The NLL is still months away, but a lot has happened this offseason to shape the season already. Every month we will have an NLL preview, talking about different aspects that will matter this season.
NLL Preview- Scoring
A lot of prime offensive players switched teams this offseason. Including last season's MVP Casey Powell. The Boston Blazers offense has been well documented this offseason, acquiring Powell and Josh Sanderson from the Calgary Roughnecks.
But those were not the only players to switch teams. Geoff Snider was traded to Calgary, and Jeff Zwycki left the Washington Stealth. And with Colin Doyle being traded last offseason, this looks to be the norm in the NLL.
Who will lead?In the east, I think Boston. I've talked about them a lot so far already, so how about the west. If Calgary didn;t trace everybody, I would have said them, but I am going to go with Washington for now, the defending champs. Paul Rabil leads that team obviously, so I believe as of right now Washington will lead the West in scoring.
Who is in the cellar?Philadelphia. They lost Snider, which really hurts their offense. I don't see them even making the playoffs as of right now. In the west, I'm going with Colorado, though I do see them making the playoffs with Vinc. I think Minnesota will score more, but I do not believe they are good enough to make the playoffs this season.
Lead the league?I think Josh Sanderson will lead the league again. With playmaker Casey Powell playing with him, I can see a repeat for Sanderson.
Top 5?My top 5 point getters this season, in no order, would be Sanderson, Powell, Lewis Ratcliff, Colin Doyle, and Callum Crawford. Honorable mention: Paul Rabil
Showing posts with label callum Crawford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label callum Crawford. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
NLL Preview Minnesota Swarm
The Swarm had a very disappointing year, going 5-11 but making the playoffs due to Colorado's horrendous season. But Minnesota could not have been happy with their efforts as they try to regain their form again.
Minnesota barely made the playoffs, losing their last six games of their season, they made it only when Colorado lost their second to last game of the season. It's no surprise either, they were tied for the worst goals again est average in the league. Both their goaltenders, Nick Patterson and Eric Croswell, had GAA's over 12.
One of the bright spots in the Swarm season was the play of Callum Crawford. Crawford had bounced around in his first five seasons, playing on five different teams. His 96 points were his career high by a large margin, his previous high being 41 the season before. It was also the first time Crawford had played a full season, playing only 13 games before with Edmonton, and before that 12, 13, and 5 games per season. The Swarm look for Crawford to continue off his breakout season and be their catalyst on offense.
The next leading scorer for Minnesota was Ryan Benesch. Benesch scored 81 points in his first year in Minnesota, also a career high for him. His previous high had been 58 in his rookie year with Toronto. The Swarm also acquired Benesch from Edmonton, was traded for Ryan Ward, who turned out to be Edmonton's leading scorer. Benesch had been traded from Toronto to Edmonton previous of that.
The Swarm's next leading scorer is Tim Campeau, with 48 points. Acquired from Portland in the dispersal draft, Campeau scored twenty more points than the previous year and picked up 51 more loose balls.
I'm going to look at one more player here from Minnesota, one I expect big things from in the future. Zack Greer was just a rookie last season, and played in 13 games and picked up 13 points. Greer is one of the top scorers on the MLL's Long Island Lizards, and I think a big year may in the waiting for Greer in Minnesota.
Minnesota had enough scoring to go by. In fact, they scored more than Edmonton, Boston, and Buffalo, who all made the playoffs with a better record. But their issue once again leads to goaltending. They gave up 201 goals on the year. Nick Patterson was 13th in the league in goals against. His save percentage was the third lowest in league, only Andrew Leyshon and Matt King was a lower save percentage. Patterson has been a long time member of the Swarm, coming over from the Vancouver Ravens in 2005. In that time period his best GAA was in 2006 when he had a 10.16 GAA, and the year after that it was 10.88. Patterson has been good in the past, but his GAA has gone up every year since then. But the one thing that stands out about Patterson is his playoff numbers. His career GAA in the playoffs is 14.01. His save percentage is only .713. And he has never had a playoff win, holding a record of 0-4.
I really think the Swarm can make the playoffs again, but they need an all around better year from their goaltenders.
The next and final preview: Buffalo
Minnesota barely made the playoffs, losing their last six games of their season, they made it only when Colorado lost their second to last game of the season. It's no surprise either, they were tied for the worst goals again est average in the league. Both their goaltenders, Nick Patterson and Eric Croswell, had GAA's over 12.
One of the bright spots in the Swarm season was the play of Callum Crawford. Crawford had bounced around in his first five seasons, playing on five different teams. His 96 points were his career high by a large margin, his previous high being 41 the season before. It was also the first time Crawford had played a full season, playing only 13 games before with Edmonton, and before that 12, 13, and 5 games per season. The Swarm look for Crawford to continue off his breakout season and be their catalyst on offense.
The next leading scorer for Minnesota was Ryan Benesch. Benesch scored 81 points in his first year in Minnesota, also a career high for him. His previous high had been 58 in his rookie year with Toronto. The Swarm also acquired Benesch from Edmonton, was traded for Ryan Ward, who turned out to be Edmonton's leading scorer. Benesch had been traded from Toronto to Edmonton previous of that.
The Swarm's next leading scorer is Tim Campeau, with 48 points. Acquired from Portland in the dispersal draft, Campeau scored twenty more points than the previous year and picked up 51 more loose balls.
I'm going to look at one more player here from Minnesota, one I expect big things from in the future. Zack Greer was just a rookie last season, and played in 13 games and picked up 13 points. Greer is one of the top scorers on the MLL's Long Island Lizards, and I think a big year may in the waiting for Greer in Minnesota.
Minnesota had enough scoring to go by. In fact, they scored more than Edmonton, Boston, and Buffalo, who all made the playoffs with a better record. But their issue once again leads to goaltending. They gave up 201 goals on the year. Nick Patterson was 13th in the league in goals against. His save percentage was the third lowest in league, only Andrew Leyshon and Matt King was a lower save percentage. Patterson has been a long time member of the Swarm, coming over from the Vancouver Ravens in 2005. In that time period his best GAA was in 2006 when he had a 10.16 GAA, and the year after that it was 10.88. Patterson has been good in the past, but his GAA has gone up every year since then. But the one thing that stands out about Patterson is his playoff numbers. His career GAA in the playoffs is 14.01. His save percentage is only .713. And he has never had a playoff win, holding a record of 0-4.
I really think the Swarm can make the playoffs again, but they need an all around better year from their goaltenders.
The next and final preview: Buffalo
Friday, April 9, 2010
NLL Game Preveiw: Knighthawks @ Swarm
photo credit: NLL.com 
Preview: The K'Hawks travel to Minnesota, desperate for a win after last week's loss to Calgary. Again, with a Buffalo or Boston loss, they can sneak into the playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Swarm look to clinch a spot in the 2010 NLL playoffs with a win and Colorado loss.
Leading Scorer: Minnesota: Callum Crawford 73 pts
Rochester: John Grant 60 pts
Goaltender: Minnesota: Nick Patterson 12.28 GAA, .754 S%
Rochester: Pat O'Toole 10.36 GAA, .767 S%
Injuries: Minnesota: None
Rochester: Gary Gait (leg)
Notes: * The Swarm is 0-3 when scoring first in a game.
* Nick Patterson made 53 saves last week in a losing cause
* The Knighthawks have lost four straight, all at home
* 24 of the Knighthawks 26 penalty minutes last game came in the first half
* You can listen to the game on WZNE 94.1 FM in Rochester. You can watch the game at NLL.com
Preview: The K'Hawks travel to Minnesota, desperate for a win after last week's loss to Calgary. Again, with a Buffalo or Boston loss, they can sneak into the playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Swarm look to clinch a spot in the 2010 NLL playoffs with a win and Colorado loss.
Leading Scorer: Minnesota: Callum Crawford 73 pts
Rochester: John Grant 60 pts
Goaltender: Minnesota: Nick Patterson 12.28 GAA, .754 S%
Rochester: Pat O'Toole 10.36 GAA, .767 S%
Injuries: Minnesota: None
Rochester: Gary Gait (leg)
Notes: * The Swarm is 0-3 when scoring first in a game.
* Nick Patterson made 53 saves last week in a losing cause
* The Knighthawks have lost four straight, all at home
* 24 of the Knighthawks 26 penalty minutes last game came in the first half
* You can listen to the game on WZNE 94.1 FM in Rochester. You can watch the game at NLL.com
Saturday, April 3, 2010
NLL Game Preveiw: Edmonton @ Minnesota
photo credit: NLL.com 
Preview: Tonight the Swarm can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the newly-berthed Edmonton Rush. The Rush clinched a playoff spot last night with a win over the Washington Stealth, but face another challenge tonight vs a hungry Minnesota team. The Swarm lost last week to Edmonton, 16-14.
Leading Goal Scorer: Minnesota: Aaron Wilson, 64 pts
Edmonton: Ryan Ward, 54 pts
Goaltender: Minnesota: Nick Patterson, 12.21 GAA, .749 S%
Edmonton: Matt Disher, 12.48 GAA, .758 S%
Injuries: Minnesota: None
Edmonton: None
Notes: * The Swarm can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
* With a win the Rush can tie the Stealth for first place in the West.
* The Swarm play four of their last five games at home.
* Callum Crawford scored a hat trick for Minnesota the last time these teams met.
* The game can be seen on NLL.com Network.
Preview: Tonight the Swarm can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the newly-berthed Edmonton Rush. The Rush clinched a playoff spot last night with a win over the Washington Stealth, but face another challenge tonight vs a hungry Minnesota team. The Swarm lost last week to Edmonton, 16-14.
Leading Goal Scorer: Minnesota: Aaron Wilson, 64 pts
Edmonton: Ryan Ward, 54 pts
Goaltender: Minnesota: Nick Patterson, 12.21 GAA, .749 S%
Edmonton: Matt Disher, 12.48 GAA, .758 S%
Injuries: Minnesota: None
Edmonton: None
Notes: * The Swarm can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
* With a win the Rush can tie the Stealth for first place in the West.
* The Swarm play four of their last five games at home.
* Callum Crawford scored a hat trick for Minnesota the last time these teams met.
* The game can be seen on NLL.com Network.
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