NLL Insider

Syracuse's Matt Abbott, one of four Americans taken inside this year's first two rounds.

Last year at around this time, we delved into ”the roots” of the National Lacrosse League, looking at what areas from across North America the league’s players come from, focusing on Ontario, BC, Alberta, the US and players of Iroquois decent.

Ontario alone makes up close to 50% of the NLL. The US a growing almost 18%. Canada as a whole, making up in the ballpark of three-quarters of the league’s population.

So with that said, why is almost every draft year’s “roots” breakdown look like almost the opposite of what the full-time NLL is actually made up of?

Although Canucks almost always make up a large portion of the first two rounds of most year’s drafts (players usually taken inside the first 20 picks are considered “locks” by most teams), Americans always make up a majority of the players taken past that point.

This year four non-box US grads were taken inside those first two rounds; Max Seibald, Dan Hardy, Matt Abbott and Michael Evans, Boston and Orlando splitting the four.

Last year’s US record setting draft garnered ten Americans taken in the first two rounds, only Paul Rabil, Stephen Peyser and Kevin Buchanan landing what would be considered everyday full-time spots during ‘09.

Of the 22 remaining Americans taken after the second round came to an end in ’08’s draft, only three players taken from that pool even played in at least one game last winter. Those players being Jordine Levine (16 games played), Mike Ward (6) and Steve Ammann (5).

Picks coming from Ontario dropped significantly during this past month’s draft. The province usually makes up for over a third of the draft, as much as 46% of picks coming from Ontario during the ‘06 draft. This year, only 15 players from the province (which will drop to 14 if that Brendan Doran pick isn’t legit) that won both the Mann and Minto Cup in ‘09 were taken out of the 62 picks called out last week in Buffalo. That’s less than a quarter of the draft, yet the league is practically 50% Ontarians.  

Over the past four drafts, picks from Ontario have steadily sank going from 35 in ‘06, 33 in ‘07, 23 last year and then that slim 15 last week.

Interestingly enough, the ‘09 draft was a big one for BC, which saw 16 players from the western province selected, the first time they’ve out-ranked Ontario in several years, maybe ever.

So of the 24 Americans taken this year, based on recent year’s percentages, only five, maybe six, will crack a legit roster spot, stick to their team over 2010 and contribute regularly throughout the year. With one less team this year, meaning over 20 roster spots fewer than ‘09, that number may even come down to a greater extent.

Below, check out “the roots” breakdown of players over the past four draft years, and after that, vote for the American taken past the first two rounds this year who you think will have the biggest impact on the NLL in 2010 (mirrored versus last year’s stacked US heavy draft, only three of the guys listed below will even play in 2010).

2009

1. US - 24 players
2. BC – 16
3. Ontario – 15
4. Alberta – 4
5. Iroquois – 3

2008

1. US – 32
2. Ontario – 23
3. BC – 14
4. Alberta – 4
5. Iroquois – 3

2007

1. Ontario – 33
2. US – 23
3. BC – 14
4. Iroquois – 6
5. Alberta – 5
6. Saskatchewan – 3

2006

1. Ontario – 35
2. US -23
3. BC – 12
4. tie Alberta & Iroquois – 3
6. Australia – 1

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