NLL Insider

Before we get into this year’s rookie crop, it’s worth quickly mentioning some of the sophomores who are avoiding the jinx.

Jordan Hall and Cory Conway are currently tied for Top 3 in league scoring. Merrick Thomson also looked good over the weekend scoring four goals and five points in Philly’s win over Rochester. The second-year pros have enjoyed an explosive start to the season, and this year’s rookie crop isn’t far behind.

Rookie of the Year Favs

Rhys Duch leads San Jose in goals with four and he’s again been deadly accurate, scoring on over 30% of his shots. Playing point on their power-play, Duch has nine points in two games and will face Rochester’s back-up goaltenders on Sunday, in San Jose’s second home game of the year.

Daryl Veltman, the No. 1 overall selection who will be in action at the TD Banknorth Garden this Saturday for Boston’s home opener, recorded six assists and seven points in his debut – similar production to last year’s Rookie of the Year winner who started the ‘08 season with a six assist, eight point night. Craig Point has one goal and five points in two games this year.

Peter McFetridge also deserves some ink. Had he been in both ‘Necks’ games this past weekend, a case could have been made for him to take home the league defensive honors that teammate Andrew McBride won. The big 6′3 defender McFetridge scored two goals in Calgary’s overtime victory over Edmonton, and was named the game’s MVP.

McFetridge didn’t dress Calgary’s opening game because of a coaching decision, but coach Troy Cordingley added McFetridge likely earned himself a roster spot this weekend against Toronto. “His defensive game on Saturday was very solid and his transition game was phenomenal,” said Cordingley.

But those are all guys with former box experience, and rookies we were expecting to make an impact. The three aforementioned ‘09 rookies (Duch, D. Veltman and McFetridge) were ranked Top 4 in our first 2009 Top 10 Rookie Rankings. So how have the Americans been adjusting?

MLL Stars

Some are doing well. Jordan Levine continues to impress over in Philly. Stealing the No. 10 spot in our initial rankings, Levine entered the league with a few tips from teammate and fellow Albany alumni Merrick Thomson.

“He will ask me a few things here and there but he is one of the best athletes in both the NLL and MLL, and once he gains the experience in the NLL he will become one of the best transition/loose ball guys in the league,” says Thomson.

“The biggest difference between field and box is the intensity,” added Levine. “In box, you are engaging your man for the entire shift. It’s constant checking and non-stop action. When you step on the floor its fierce, everyone sells out.”

Stephen Peyser also looks strong defensively. As NLL Forum member dougm states, “the brothers are beasts”. Greg has looked outstanding this year and it looks as though Stephen is going to turn into a player too. S. Peyser picked up 10 gbs last game and Levine had nine.

Former NCAA D1 offensive stars Paul Rabil, Matt Danowski, Joe Walters and Sean Morris, however, only combined for four goals and 11 points in their highly anticipated NLL debuts. They also collected just nine gbs between them, with Walters accounting for seven.

Rabil is playing a transition role for San Jose and although less is expected of him offensively with the Stealth (with eight shots taken over the weekend), coach Jeff Dowling says box lacrosse is a different game than field.

“The first six games will be a struggle for him,” Dowling said prior to the weekend in an article with the Mercury News, of Rabil’s adjustment to the NLL. “It will be a rude awakening.”

Rabil’s name was mentioned a few times over the weekend, however, it was when announcers were stating they hadn’t called his name much. Rabil finished his first two professional indoor lacrosse games with three assists and one gb.

Still, you can tell the promise and potential in these accomplished field lacrosse players and it will be very interesting to see how they develop throughout the season. And when, if ever, they can become impact NLL players. It is expected they will have break-out games sooner rather than later.

The other lone player noted in our initial Top 10 Rookie Ranking was the No. 4 overall selection in the latest NLL Entry Draft, Jamie Floris. He tallied one goal and two points in his debut with Edmonton.

Making Noise

Andrew Watt has put up two points and collected 11gbs for the 2-0 Minnesota Swarm, playing out of the defensive end. Robert Morris’s all-time leader in goals and points, GM Marty O’Neill says Watt has made a seamless transition to their team. A summer boxla player in the MSL, Watt was the No. 8 overall selection in the ‘08 NLL Entry Draft.

Sean Thomson provided a spark to the Wings’ offense last weekend, scoring three goals on four shots (after registering just two shots in his first pro indoor game). The 6′2, 220 pound forward, who won Burlington’s Male Athlete of the Year Award with Guelph University in 2008, was selected No. 9 overall in the latest NLL Entry Draft.

Gary Bining showed well, matching Dan Dawson’s three goals and recording four points in his first start with the Boston Blazers. The speedy forward, who plays for the WLA Coquitlam Adanacs, was a former first-round selection of Colorado’s in 2006 but has been passed over in the league largely because of his size (5′8, 155). Bining scored on 30% of his shots to D. Veltman’s 5%.

Matt Yager was inserted into Portland’s line-up after their 0-2 start, and showed great heart and speed. Expected to be a learning year for the Victoria Jr. A product, Yager was able to help Portland completely shut-down Colorado’s offense and tallied a transition goal in their 14-5 win on Saturday.

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