NLL Insider

2008 mighta been the year of parity (just in case you hadn’t heard… like a million times), but it was also the year of guys steppin’ up extra large.

So after the jump, checkout the top 10 players whose stock went up the most now that 2008 is in the books. They may not be MVP’s, well not all of ‘em, but each of the following ten guys made 2008 “their” year.

10. Ryan Sharp, Minnesota Swarm
If you didn’t notice that Ryan Sharp has slowly started turning into one of the best two-way guys in the bigs, you probably aren’t the only one. Sharp kicked off 08 with an insane night in TO, which saw him tossed from a heated showdown with the Rock, but what he did the rest of the way can only be described as… impressive. He might not have the digits of a Steenhuis or the LB capabilities of a Merrill or Snider, but trust me, this guy serves a monster purpose for Minny.

9. Mike Thompson, Buffalo Bandits
Remember like five months back when almost everyone said the main reason why Buffalo wouldn’t win it all was cuz they had no tending? Remember like four days ago when Mike Thompson played outta his F’n mind when it mattered most and the Bandits won the Champion’s Cup? Remember that? That second save off his ass on an all alone Ray Guze was maybe just as important as any of the clutch goals guys like John Tavares or Mark Steenhuis buried.

8. Roger Vyse, Buffalo Bandits
With so many guys stepping up in Buffalo, it’s no surprise that a guy like Roger Vyse went a little unnoticed. Vyse posted more points this year than in his rookie and sophomore years combined. He was a legit threat on Buffalo’s potent power-play unit, finishing behind only JT in total man-up points. And man, there were a few times it looked like Roger woulda pushed over his own mother while scoopin’ up those team leading 11 loosies in the Champ Cup final. Dudes stock went way through the roof this year.

7 Rob Marshall, Toronto Rock
One mighta thought that with Cam Woods and Peter Lough joining Toronto this year, Rob Marshall woulda seen a slightly decreased role with the Rock. That statement is true, only if your definition of decreased is playing a sh** load of minutes and workin’ the press like a man on a mission. Not sure I saw a guy in the league take more hits and put his body on the line more than Marshall this year, all while playing some solid D and almost quadrupling his point count from a year previous. Kid wears his heart on his sleeve and think finally EVERYONE started noticing that this year.

6. Clay Hill, Buffalo Bandits
Hill posted career highs in both goals and looseballs, all while being just an absolute beast in his own end. Hill made the absence of Billy Dee Smith during his suspension almost seem non-existent and after a dominating 08, he’s probably cracked the top 10 of best D guys in the league. Doesn’t sound impressive? Start adding up the top defenders in this league and you’ll realize some of the high profile names Hill has surpassed this season.

5. Cody Jacobs, Chicago Shamrox
Had Jacobs been able to start the season, his scoring average woulda had him almost right at 60 points this year, easily leading the Rox in scoring. In fewer games this year versus his rook year in 07, Jocob’s numbers almost doubled, showing that he’s more than capable of taking on an increased role in the bigs. Surprisingly, his NLL numbers were even better than the digits he posted with Six Nations in his first year of Senior ball last summer, something you don’t see too often from pro sophomores. Could Jacobs be that high profile sniper the Rox’s O is in need of? Should be interesting to see the kinda damage he’s capable of with 16 full games under his belt.

4. Eric Martin, San Jose Stealth
With San Jose playing few eastern powers during the year and probably not too many checkin’ em’ out on B2, I guess it’s not too big a surprise he got the ol’ shaft when it came to handing out end of season hardware. Martin, who picked up even the field game late let alone box, was easily this year’s most aggressive, in your face, balls out, athletic and bone jarring defender, trust me. Meat’s the kinda guy that’ll rip your face off against the boards and then pick up the loosie and score on the break. And the thing with him this year was he played great from start to finish. He started strong, had no mid-season slump and closed out the year kickin’ ass too. The dudes mustard and ya don’t even know it.

3. Scott Ranger, Calgary Roughnecks
You know what, Scott Ranger wasn’t too bad in 08. Sh**, the guy that was written off by San Jose after not really cracking their lineup, was actually a full out stud in 08. He had a pro career year this season, and like Jacobs in Chicago, Ranger showed that he’ll definitely keep producing no matter what the assignment. With TK hurtin’ and Ratcliff traded, Ranger actually ended up leading the Necks in scoring this year. The former 100 point plus scorer outta Victoria has finally lived up to the rep that followed him into the league when San Jose made him a first round pick in 2003. Looks like all he needed was a chance.

2. Athan Iannucci, Philadelphia Wings
I think everyone knew Iannucci was gonna be a star in the NLL, but to the heights he performed this year? I remember even Philly fans wondering what was gonna happen to their O when Linsday Sanderson dealt Sean Greenhalgh to Buffalo. And what happened was AI turned into one of the best players on the planet today. But whose stock rose even higher than Nooch’s…

1. Andy Secore, Minnesota Swarm
Now that 08’s in the books, I’m hearin’ a lotta people saying, “Oh yeah, I knew Andy Secore was good.” Only thing is, those same people weren’t sayin’ sh** when he was coming back with Six Nations in 05 after a nasty knee injury sustained in hockey. I never heard those people sayin’ anything when he was way down Arizona’s depth chart over the previous two seasons, only averaging a point and change per game. I may have heard a bit of that in 2003 when he won the Jim Veltman award and put in some solid minutes for the Sr Excels, but a lot has happened in five years. Secore’s 2008 has put him on the map as one of the game’s best snipers and may even have him going second overall in the eventual Sting dispersal draft part deux. He led Minny in scoring this year with only 14 games played, while his average points per game this year has him on level with the likes of Jeff Zywicki, Colin Doyle and John Tavares. If you pegged him as being this good in 08 you’re either one of two people. A liar or Secore himself (and maybe Marty O’Neill).

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