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Thompson who won the nil draft
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Who Won The NLL Draft?

Nine teams entered and nine teams left the NLL Draft last night. But who WON the NLL Draft on Monday night? Who drafted the best players? Who addressed immediate needs? Who is drafting towards the future? Did any of the teams have a terrible draft? It’s time to look through the picks and break down each team’s selections!

Summer is over, and it’s back to school time, so let’s give these NLL franchises a letter grade for their efforts!

I’ll run through each team’s picks, then provide a quick breakdown on who they got, and then finally drop a big old letter grade on their heads, relying on my most professorly thinking:

Edmonton – Ben McIntosh (Drexel), Adam Shute (New England College), Tyler Melnyk (Marquette University), Matt MacGrotty (Bryant University), Chad Mitchell (Bellarmine University), Mitch McAvoy (Mercyhurst University), Mike Digeralmo (Edmonton Outlaws)

Edmonton had a medium sized class with 7 players drafted over six rounds. Ben McIntosh is a big pick up offensively, but Tyler Melnyk is another guy who can put the biscuit in the basket. Shute is a 6’4″ monster who played D for NEC. He hails from Calgary, so he’ll be back home in Alberta. MacGrotty is also a 6’4″ monster, but he is from BC. Mitchell is another Calgary player and he can score and has plenty of athleticism to bolster his game. McAvoy is a smaller guy, but he’s got a good stick and can win draws. DiGeralmo is a goalie.

NLL Draft Grade: B+

A couple of big time pick ups only add to an already tough Rush team. Their D will only be bigger and more athletic, and the picked up a couple of solid scorers. Church should be an impact player and I like how many Alberta natives the Rush chose.

Rochester – Jeremy Noble (University of Denver), Brier Jonathan (Six Nations), Ian Martin (Six Nations), Anthony Patterson (Six Nations), Zach Williams (Six Nations Rebels)

The Knighthawks traded away Johnny Powless before the draft (to Vancouver) and I guess they decided to shore up their Six Nations’ connections because 3 of their 5 selections came from the Chiefs, and one more came from Six Nations JR teams. Jeremy Noble is a huge pick up and I think he’ll find a place in Rochester right away as he is a diverse player who can fill almost any hole. Jonathan is a defensive transition player who can help Rochester’s already tough defense. Martin is a tough player and a leader. Patterson has experience all over and has played OLA and WLA. Zach Williams is Zed Williams’ (UVA) older brother. He scored 178 points in ONE YEAR of high school lacrosse in Western New York. He could help in transition and eventually work his way into the O. He is still young!

NLL Draft Grade: A-

I love the Noble pick as he is a hole filler. The Six Nations guys know this team and its players well, and this group should step in, provide depth, and compete for time for what is a VERY good squad already. It’s not a huge class, but it’s a great class, which works well within the franchise.

Minnesota – Miles Thompson (University at Albany), Shane MacDonald (Brampton), Joe Maracle (Six Nations), Eric Guiltinan (Brampton), Pat Miles (New England College), Paxton Leroux (Peterborough)

Miles Thompson is a big pick up for Minnesota, and he could provide another much needed scoring spark for the Swarm. MacDonald is a lefty transition player from the OLA and is a solid scorer who can push the ball. Joe Haodias Maracle was a good JR player and could score big time goals at times. Guiltinan is a classy defender who plays tough but fair. Miles is undersized but a good defender. Leroux will literally beat you up. Tough guy in hockey and lacrosse. Watch out!

NLL Draft Grade: B

Minnesota needed help all over, and I think they got it. Will it be enough to raise Minnesota’s level this year? I’m not sure about that. Thompson and a couple other guys could help right away though, and this is another good class for the Swarm, but not great.

New England – Mark Cockerton (University of Virginia), Quinn Powless (Six Nations), Rodd Squire (Six Nations), Matt Crough (Dowling College), Alex Buque (American International College), Josh Johnson (Six Nations), Sheldon Burns (Dowling College), Ty Thompson (University at Albany), Connor Campbell (Brampton), Mike Mawdsley (Sacred Heart University), Jayson Crawford (Halton Hills)

If you were curious why New England hadn’t made a ton of noise, the above is why: they decided to draft as many people as possible this year. 11 guys over six rounds is a huge draft class, and a number of these guys stand out. Cockerton will be a player, and Quinn Powless should really grow into an impressive player. Squire also has a notably bright future. I like the picks of Crough, Buque, Burns, Campbell and Mawdsley. Some good heart there! Ty Thompson could find his way onto the left side for New England as well.

NLL Draft Grade: A

New England was VERY active before the draft and they were slinging players, draft picks, and much more. It was a crazy introduction to the Black Wolves! Cockerton should develop into an NLL baller. Quinn Powless will be good in the long run, no question. I think Squire could contribute right away and I love the toughness New England brought into the franchise. Philly was a mostly American team, but New England seems to be taking a more native bend, kind of like Rochester. I think that will work and that the Black Wolves had a great draft with lots of talented players added to the roster.

Buffalo – Brandon Goodwin (Adelphi University), Matthew Bennett (Brampton), Tyler Ferreira (Dowling College), Jordan Dance (Orangeville), Mike Melnychenko (Chestnut Hill)

Goodwin is a good sized body, and could play transition with his good stick and history of playing midfield. Buffalo didn’t pick up a ton of guys, but all 5 are solid players. I think Mike Melnychenko could surprise some people and have a very productive NLL career over the long-term.

NLL Draft Grade: B-

I like the pick of Goodwin and think this group adds good athleticism to the franchise. It’s a little thin on numbers, but Buffalo had some talent, so could be okay no matter what. Ferreira is a great pick up who will do the dirty work where it’s required. I like that pick a lot.

Toronto – Brandon Benn (Johns Hopkins University), Jordan Robertson (Whitby), Brady Haseltine (Mercyhurst University), Darryl Robertson (Whitby)

The Rock didn’t make their first pick until the fourth round, where they drafted Brandon Benn, who could fit in with the Rock nicely on offense. Haseltine is a proven scorer and I like his game. Jordan Robertson should be a decent Tranny player and Darryl can score goals. Both should fit in well in Toronto.

NLL Draft Grade: C

Toronto picked late, and picked rarely. They made some good choices, but with such a small group it’s hard to give them a great grade. I think it could take at least a year for most of these to really contribute, and the Rock are aging a bit.

Calgary – Tyson Roe (Concordia University Wisconsin), Pat Henry (Calgary Mountaineers), Cam Gardner (Bellarmine University), Andrew Smistad (Marquette University)

Calgary, like Toronto, also had a small class. I like Roe as a top pick (they got him with the 16th pick overall) and think that Henry, Gardner, and Smistad all add something to Calgary’s already tough squad. Smistad has good size and athleticism and could fit in to the tranny corps well. Gardner fits a similar mold, can put the ball away, and is a Calgary native. Good fit!

NLL Draft Grade: C+

Another smaller class, but there is some talent there. I like the local guys and size they brought in, and think this transition group could help Calgary continue to score goals in bunches.

Colorado – Eli McLaughlin (Coquitlam), Robert Hope (Pfeiffer University), Zach Rogers (Providence College), DJ Giacobbo (Canisius College), Terry Ellis (University at Denver), Mike Crampton (United States Air Force Academy)

Eli McLaughlin is a nice pick up for the Mammoth with the 4th overall pick. Hope is a D guy with still skills and Rogers is a 6’5″ D player with toughness and WLA pedigree. Giacobbo is a bit smaller, but a good defender out of Alberta. Ellis has great speed and could be a good Tranny player down the road. Crampton is a great late round pick up and he could be a surprise shiner.

NLL Draft Grade: B+

Colorado got size, two local players, a really solid tranny guy or two and some diamonds in the rough. Not sure how this group will pan out, but there is potential and loads of it!

Vancouver – Conrad Chapman (Nanaimo), Brandon Clelland (Orangeville), Dan Keane (University of Delaware), Jakob Doucet (New Westminster), Matt Delmonico (Seton Hill), DJ Saari (Coquitlam), Steve Ferdinandi (New Westminster)

Vancouver went younger and with a heavy box background team. While many teams took Canadians who went off to college in the US, Vancouver stuck with a more traditional set of choices. Chapman is a WLA product who plays transition well. Clelland played OLA ball and made the OLA JR A second team as an all-star this year. Keane is quick and elusive and can definitely score goals. Delmonico is in much the same mold and is a talented offensive player. Saari is a D guy with potential. Ferdinandi is also a talented D guy with loads of potential.

NLL Draft Grade: B-

It’s a good group, but no one truly stands out as an instant impact kind of player to me. Clelland could be a good boost right away and I like the athleticism of this group overall.

Disagree with me on ANY of the above? Obviously I want to hear it! Hit us up in the comments and defend your position heartily!