NLL Insider

The Colorado Mammoth come into the season with a youth push we haven’t seen from a team that usually adds a proven vet or two during the off-season.

Although savvy sniper and nine year pro veteran Gary Rosyski was brought into the mix over the summer, the Mammoth have also added names to their 23-man opening day roster like Duke legend Matt Danowski, former PoCo stud and current New West Bellie Tyler Crompton, and St. Catharines Athletics clutch performer, Andrew Potter, who they scored in the Gary Gait trade. All three guys make them a lot younger and a lot more athletic.  

Will the new feel Mammoth improve on last year’s disappointing 2-3 close-out to the regular season and even more depressing opening round loss to Calgary in the playoffs? Find out after the jump.

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Depth

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Looked ordinary when they lost vital vets like Dan Carey and Josh Sims to injuries. Free agent Gary Rosyski and rookie Matt Danowski should give Colorado a lot more options.

Balance

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Due to some savvy drafting in later rounds and a franchise envied by even some NHL teams, Colorado has created a cycling system that has guys ready to step up when old-school ballplayers retire from the game.

Chemistry

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Watch for a revamped two-man game between Carey and trade-deadline pickup Chris Gill, who will look to tap into some of the magic the duo had during the Mammoth’s Cup win in 2006.

Transition

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With the wheels and brains in Colorado’s back end, outside of some solid play from Nick Carlson, their usually solid two-way game was at times non-existent in 2008. Look for Nenad Gajic to explode back onto the scene this winter and the same consistent play from Carlson.

SHANNY’S TAKE

Is Colorado still a great team or has it dropped down to a good team? Last year the Mammoth had the NLL’s best defense, but their offense suffered (seventh overall: compared to first overall when they won the ’06 Cup). Although they have recently secured some good young players, this is a team that relies on a lot of veterans — and like Toronto did a few years ago, they might wake up to find they’re suddenly old.

SCOUTING REPORT

“Close to 20 of their 28 signed right now are 26 or younger and speed is again a premium for the Mammoth, with an emphasis on transition. Gajic, Carlson and Jed Prossner, who’ll be moved from O to tranny this year, will no doubt be some of the league’s best. … They allowed the fewest goals against in ’08. Nash is now their undisputed No. 1. … Interesting to see how Danowski adapts to the indoor game. He could be one of the most dynamic players to enter the league this year. … Colorado has rode the same guys for too long with a limited injection of young talent.”

NUMBER

167

Goals allowed by Colorado last year — first in the league (10.4 GAA), and the fifth straight year the Mammoth have ranked among the top two defenses.

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