NLL Insider

Ryan Ward is a big-time leader for Minnesota (Martin Allinson)

The Minnesota Swarm find themselves in the NLL’s Western Division after a bit of realignment by the league, but still play a pretty East heavy schedule that arguably gives them the toughest regular season road of any team in their division.

Can they makeup the 76 points lost with Andy Secore shipped off to Edmonton via the Dispersal Draft? Can Dean Hill comeback to the dominating force he was in his rookie year after an injury/illness plagued 2008? Will Craig Point fall into that dreaded sophomore slump after his phenomenal rookie season? How big an impact will rookies Andrew Watt, Kevin Buchanan and Joe Cinosky have on the team this year?

Find out the answer to those questions and more after the jump.

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Depth

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GM Marty O’Neill shored up some depth on offense last year when he grabbed Dan Marohl from Philadelphia. And he still has guys like Kevin Ross and even rookie Marc Jackson gunning for a full-time gig.

Balance

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Even though Minnesota is easily the NLL’s youngest team, its mature cast of late 20-somethings has proven equal to any veteran opponent, led by the likes of Ryan Ward on O and Ryan Cousins on D.

Chemistry

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The Swarm pulled out more late-game heroics than any team last season. Minnesota has dedicated itself to a core nucleus since its first year in the NLL, and it should pay off large in 2009.

Transition

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Even though they might not have the highest-scoring backcourt, it’s almost impossible to put a leash on their up-tempo style of ball. Rookie Joe Cinosky and an always improving Ryan Sharp should make it even tougher to contain them.

SHANNY’S TAKE

I’m not sure if the move to the West will benefit the Swarm, but I know the road to the playoffs just got tougher for West teams and easier for the East. Missing this year will be Andy Secore, who had a breakout ’08 season as a loaner from Arizona. This team is fast, young (three ’08 first-round draft picks) and talented and they battle for coach Duane Jacobs.

SCOUTING REPORT

“The question plaguing Nick Patterson is whether or not he can win the big games. He can definitely win the close ones. … They’re lacking a solid face-off guy but don’t seem overly concerned about it, thanks to the defense. … Cousins is a beast. You think you hate him on defense until he gets up the floor and scores a game-winner. … The Swarm frequently end up looking tired in the fourth quarter. They might rely a little too much on trying to slow opposing teams down. If they get a little faster and keep up with the Titans and the Wings, they’ll be very dangerous.”

NUMBER

76

Points by ’08 leading Swarm scorer Andy Secore, a loaner from the Arizona Dispersal Draft last year who’s now with Edmonton.

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