NLL Insider

There have been few junior to pro transitions as seamless as the one Craig Point dropped on the NLL in 2008.

The reigning rookie of the year looked like a seasoned vet from day one, scoring two and assisting on six others in his first game in the NLL when the Minnesota Swarm smoked the Rock at the ACC in one of last year’s most dramatic and heated contests.

It was the kinda game that woulda snowed most rookies, but Point made it look like he’d done it a hundred times before, all while 13 thousand screaming fans watched his every move.

Point was never held pointless all of last year, four times notching a hat trick and playing more consistent than most multi-year vets in the pro game. Few doubted his skills, but this fast this soon at the highest level of indoor ball? We’re not worthy Craig.

The former Six Nations Arrows sniper also led the Swarm in power play digits with 29 extra man points. Only New York’s trio of Mike McLellan, Casey Powell and Pat Maddelena had more PP numbers than Minny’s rookie, who shored up some major holes on the Swarm’s extra man unit.

And although not talked about much due to the fact that Travis Hill is the Swarm’s main draw guy, Point also filled in at the circle last year for Minny, owning the team’s best face-off percentage at 59%.

Point had a decent summer playing for the Six Nations Chiefs (40 points in 17 games) during his first year of senior lacrosse, but excelled even more in Minnesota, where he had and ever bigger workload put on his shoulders. Thankfully for Swarm fans, Point isn’t afraid of some extra work.

Does Point belong in the NLL Insider Top 50? Hit the boards and let us know what your Top 50 looks like heading into the 2009 NLL season…

#50 Matt Roik, San Jose Stealth
#49 Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Swarm
#48 Billy Dee Smith, Buffalo Bandits
#47 Steve Toll, Rochester Knighthawks
#46 Jarett Park, New York Titans
#45 Bruce Murray, Colorado Mammoth
#44 Shawn Evans, Rochester Knighthawks
#43 Peter Lough, Toronto Rock
#42 Matt Vinc, New York Titans
#41 Jeff Shattler, Calgary Roughnecks
#40 Craig Point, Minnesota Swarm

Hit this link for NLL Insider’s Top 50 archive and keep checkin’ back every week as we countdown the top 50 best in the pro game, with #1 being named just before the NLL season kicks off.

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