NLL - Trophy Case Chase

[CW7]

It has been fun reading the weekly review of the NLL - Trophy Case Chase and the opinions that have been offered over the 16 game season. Great review today and interesting to see where the folks placed their votes. Thought it would be fun, hope others join in, to throw my opinion on the TCC.

MVP

The powers to be selected three players for the MVP, though I thought Steenhuis might have been selected in this category rather than transition player. So let's first look at the numbers

Dan Dawson - G-30, A-74, Pts-104, Pim-8, LB-54, Shots-207, SPCT-.145

Colin Doyle - G-38, A-73, Pts-111, Pim-12, LB-63, Shots-185, SPCT - .205

O'Toole - GP -13, Min-776, W-9, L-5, GA-139, GAA-139, GAA-10.74,
SV% .774

All 3 are worth candidates, I am sure there are others, and all 3 made a
difference of their team making it to the play-offs. Without O'Toole Rochester would be sitting on the sidelines, same with Doyle. However, Dan Dawson led a new franchise to a first place finish in the East and was
again the impact player that made the biggest difference. My vote to Dawson. Most of the folks voting gave the nod to Dawson.

Goaltender

Five goalies were given the nod in the NLL-TCC. So, what do the stats have to say:

Montour - GP-15, Min-651, W-8, L-3, GA-104, GAA, 9.57, SV%-.813

Vinc - GP-16, Min-916, W-9, L-6, GA-173, GAA-11.33, SV%-.779

Disher - GP 13, Min-733, W-8, L-5, GA-132, GAA-10.80, SV%-.792

O'Toole - GP -13, Min-776, W-9, L-5, GA-139, GAA-139, GAA-10.74,
SV% .774

Cosmo- GP-16, Min-840, W-9, L-5, GA-142, GAA-10.14, SV%-.781

Had a chance to watch all of the goalies this year, also would mention the play of King/Campbell of Calgary. Of the group above my choice would be
Vinc, playing 16 games and logging 916 minutes. Yes, a high number of
goals against, but a somtimes suspect D didn't help him in games.

Defender

The same 3 names seem to come up most of the year, along with other great D men in the league. This is a tough category and I am sure there
would be others to be considered.

A. McBride - G-1, Asts-10, Pts-11, Pm-27, LB-63, Shots-5
C. White - G-0, Asts-8, Pts- 8, Pim-47, LB-66, Shots-3
J. Moleski - G-5, Asts-5 Pts-10, Pim-19, LB-95, Shots- 23

All 3 players are outstanding candidates for Defender of the Year. All 3 play in likely the best two defensive units in the league, based on high pressure athletic defense. Stats for the 3 are all close with the edge to Moleski on LB. However, LB is an overrated stat in my opinion (this is another story for another time.) Moleski more goals(23 shots), but the two stay at home D men both have their points on assists. Yes, hard hitting is important, but the one criteria that may separate the best D man is a player who rarely is out of position, rarely gets beaten one on one in every game in the season. In this case my vote would be for McBride who is a tenacious hard nosed textbook defender. All 3 split the votes

Transition

Three talented transition players and as usual likely others who could be mentioned. Merrill, Steenhuis (though I might have had in MVP category) and Jordan Hall.

Merrill - G-14, Asts-33, Pts-47, Pim-38, LB-216, Shots-158, SPCT-.194

Steenhuis - G-51, Asts-50, Pts-101, Pim-24, LB-117, Shots-254, SPCT-.201

Hall - G-25, Asts-56, Pts-81, Pim-16, LB-97, Shots-111, SPCT-.225

Watched them all play and all very impressive. Still think Steenhuis played more of role as a forward this year with amazing pts, but 100 more shots than Merrill. Love the hardnosed Hall who continues to get better every game. However, my vote would be for Merrill. I am not sure how many
minutes he logged every game, but a tireless worker who is the true
transition player in the league.

Coach

My only comment would be is a vote for Cordingly who in his second year took a 7-9 team to a 12-4 team. Had a team that believed in him and think
he grew as a coach over this season.

Manager

What can you say about Tom Ryan who took an expansion team to first place in the East. Enough said.

I am sure there are more opinions out there with different choices in many of the positions. It was fun reading the NLL Insider each week and congratulate them on an interesting take on the best of the year.

[SteveBermel]

Two things to point out in a great post.

1 - I'm not sure Montour played in 15 games this year.

2 - Boston is in 3rd place, not 1st (that being said, I think Tom Ryan still deserves to be the GM of the year).

[BretMac]

[QUOTE=SteveBermel;503956]Two things to point out in a great post.

1 - I'm not sure Montour played in 15 games this year.

2 - Boston is in 3rd place, not 1st (that being said, I think Tom Ryan still deserves to be the GM of the year).[/QUOTE]

Yeah but he has the same record as the 2 teams above him...

[Laxwizz]

Not to take anything away from an intelligent lacrosse mind but I think most knowledgeable lacrosse fans could have built as competitive of a team as Tom Ryan did with all of his draft advantages.

LW

[Fan of Lax]

Originally Posted by Laxwizz

Not to take anything away from an intelligent lacrosse mind but I think most knowledgeable lacrosse fans could have built as competitive of a team as Tom Ryan did with all of his draft advantages.

LW

No doubt. But I think Ryan deserves credit for getting that roster to buy into his system and execute it. You can piece together a roster with all the talent in the world, but if you don't get it to work together, it's worthless.

[Mr Boo]

Originally Posted by Fan of Lax

You can piece together a roster with all the talent in the world, but if you don't get it to work together, it's worthless.

Yeah, I remember the first Heritage Cup game too.