NLL Insider

Will Colin Doyle be the third straight scoring champ that also lands the MVP nod? (Photo: Matt J. Wiater)

With the National Lacrosse League rolling out their year-end hardware over the next couple weeks leading up to the Champion’s Cup final, I wanted to lay things out one last time before the top dawgs are announced.

Last year I had written that I’d love to see the league build things up a bit more, add a little anticipation by announcing a trio of finalists to get some chatter going online, in print and in the locker room. Google 2009 NHL award nominees and you’ll see what I mean.

After the jump, check out the three finalist that would have made my ballot, and then vote for your picks too.

Firstly, tried to narrow guys down based on, well, obviously my own opinion, but also all the feedback I got from fellow NLL Insider’s over the last couple weeks, player’s input and of course all the opinions shared on the forums as well.

Unlike last year, this year’s award winners are a lot harder to figure out and might be the most spread out we’ve seen, ever.

So, with that said, here are the guys I would have as the three most deserving in each of the seven major categories the NLL dishes out…

GENERAL MANAGER

Steve Govett, Colorado Mammoth
Tom Ryan, Boston Blazers
Regy Thorpe, Rochester Knighthawks

Most I’ve talked to over the last month or so really feel this will come down to either Govett, who worked some insane OT to fill in the gaps of a depleted lineup and scored some nice change in retired vets Gary Gait and Dave Stilley, or Ryan, who built one of the most impressive expansion teams we’ve ever seen with guys not named Dawson or Cosmo. Tough to pick a third option since there weren’t too many huge deals this year that panned out in the standings or amazing work done at either draft (outside of Ryan), but think Regy has to be given some credit for his first stab at GMing in the bigs. He was blasted early with injuries that would sink any depth chart, and like Govett, did his best to fill in the gaps, which included suiting up himself. Some have questioned him for the decision to play again, but you can bet his intentions were pure, cuz as Teddy Jenner told me after hearing about Thorpe’s decision to be a playing GM, “Regy is the ultimate team guy and is always all about THE TEAM.” Some also wondered if he was bending the rules a bit throughout the year when moving himself and Gait around, but bottom line, his boys made the playoffs during a year they had absolutely everything going against ‘em.

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COACH

Troy Cordingley, Calgary Roughnecks
Derek Keenan, Portland Lumberjax
Tom Ryan, Boston Blazers

Although my sentimental pick the other week was Bob McMahon, think the consensus from most I talk to are the three former NLL players above. Cordingley reaped the rewards for systems he instilled last year and improved the Necks’ record more than any other coach did from last year to this season. Like Jeff Dowling mentioned the other week, Keenan got his boys to buy into team concept systems after losing Dawson last year. And Ryan, well, he’s here for the same reasons why he’s nominated in the GM category too.

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ROOKIE

Rhys Duch, San Jose Stealth
Stephen Peyser, New York Titans
Daryl Veltman, Boston Blazers

Another two-horse race from almost beginning to end between Duch and Veltman. I was a huge fan of Greg Downing in Boston this year, and although many still feel Paul Rabil is the next Jay Jalbert in the making, I say look for Downing to take that title over the next couple years instead. With that said though, think that highly contested third spot has to go to Peyser, who finally gave Geoff Snider someone worthy to play with at the circle and gave the Titans a versatile, every day starter that has proved to be the steal of last year’s draft.

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TRANSITION

Jordan Hall, New York Titans
Brodie Merrill, Portland Lumberjax
Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo Bandits

Bottom line, this category needs some sorta official definition. Like we’ve mentioned throughout the year, although Steenhuis has a T beside his name on Pointstreak, he definitely doesn’t play what most purists would consider a true two-way role anymore. Think this category was made so players like Jim Veltman and Steve Toll, who play(ed) such a crucial role for any team they’ve played for, would finally get some much needed recognition. Steenhuis’ game did not look like Veltman’s or Toll’s this year at all, even though he had an outstanding season. I’d say define this as “the best offensive defender” in the league, so kinda an inverse of the NHL’s Frank J. Selke nod, given to the game’s best defensive minded forward. The NHL created the Selke so players like Bob Gainey would be recognized at year’s end. I’d say, let’s no lose sight of who we truly wanted to recognize with the transition honour in the NLL. Hall and Steenhuis will probably both receive some love from voters this year, one more deserving than the other in this category, which is why they are included today, but if you’re looking for this year’s best offensive minded defenders, the list would include names like Merrill, Stewart, Toll, Shattler, Hawskbee, Park, Schiller and Snider.

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DEFENDER

Andrew McBride, Calgary Roughnecks
Jeff Moleski, Calgary Roughnecks
Chris White, Buffalo Bandits

Tyler Codron and Billy Dee Smith are also worthy candidates, but will stick to the three above since they’ve been season long regulars in The Trophy Case Chase.

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GOALIE

Anthony Cosmo, Boston Blazers
Kenny Montour, Buffalo Bandits
Matt Vinc, New York Titans

So many good keepers this year for so many different reasons. This award might be the toughest to figure out. Although he tailed off a bit at the end, Matt Disher was arguably the best keeper during the first half of the year. Rochester woulda been donezo way earlier had it not been for Pat O’Toole. And the once written off Matt King had some amazing moments this year as well. Settled on the three above for pretty obvious reasons, but wouldn’t be surprised if the other three mentioned got some respect when the votes are cast.

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MVP

Dan Dawson, Boston Blazers
Colin Doyle, San Jose Stealth
Josh Sanderson, Calgary Roughnecks

Although he was one of this year’s biggest impact ball players, left off Casey Powell due to his time missed. Since the NLL started handing out an MVP nod in 1994, their MVP’s have only missed a combined two games during the seasons they won the award. Powell missed three this year alone. He was beyond good, but kinda broke the unofficial MVP rules to get mention. Anyways, there’s probably another five or six guys that are worthy of some serious MVP lovin’, but based on Insider and player responses I’ve gotten over the last couple weeks, the Brampton Excels’ trio above has received the most chatter.

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