NLL Insider

Will captain Ryan Cousins and rookie Zack Greer lead Minnesota into the 2010 post-season?

Summary

‘09 Record: 6-10, 174 GF, 198 GA; Missed Playoffs
‘09 PP Rank: 12th; PK Rank: 7th
Returning: 15 players including F Sean Pollock, F Aaron Wilson, F Kevin Buchanan, D Ryan Cousins, D Nick Inch and G Nick Patterson
Key Losses: F Ryan Ward, F Chad Culp, F Dan Marohl (hold-out)
Key Additions: F Ryan Benesch, F Zack Greer, D Scott Self

Offense

Lefties: Kevin Buchanan (22g, 45points), Ryan Benesch (17g, 44points), Zach Greer (Rookie), Kevin Ross (20g, 43 points), Tim Campeau (13g, 28points); Righties: Sean Pollock (26g, 65 points), Aaron Wilson (31g, 58points), Callum Crawford (19g, 41points), Sean Thomson (5g, 6points)

With Tim Campeau their oldest left-handed forward at just 25 years of age, the Swarm are definitely young up-front. But there is a lot of potential and competition between those young lefties and Minnesota hopes that injection of youth will lead to offensive production in 2010 and beyond.

Rookie Zach Greer won’t fly under the radar as Kevin Buchanan did while capturing ‘09 All-Rookie honours; Greer comes in as one of the most hyped pro prospects after record-setting NCAA scoring years at Duke and Bryant University and will look to have a ROY campaign, as Benesch did just three short seasons ago.

Look for the 5-foot-9 Ryan Benesch, picked-up via trade from Edmonton, to provide an immediate spark offensively. Benesch enjoyed an impressive summer campaign in the Major Series League (MSL) where he finished fourth in league scoring, notching 72 points in just 17gp.

Kevin Ross and Campeau also enjoyed great summer campaigns on opposite coasts, with Ross impressing in limited minutes during Brampton’s Mann Cup win. Not making the cut was 6-foot-1, 210 forward Alex Turner who finished this past summer No. 10 overall in WLA scoring as a rookie.

Righties Sean Pollock and Aaron Wilson will receive the majority of the minutes on the opposite side where the Swarm lack depth with the departure of long-time Swarm Ryan Ward. That will also provide newcomer and former first-rounder Sean Thomson with an opportunity he didn’t get in Philly.

Thomson provides needed size up-front. Just four of Minny’s forwards top 6-foot including another Swarm newbie, Callum Crawford via Edmonton.

Right-handed forward Dan Marohl, the only Swarm forward to score on more than 20% of his shots last season, remains on the team’s hold-out list.

Defense

Ryan Cousins, Nick Inch, Scott Self, Richard Morgan, Andrew Watt, Jay Thorimbert, Noah Talbot, Eric Pacey, Jon Sullivan, Joe Cinosky, Josh Funk, Colin Achenbach; Nick Patterson (71% SV%), Kevin Croswell (77% SV%)

Minnesota, who ranked third-worst in goals against last season, strengthened their back-end with the additions of Scott Self, one of the league’s best defenders, and the under-rated 6-foot-8 Richard Morgan. Both came via Edmonton, with Minnesota giving up an ‘09 first-round draft pick to snag Morgan.

The Swarm also kept NLL All-Star defenders Ryan Cousins and Nick Inch. Noah Talbot, who has missed only two games over the past four years for the Swarm, is a quiet work-horse.

Sophomores Andrew Watt and Jay Thorimbert, who had an impressive rookie season finishing No. 3 overall in league face-off wins, will provide offense options in transition.

In net, young 24-year-old Kevin Croswell has shown potential, actually banking more minutes last season than two-time (‘06, ‘07) NLL All-Star goaltender Nick Patterson.

If Minnesota hopes to make the playoffs, however, either Croswell or Patterson will have to elevate their game. Kevin finished No. 10 overall in league save percentage last season while Nick ranked last among full-time keepers.

Outlook

Does Minnesota have a dynamic enough offense to compete for an NLL post-season position? Pollock was the team’s top scorer last season, ranking low at No. 24 overall. Generating goals and finding consistency in goaltending will likely be their largest challenges in 2010.

New coach Mike Lines, who spent three seasons as the team’s assistant coach, will also be called upon to make some changes to the system. The Swarm ranked last overall in league power-play percentage last season with a 36% conversion rate and the team’s defense gave up nearly 12.4 goals per game.

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