NLL Insider

During the first half of 2008, and probably a little more than that, Minnesota Swarm forward Ryan Ward was a legit MVP candidate.

Craig Point mighta elevated the Swarm’s power-play last winter and Andy Secore definitely added another element to Minnesota’s overall offense in 2008, but bottom line, Ward runs one of the most impressive team concept O’s the NLL has seen in several years, and definitely doesn’t get the respect he deserves at the pro level.

After a rookie year, plus five soph starts, in Philly, Ward was shipped back to the man that drafted him into the NLL, current Swarm GM Marty O’Neill, who not only made Ward a key part of his offense in Minnesota, but has also showed a faith and patience in Ward that has transformed him into one of the best O leaders in the game today.

The start of ‘08 was some of the best and most consistent lacrosse we’ve seen from Ward in the NLL. But after averaging over five points per outing in the first half of Minny’s spectacular start, Ward’s final eight saw him drop over a point-and-a-half per game, outside of one insane game against New York (3 goals, 4 helpers, including setting up the game winner).

Outsiders also finally found out how clutch Ward was after the former WLA MVP was a season-long chart topper in last year’s inaugural Money Ballers rundown. His seven game tying goals even topped Money Ballers winner, Athan Iannucci, which last year was no easy feat. He was also one of only four players in all of 2008 to lead the boards too, joining Iannucci, Point and Josh Sanderson.

Team concept O or not, Minnesota’s Cup hopes rely heavily on Ward’s play over the next five months, but the good news is, last year he showed not only could he score when it mattered, he made the right decisions when it mattered most too. If that attitude follows Ward across an entire season, we could see a ton of gold in a city that has’t seen any since Kirby Puckett and Jack Morris threw down in ‘91.

Does Ward 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
#39 Scott Ranger, Calgary Roughnecks
#38 Brian Langtry, Colorado Mammoth
#37 Sean Pollock, Minnesota Swarm
#36 Jake Bergey, Boston Blazers
#35 Pat O’Toole, Rochester Knighthawks
#34 Kyle Sweeney, Philadelphia Wings
#33 Luke Wiles, Toronto Rock
#32 Ryan Boyle, New York Titans
#31 Chris White, Buffalo Bandits
#30 Jordan Hall, New York Titans
#29 Shawn Nadelen, Philadelphia Wings
#28 Cam Woods, Toronto Rock
#27 Mike Accursi, Buffalo Bandits
#26 Dan Carey, Colorado Mammoth
#25 Pat Maddalena, New York Titans
#24 Andy Secore, Edmonton Rush
#23 Ryan Ward, 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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