, Portland
East: Ryan Cousins, Minnesota

Goalie of the Year
West: Steve Dietrich, Calgary
East: Pat O’Toole, Rochester

Top Scorer
John Grant Jr., Rochester

Coach of the Year
East: Dave Huntley, Philadelphia
West: Troy Cordingley, Calgary

Rookie of the Year
Merrick Thomson, Philadelphia

Other Impact Rookies: Craig Point (Minnesota), Jordan Hall (New York), Dane Dobbie (Calgary), Frank Resetarits (San Jose)

Sophomores Poised to Break Out: Jeff Shattler (Calgary), Brett Bucktooth (Buffalo), Athan Iannucci (Philadelphia), Andrew Lazore (Chicago), Brenden Thenhaus (Philadelphia)

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