NLL Insider

Through the first-quarter of the season we’ve rotated rookies in and out of the Top-10 Rookie Rankings. This week (Week 7 review) shakes things up a bit. Four new players are featured within the Top-10.

That’s in large part to guys formerly in the Top-10 sitting recently, and new guys getting an opportunity to perform.

Top 3

Players have moved around within this Top-3 box, but since the start of the season, these three have clearly been the best rookies.

1 (2) Craig Point, Minnesota
Point just continues to tear it up, including a four goal, nine point performance in Minny’s last game. The kid now sits No. 5 overall in NLL scoring and Minnesota continues to roll at 6-0. Craig appears calm under pressure and has been the real deal right from game one. (13g, 33 points, 6gp)

2 (3) Jordan Hall, New York
When you see Hall play live he impresses with his speed and lately he’s been cashing more often on his chances. For instance, he scored the game-winner in New York’s 10-9 OT victory over Buffalo. Plus, his GB stats are impressive; he’s now got an even 50 on the season. (9G, 21 points, 50gbs, 6gp)

3 (1) Merrick Thomson, Philadelphia
Thomson and the Wings may have their biggest test this season when they go on their first road trip to Colorado, Friday. Will be interesting to see if the No. 2 overall 2007 Entry Draft selection continues his blazing scoring pace, which we’ve already noted, is on pace to break records. (8g, 17 points, 3gp)

Rounding out the Top 10

Four new players cracked the Top-10 list this week. Codron and Rooney are back, while Lyons is just hanging on with the last spot on the list. Ross, Resetarits, Conway and Dawson all crack the Top-10 Rookie Rankings for their first time.

4 (4) Tyler Codron, Portland
Now starting to contribute in transition scoring as well, with four points in his last three games, Codron’s among the top of this year’s rookie class. He’s not the biggest guy, but holds his own for sure. (2G, 4 points, 22gbs, 5gp)

5 (6) Jamie Rooney, Philadelphia
As I noted last week, Rooney’s come up clutch in a couple close one-goal Philly victories to help keep them 3-0. The Wings have had two straight bye weeks, but are in Colorado this weekend. (6G, 12 points, 3gp)

6 (NR) Kyle Ross, Minnesota
Although Ross appeared in three games prior to this season, by definition he’s still a rookie. And from reports we’ve been hearing, he should be in consideration for an All-Rookie Team selection by season’s end. He’s a real defender with speed in transition. (2G, 7 points, 42gbs, 6gp)

7 (NR) Frank Resetarits, San Jose
The No. 5 overall 2007 Entry Draft selection, I called Resetarits out last week for having some bad performances to start, but he finally got things clicking last weekend scoring four times in a San Jose win. Other Stealth forwards will continue to create space for him, he just needs to finish. (5G, 7 points, 3gp)

8 (NR) Cory Conway, Portland
Outside of sniper Ray Guze, and two other ’Jax D-men who’ve each had one shot, one goal, Conway’s got the best shooting percentage on the team. He put up legit numbers with Victoria Jr. A last season and finally got his opportunity to crack the Portland line-up vs. EDM and MN. (3G, 5 points, 2gp)

9 (NR) Paul Dawson, San Jose
That’s right, it’s Dan Dawson’s little bro (if 6’5, 225 is little). A first-round selection in 2006, Paul Dawson recently made the jump from goalie to defenseman. In his last two games, he knotted his first career NLL point and collected 10gbs. Fairly steady and only getting better. (1point, 14gbs, 5gp)

10 (9) Matt Lyons, Rochester
Continues to slid down the list. Lyons sat for the first time last weekend after he failed to produce goals in games prior. But Rochester really likes his game, so he may be back in the line-up with another shot shortly. (4G, 6points, 4gp)

Props to: Knighthawks’ rookie Mat McLeod who at 6’0, 180, got into his first NLL game and decided to drop the mitts with 6’6, 245 pound Dan Ladouceur, after the big Rock defender paid a little extra attention to Grant Jr.

A shout-out also to Rochester’s Andrew Potter and Buffalo’s Brandon Swamp, two rookies who got into their first NLL games last weekend. Potter scored a goal in his first pro game and Swamp provided a spark with nine gbs over two games, and an assist in his first-ever NLL game.

Dropped from the Rankings

While the following four had good starts to the season, quite simply, they’re just not playing at the moment, so they’re out of the Top 10. 

(5) Bobby McBride, Chicago
With Chicago getting their injured players back into the line-up, McBride’s minutes will drop. Although he looked good in his prior games, the rookie didn’t play last weekend in Chicago’s 17-11 loss to San Jose. (3G, 6 points in 3gp)

(7) Justin Norbraten, Minnesota
It’s just a matter of trying to find playing time on a deep Minnesota team for the Prince George native. Still assert Norbraten’s a solid pro in this league and he’ll work hard to find a spot in the rotation. (3A in 2gp)

(8) Dane Dobbie, Calgary
Didn’t dress again last week, and although Calgary would probably like to get him in the line-up, they’ve got proven pros that log minutes on that left-side. He’s also produced just two goals on 16 shots. (2G, 6points in 3gp)

(10) Kyle Schmelzle, Buffalo
Schmelzle is being rotated in and out of the line-up for Buffalo. He was in for the Bandits’ 17-9 victory over Calgary, but hasn’t done a lot to impress lately. (1G, 2points, 7gbs in 3gp)

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