The PLL waiver wire is underway, with teams free to pick up players from the PLL player pool to further fill their roster before training camp in May. Some teams will be more active than others and with the PLL College Draft looming, you may see a few teams make minimal adds. Yet, that doesn't mean we can't still speculate where the top PLL free agents could land.
Mark Cockerton
I was fairly surprised that Mark Cockerton was not selected in the PLL Entry Draft, but the fact that many teams are already set at lefty attack could be why he was passed over. One team that still needs a premier lefty and won’t pass on Cockerton: the Boston Cannons. I am as certain that Coach Sean Quirk will use his waiver priority to select Mark Cockerton as I was that he would select Lyle Thompson first overall in the PLL Entry Draft. Quirk is not just getting a former Boston Cannon who he coached the past three seasons, he is getting a versatile lefty who can shoot, feed and finish what is sure to be a countless number of Lyle Thompson assists this summer.
Potential Teams: Cannons, Atlas
Andrew Kew
Andrew Kew can be seen as a good fit for most teams with his shooting ability. He’s shown that over his two seasons of professional ball, which included him netting the game winner in the 2019 MLL Championship. I had Kew mocked to the Atlas, and I think that is still a strong landing spot for the University of Tampa grad. Despite the presence of lefty attackman Chris Cloutier and addition of Brendan Sunday in the PLL Entry Draft, I could see Coach Ben Rubeor adding another outside threat to his roster. A surplus of shooters isn’t a bad thing to have.
Potential Teams: Atlas, Whipsnakes
CJ Costabile
CJ Costabile is arguably the best LSM available in the player pool. His age (31) may have been why team’s shied away from him during the youthful PLL Entry Draft, but the 2020 MLL LSM of the Year has not slowed down since his pro lacrosse career began in 2012. The Whipsnakes currently have one of the smaller rosters and a hole to fill due to the retirement of Brett Schmidt this offseason. The prospect of the Whips running out Michael Ehrhardt and Costabile at LSM this summer was too good an idea not to fantasize about.
Potential Teams: Whipsnakes, Chrome, Waterdogs
Austin Kaut
With there already being a log jam at the goalie position heading into season three of the PLL (see #TradeWard), it will be interesting how coaches manage the influx of keeper talent heading into training camp. While Nick Marrocco (Cannons) and Sean Sconone (Chrome) were drafted to take over the starting spots for their respective teams (though Sconone may have to wait a year under Galloway), that still leaves a number of talented goalies in the player pool.
One goalie I think will likely land a roster spot is Austin Kaut. Despite having a tough showing in the MLL bubble, Kaut has a proven track record in cage dating back to his days at Penn State, where he was once named the nation’s top goalie. I can see a team like the Waterdogs scooping up the lefty to compete for a roster spot with incumbents Matt DeLuca and Charlie Cipriano. Coach Andy Copelan has seen first-hand Kaut’s capabilities as they battled in the CAA during his time at Fairfield.
Potential Teams: Waterdogs, Whipsnakes, Redwoods
Bryce Wasserman
Many were shocked to see the 2020 MLL MVP get passed over in Thursday’s PLL Entry Draft, but given how many teams are already set when it comes to a dodging X-attackman, it wasn’t too huge of a shocker. Yet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t quite a few teams that could snag Wasserman. The Waterdogs are the prime candidate, given that Wasserman could be seen as an upgrade over Christian Cuccinello and that Ben Reeves’ medical commitments could affect his availability down the line. Adding a strong dodger who can draw a slide would also undoubtedly open up more scoring opportunities for the Dogs’ shooters, lefty Kieran McArdle and the recently-acquired Ryan Brown.
Potential Teams: Waterdogs, Cannons
Shayne Jackson
The fact that the reigning NLL MVP didn’t hear his name called during the PLL Entry Draft shows the dearth of talent that is still available on the waiver wire. I had Jackson mocked to the Chaos. I was half correct in the fact that Coach Andy Towers would select an NLL standout with the last name Jackson, just not the one I was thinking (Kyle Jackson).
Shayne Jackson lit it up on the field scene in 2018 with the Atlanta Blaze, scoring nearly 60 points (43 G, 15 A) that summer. I would love to see Coach Sean Quirk add Jackson to the Cannons’ roster and pair him with his box teammate on the Georgia Swarm, Lyle Thompson.
Potential Teams: Cannons, Chrome
Matt Abbott
Many teams could use Matt Abbott’s services. The former Syracuse standout is one of the best SSDM in the game and has made a career out of winning the groundball battle. Adding a player like Abbott helps limit opposing team’s transition opportunities. The team with the worst transition defense last season was the Chrome. That is why I expect Coach Tim Soudan to potentially pick up the veteran midfielder. Yet, if Chrome pass on Abbott, there could be a few other coaches who try and acquire his services, including his former Bayhawks teammate Ben Rubeor.
Potential Teams: Chrome, Atlas
Nick Manis
While the Whips already picked up a replacement for Ty Warner at the SSDM position with the drafting of Charlie Hayes in the PLL Entry Draft, that doesn’t mean they couldn’t still use a versatile player like Manis, with either a shortie or a pole. The former Terp would fit in seamlessly at any position that Coach Jim Stagnitta sees fit to utilize the swiss army knife defenseman. Manis to the Whips would make a mean defense that much meaner.
Potential Teams: Whipsnakes, Chrome
Mark Matthews
Despite his age (31) and overall average success in the field game (by the 2018 NLL MVP’s standards that is), Mark Matthews is still one of the best passers in the game. A standout in the NLL with the Saskatchewan Rush, Matthews is known to dazzle with highlight-worthy goals and improbable assists (sometimes by using only one hand). Matthews made an impact on the 2019 Atlanta Blaze offense that ranked best in MLL history, and he ranked second in assists per game on the Barrage last season behind Tommy Palasek (we’ll get to him soon).
While there are several teams that could use the lefty’s services, the Cannons appear as the most likely (even if they add another lefty in Mark Cockerton). The Whips could also use a strong lefty on their roster and Matthews could also thrive in the Archers pairs offense if they decide to add yet another offensive weapon.
Potential Teams: Cannons, Archers, Whipsnakes
Dylan Molloy
Dylan Molloy was set to play for the Redwoods in the PLL’s inaugural season, before deciding to stay in the MLL. After looking over the rosters post-Entry Draft, Molloy seems like a great fit for Chaos LC. Adding Molloy’s dodging ability to an offense that got things cooking down the stretch in the bubble would make any defense nervous. The 2016 Tewaaraton winner recorded over 128 points in his first three seasons in the MLL. Any team could use that offensive output.
Another Brown grad and Molloy’s former teammate, Larken Kemp thinks he should have gotten a look in the PLL Entry Draft. We do as well. It just so happens that we think his next shot will be to play for another guy who suited up for Brown in Coach Andy Towers.
Potential teams: Chaos, Atlas
Brian Phipps
Brian Phipps to the Whips is so perfect that it even rhymes. The former Maryland goaltender has history with a few of the older Terps on the roster, and the Whipsnakes are currently in need of a backup goaltender. Phipps is a proven netminder who would be a great fit behind Kyle Bernlohr and could seamlessly step up in the event of an injury to the defending champs’ franchise goalie.
Potential Teams: Whipsnakes, Redwoods, Atlas
Tommy Palasek
Tommy Palasek is just a year removed from finishing second in the MLL in points (63) in 2019. That’s the type of performance that demands a look from all eight PLL coaches. Of those coaches, I think Chris Bates and the Archers pull the trigger on the Syracuse alum. Yes, the Archers have an already potent attack, but what's one more? Adding Palasek’s offensive presence and ability to distribute to an already loaded offense will have defenses spinning.
Potential Teams: Archers, Atlas
Kevin Reisman
While Kevin Reisman may not be seen as an upgrade on many teams, he has proven he can hang with the best of them. The faceoff specialist ranked second in faceoff percentage in the MLL last year and could be a depth add by the Archers, who lost Brendan Fowler to expansion, or Chaos, whose only faceoff specialist is currently the newly-acquired Max Adler.
Potential Teams: Archers, Chaos
Other Notable Names to Keep and Eye On
As for other players to look out for, Coach Sean Quirk could add some more former Cannons like Matt Gilray, Justin Pugal and/or James Fahey to his defense during the waiver wire period. Kyle Pless or Latrell Harris are two young poles who also could get picked up during the waiver wire, while SSDM Pat Aslanian impressed enough last year during the MLL bubble to deserve a look as well.
We both feel strongly that a team will scoop up Chris Hogan during the waiver wire period based on his athletics ability alone. His size and speed would make him a valuable asset on any midfield. Yet, it doesn't seem like his lacrosse skills are lacking far behind either. During workouts, the former Penn State midfielder has been clocking his shot at as fast as 110 MPH. If a team picks up "7-Eleven," we could see another memorable training camp for the former NFL star.
Frank Brown and Justin Reh are two other athletic options we could see teams adding during the waiver period. Both could be added to the Cannons to help solidify the midfield, with Brown playing for Quirk previously on the Cannons already. Brown would also add some depth to a Redwoods squad that lost Brent Adams to expansion and a Reh reunion is also not out of the cards if Andy Towers decides to pick up Chaos LSM Troy Reh’s twin brother.
Bradley Voigt, Garrett Thul and Kevin Crowley are three attackmen that teams could also add as finishers, with Thul and Crowley versatile enough to run out of the box. The Chaos are pretty set on offense, but if they wanted to bring a few more weapons to camp Thul, Voigt or Crowley would be prime suspects. Thul could also be the physical finisher that the Cannons are looking for and could provide a nice change of pace to star attackman Lyle Thompson.
In terms of specialists, Noah Rak (FO) or Chris Madalon (G) could get added to provide depth in their various position groups, both having earned a starting role on their respective past MLL teams.
Waiver Wire Names to Watch For
Attack: Andrew Kew, Bradley Voigt, Ben Martin, Connor O’Hara, Dylan Molloy, Garrett Thul, John Upgren, Kevin Crowley, Mark Cockerton, Mark Matthews, Nate Solomon, Shayne Jackson, Tommy Palasek, Will Sands
Midfield: Brendan Bomberry, Brian Kormondy, Chris Hogan, Frank Brown, Jack Jasinski, Jeremy Thompson, Justin Reh, Kiel Matisz, Kyle Denhoff, Luke Wittenberg, Nicky Galasso, Nick Mariano, Tim Barber
SSDM: Carlson Milikin, Chad Toliver, Drew Schantz, Mark Ellis, Matt Abbott, Pat Aslanian
LSM: Alex Spring, Chase Levesque, CJ Costabile, Kyle Hartzell, Latrell Harris, Scott Corcoran
Defense: Greg Weyl, James Fahey, James Leary, Justin Pugal, Kyle Pless, Matt Gilray, Will Nowesnick
Goalie: Austin Kaut, Brian Phipps, Chris Madalon, Christian Knight, Nick Washuta
FO: Casey Dowd, Kenny Massa, Kevin Reisman, Noah Rak