NLL Top 20 Player Ranking: Week 16

April 17th, 2008 by Paul Tutka

Got the Top 20 after the jump as always, but wanted to take one last look at the faves for year-end hardware this season and what baller(s) is closest on their heels.

Is Athan Iannucci as much a lock for MVP as everyone thinks? What does this recent injury do to Bob Watson’s chances of nailing down his first keeper of the year nod since 2002? Those questions and more answered next…

MVP
Yeah, Nooch is pretty much a lock for the MVP honour, who am I tryin’ to fool. Unless he gets nailed for roids or something, don’t think anyone can catch him at this pace. The only guy that might have a chance is Jeff Zywicki in San Jose, but he’d need beyond earth shattering numbers to finish up the year. What if the Wings somehow fail to make the post-season and Zywicki posts two ten goal games and seals first for the Stealth? Again, think it’d be a major long shot, but if 08 has proved anything, expect the unexpected.

Defender
This ones probably one of the closer races heading into the final two weeks of the year. You really have to watch Ryan Cousins to appreciate what he means to Minny. They play that constant pressure, zero breaks, run-and-gun kinda ball that results in high scoring games no matter who’s on the rug or between the pipes, so you can’t fault Cousins for that, cuz individually, Cousins has looked awesome all year. The guy closest to shoot down Cousin’s chances of repeating as best D guy in the league has to be Eric Martin in San Jose. Few get as jacked or effectively hustle the sh** O guys more than the hell Martin’s been raining this year. He’s tenacious, ruthless and even has a nice scoring touch for a pure D guy. Depending on how the next two weeks finish up for Minny and San Jose, Martin might edge Cousins out. Wouldn’t be surprised to see either guy win it. A few other guys might get some love, but I gotta think it’s either Cousins or Meat.

Keeper
Watson has obviously been the big favorite for keeper of the year, but what does this potential three games on the shelf ankle sprain do to his chances? With the Swarm comin’ outta a mid-season slump and Nick Patterson playing awesome ball for most of the year, you’d think a nice close out to the season would maybe allow Patterson to take the nod. A strong game against Rochester this weekend, shutting down the likes of John Grant and Scott Evans, would do a ton for his rep this year, especially down this heated stretch drive. Think at this point, over the long haul, Whipper and Patterson have been the two most consistent tenders, although I’m hearing Matt Vinc might be a wild card here too. Would really be surprised if someone other than those three took the honour.

Transition
Personally, I think ya gotta give it to Brodie Merrill. I know Mark Steenhuis is throwing up a ton of digits for a guy tagged as a tranny, but the think Merrill splits his time maybe a bit more even than what we’ve seen from Steenhuis this year, who’s obviously playing a more O dominated role. Depending on what voters are looking at, think Geoff Snider will probably get some love too. Everyone outside of Philly hates his guts, but few bring their A game like Snides does. I’m still likin’ Brodie here though, unless he trips the game winner into his own net and lands ‘em outta the post-season. He’d really have to mess things up royally not to get my vote this year.

Rookie
It’s still the Jordan Hall versus Craig Point debate, not much more to say. Bobby McBride’s game should definitely be gettin’ some consideration come year end, but Hall and Point have meant more to their team than any-other rook this year. Right now, my All-Rookie team would be… Dan Sams G (why not), Tyler Codron D, Kyle Ross D, McBride D/T, Hall F/T and Point F. Would wanna get Mike Carnegie in there too, but not sure I’d drop Codron or Ross for him quite yet. If the league goes the no keeper route, they gotta have Carnegie up there then.

And that’s about it for players. So with that said, check out our 20 best below…

RK	PLAYER	LAST	+/-	TOTAL	CONS.	HIGH
1	Athan Iannucci	1	-	14	14	1
1	Records are behind ‘em. Now time to make sure his crew has home floor advantage in the playoffs.
2	Jeff Zywicki	2	-	14	14	2
2	Another good showing against a beaten down Rush team. Can Zywicki catch Nooch at this point in the year?
3	Ryan Ward	6	3	14	14	2
3	We’re seenin’ vintage Ward again here folks. Maybe the best QB on the floor this year… when he’s on his game.
4	John Grant	8	4	15	15	1
4	Probably the best ball we’ve seen from Jr. is happening down the stretch here. Will it be enough?
5	Ryan Cousins	6	1	15	15	2
5	Another gutsy showing by Cousins as his boys take first place back in the East.
6	Casey Powell	10	4	15	15	5
6	When this guy turns it on, you can forget about shutting him down no matter how hard you try. Beauty game against the Mammoth in massive win for the Titans.
7	Gain Prout	3	-4	15	15	1
7	Big game individually for Prout, but this slumping Mammoth O is gonna need more if they wanna get outta this funk.
8	John Tavares	4	-4	15	15	2
8	Has gotta get the Bandits all on the same page and playing the consistent ball they’ve shown flashes of this year. He did it earlier this year, needs to make everyone better again. Big task, but JT is a big time baller.
9	Colin Doyle	11	2	15	15	2
9	Looked a lot more in sync than during his semi-slump heading into last week. Is Doyle back to his best? Should find out this weekend against the Jax.
10	Bob Watson	5	-5	13	13	2
10	The haters gotta give this "Mike Poulin not good enough" BS a rest. Kid was fine between the pipes and got hung out to dry a lot. Not sure Whip woulda faired much better with the kinda heat that was comin’ down the pipe.
11	Dan Dawson	14	3	15	15	2
11	Beat himself up a bit in local papers, but Daws my man, you were beyond clutch last week hombre. Just keep pluggin’ away and hopefully you’ll get some more help on O. 10 goals, six from Dawson alone?!?!
12	Brodie Merrill	12	-	10	9	9
12	Think he’s gotta be the fave for this year’s tranny of the year. Steady performances all year. Seems like most have paid little attention to him after last year’s Jax-sophomore slump, but he’s just as important as Dawson on the other end of the rug.
13	Nick Patterson	13	-	15	15	9
13	With Whipper on the shelf for one and maybe the last two, does this open the door for Patterson to get named the best tender of the year? You’d have to think so.
14	Eric Martin	20	6	10	10	14
14	Another monster performance by the guy a lot are saying might be good enough to take the D crown from Cousins. Two goals on the break and 11 loosies while patrolling the rug. Not too shabby.
15	Mark Steenhuis	7	-8	8	8	7
15	They guy that looked like couldn’t be stopped came up double zeroes in a huge battle against Rochester. His first zero point game in almost a year and a half.
16	Geoff Snider	15	-2	5	5	14
16	With Minny givin’ up the draws to halt the explosive press that is Geoff Snider, Snides recorded an insane 32 loosies in the Minny loss. With a decent close-out to the year, we might even see him get some love for tranny of the year.
17	Scott Evans	-	-	2	1	14
17	His goals have been beyond crucial in the Knighthawks drive for the 08 playoffs. Can he keep up this insane pace and land a post-season gig?
18	Blaine Manning	-	-	5	1	17
18	Mighta kissed the iron a ton of times, but Manning’s improved play this season (including against Chicago) has been every bit as important as Watson’s. Subtract his hat trick against the Rox or 26 on the season and TO would be even further outta the picture. Has ran hot and cold throughout, but he was hot as hell on Saturday night, just needs to have a talk with those ACC pipes.
19	Jake Bergey	18	-1	12	12	7
19	Was Philly just a money-Bergey goal away from sinking Minny? Coincidence that the Wings are 0-3 with Bergs outta the lineup? T Wray and Nads might not be the only guys that this team needs to ensure the W.
20	Matt Roik	-	-	1	1	20
20	Think he mighta missed too much of the year to be considered for year-end hardware, but there is no hotter keeper in the game today than Roiker. Can anyone rattle this guy in 08? What would he have done to Sean Avery if he got in his face? Wouldn’t even wanna think about it.