NLL Top 20 Player Ranking: Week 15

April 10th, 2008 by Paul Tutka

A little late with the NLL Top 20 this week, but does it really matter at this point? Everyone knows who’s gonna win this one.

Lets face it, with Gary’s record all but beat and the Wings playing the best lacrosse we’ve seen from that franchise in years, if anyone other than Athan Iannucci takes the MVP nod this year, even my mother would be shocked, and she has no idea who Nooch is, let alone Gary Gait.

Anyways, got kinda bored this week, so rifled through the Top 20 since day one and looked at who we’ve had on the charts and how many weeks they were there for.

So for those that are interested, copied below is exactly what I just told you about above (reread above if you forgot), and ya gotta remember, this was going back into December all the way to today, so you’re gonna see a host of names, some of which might not make a lotta sense at this point in the year…

14 weeks on the boards (8 players)
Casey Powell, Colin Doyle, Dan Dawson, Gavin Prout, John Grant, John Tavares, Nick Patterson, Ryan Cousins

13 (3)
Athan Iannucci, Jeff Zywicki, Ryan Ward

12 (1)
Bob Watson

11 (1)
Jake Bergey

10 (1)
Dan Carey

9 (3)
Brodie Merrill, Eric Martin, Lewis Ratcliff

7 (1)
Mark Steenhuis

6 (1)
Gee Nash

5 (3)
Anthony Cosmo, Steve Dietrich, Jordan Hall

4 (3)
Blaine Manning, Geoff Snider, Peter Lough

3 (4)
John Gallant, Luke Wiles, Tracey Kelusky, Shawn Williams

2 (4)
Matt Vinc, Regy Thorpe, Rory Glaves, Steve Toll

1 (9)
Andy Secore, Cam Woods, Chris White, Craig Point, Derek Malawsky, Rob Blasdell, Ryan Boyle, Scott Evans, Shawn Nadelen

A total of 42 guys have appeared in the Top 20 this year, 14 of which have been on the boards since our pre-season picks went live.

And this weeks’s Top 20 ballers are below hermano (that goes out to all my Mexican homies out there, I know you’re out there and will try and respond to each email one-by-one until every one of you gets a response signed ‘Tuts, your #1 amigo’)…

RK	PLAYER	LAST	+/-	TOTAL	CONS.	HIGH
1	Athan Iannucci	1	-	13	13	1
1	Unless he starts scoring negative goals, which I’m pretty sure isn’t possible, Iannucci has the MVP nod in the bag
2	Jeff Zywicki	8	+6	13	13	2
2	Gutsy showing in both games this past weekend. Even grabbed himself some weekly hardware.
3	Gavin Prout	4	+1	14	14	1
3	With Carey not an option for this weekend (and maybe longer), will be interesting to see how Prout reacts.
4	John Tavares	3	-1	14	14	2
4	JT keeps quietly posting his usual sick numbers and leading an offense that shows no signs of any kinda hiccups suffered during the season.
5	Bob Watson	2	-3	12	12	2
5	It wasn’t Whips best game this year, but it was far from his worst too. Actually, that would imply he’s had a bag game this year, which he hasn’t.
6	Ryan Cousins	11	+5	14	14	2
6	Barring a total collapse and routine 20 plus goal losses, word is that Cousins should win the best D guy nod, for good reason.
7	Mark Steenhuis	12	+5	7	7	7
7	Rebounded real nicely with a three and three weekend after the Toronto loss. Still holdin’ down that stellar shooting %, a guy some people are still callin’ a hog. Get off your wallet and watch a Bandits’ game online!!
8	John Grant	6	-2	14	14	1
8	Great digits against Colorado in a loss and then almost got held scoreless for the first time all year against the Rock. Crazy stat… Jr only has two goals against Whipper this year in two games (on 33 shots).
9	Ryan Ward	13	+4	13	13	4
9	Climbs his way back into the top 10 with a beauty showing against the Titans that coincidently fell on the same night the whole Swarm O started clicking again. Or was it a coincidence?
10	Casey Powell	5	-5	14	14	5
10	Not sure many have noticed where CP is in special team scoring… 5th in the L in PP goals, 1st in the L in PP assists, 1st in overall man-up scoring. Not too shabby.
11	Colin Doyle	7	-3	14	14	2
11	Only two goals over his last three games and averaging about 2.5 helpers over that stretch too. Not seein’ vintage Doyle lately.
12	Brodie Merrill	9	-3	9	8	9
12	Has already topped his sagging sophomore numbers this season and is on pace to smash the 200 LB mark too. At his current regular season pace, if he plays the same 16 seasons of ball we’ve see Veltman play, Brodie would own 3,291 loosies, killing whatever Jimmy leaves the game with this year.
13	Nick Patterson	17	+4	14	14	9
13	Can’t wait to see this guy in the playoffs to show everyone just how clutch he is between the pipes when the games mean absolutely everything.
14	Dan Dawson	10	-4	14	14	2
14	This playoff stretch is really gonna show if keeping Daws or dealing him was the right move for the franchise.
15	Geoff Snider	14	-1	4	4	14
15	Even though he won the draws (again), gotta say, the combo of Fines and Wasson gave Snides and Jacobs one helluva battle at the circle. Rox scored just seconds off the draw in both the 4th and OT. Still don’t think winning face-offs are important in this league?
16	Chris White	-	-	1	1	16
16	Steady, strong, smart and a mean streak to match. One of this season’s most consistent D guys anywhere in the game. Nice to see him bury one against Colorado too. His first goal in a Banditos’ sweater and his first in the league since he played in San Jose. Yes folks, Chris White was an Attack/Stealth guy!!!
17	Shawn Nadelen	-	-	1	1	17
17	Shanny had ‘em in his All-Shanny mid-season team in the latest ish of IL, and Kyle Sweeney almost came through my computer screen and choked me when I didn’t include him as a potential D guy of the year a couple weeks back in the Player Poll. Coincidence that the Wings lost without him in their first one this weekend? Maybe the smartest American defender the current NLL has ever seen.
18	Jake Bergey	18	-	11	11	7
18	The Wings need that clutch scoring Jake was blasting everyone with at the start of the year back. 16 goals in the first five games of the year versus nine in his last five. Have the new names brought into the fold affected Jake’s game?
19	Rory Glaves	20	+1	2	2	19
19	Another solid game for one of this year’s best pure D guys, interestingly another win for the Rush too. Very rarely makes a mistake and great 1v1 guy too.
20	Eric Martin	19	-1	9	9	15
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