Edit: They ended up just pre-selecting the teams so this whole post is moot haha. I also listed Blaze at #8…that’s embarrassing.
In case you’ve been living under a rock where’s there no lacrosse or news, you’ve already heard about the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).
A new, tour-based professional men’s outdoor league spearheaded by Paul Rabil. The PLL has attracted the top professionals with increased pay, equity in the league, and them sweet, sweet healthcare bennies!
The league will start in June of 2019.
The players have already been announced and sometime before that there will be a draft to determine the rosters of the 6 teams.
The PLL Goalies
Here are the goalies announced who will be participating in PLL:
Seems like they’re missing a goalie, no? If there are 6 teams, you should have a starter and a backup for each team. I only count 11 goalies.
Edit: On 12/8/2018 the PLL announced more names joining the league including the great Brett Queener so the goalie count is now at 12. I already added him to the list above and included him in my rankings.
The PLL has made the claim that they’re getting the best talent in the world. Going through this list, that’s a pretty accurate claim.
All of these guys are goalies who have proven themselves either at the college level, the pro level, the international level, or all three.
That’s a solid group of goaltenders and it’s interesting to think that half of these guys will be backups. Perhaps we’ll see some splitting of halves or splitting of games when the PLL comes to town.
A few other goalies that I think are the top in the sport right now that I’m surprised didn’t make the move – Brian Phipps, Dillon Ward, Nico Amato, and Austin Kaut.
PLL Goalie Draft Order
So here’s my prediction of how the draft order goes in terms of the order of just goalies. As I mentioned the list is stacked.
Stats: 24 yrs old. 6’1″ 195lbs. West Islip, NY. Brown 2016
For the last two years, Jack has earned the top ranking amongst goalies for all players in the MLL.
He was the starter on Team USA until he suffered a knee injury. But that injury didn’t stop him from helping the team win gold…
Something on my mind since returning home — @JLKelly94’s contributions post injury. His energy, focus, & mental toughness were contagious down the stretch. Made himself as valuable as anyone on the field. Truly the epitome of a great teammate. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Qy7g08K6Gj
Those that know Jack will tell you, he’s the real deal.
The Denver Outlaws selected Kelly in the 7th round (57th overall) of the 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft. That was a steal as Kelly’s rookie season earned him MLL rookie of the year honors in 2016.
I think he goes much higher than that in the PLL draft.
Jack is a great goalie and an even better teammate and he’s my pick for the second goalie off the board when the PLL drafts.
We also know Jack can snipe it full field.
3. Drew Adams
Stats: 32 yrs old. 6’1″ 195lbs. Springfield, PA. Penn State 2009
Adams has enjoyed a successful career in the MLL and should make a smooth transition to dominating the new league.
He’s the owner of an MLL championship. A 4-time MLL All-Star and voted goalie of the year in the 2011, 2012, and 2015 seasons.
3-time goalie of the year including back-to-back seasons? Hmmmmm yes I’ll take that for my team.
He also played with the Team USA team that won silver in the 2014 World Games.
The big, tall lefty takes up a lot of cage and simply dominates with straight steeze (that’s style and ease for those lacking the lax slang).
Drew Adams is my pick for the third goalie off the board.
Gotta include the Big Rig in my top 6 as I think he deserves a starting spot.
Bottom line – I want this guy on my team. The intensity he brings to the table is second-to-none.
Scotty is the type of guy that if he was taken as the 6th goalie in the draft, he’d use that as a chip on his shoulder to become the best the goalie the PLL has ever seen.
As a goalie, you want a leader and you want someone who will motivate and push the team to succeed. That’s what Scotty Rodgers stands for.
At 6’4″ 265lbs he’s a monster at our position that started his Occupy the Crease movement.
Even when he was a backup that didn’t stop him from continuing to get better and be a leader of the team. Those are the types of guys you want on your team.
Brett Queener is the goalie I always wanted to be. A smaller frame like mine and just a pure athlete.
If you haven’t seen Queener play do yourself a favor and watch these highlights:
Brett Queener is another guy who plays field goalie in the outdoor but has such strong stick skills and general lacrosse IQ that he plays with a shortie in the indoor league (NLL).
With Queener you get more than highlight reel full field clears. The dude brings a ton of energy to whatever team he’s on and an amazing ball stopping ability.
At 34 he is getting up there in age but I like Queener as the 9th goalie off the board.
He played his college ball at Bryant University and I haven’t really watched him play.
He was taken by the Florida Launch in the 2016 draft and I haven’t really watched him play there either as he mostly backed up their starter Austin Kaut.
I could totally be sleeping on Gunnar by putting him last but Lax Goalie Rat doesn’t have a team of scouts that travel the world and provide me with feedback for this post. Yet. Sorry Gunnar.
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2 thoughts on “Predicting the PLL Goalie Draft Order”
I think you have a solid list, however I’m slightly confused about a couple of things on your list.
In your predication for the draft, you have Jack Concannon going fourth overall ahead of two former MLL Champion goalies in Scotty Rodgers and Kyle Bernlohr. Plus you mentioned in Dan Morris’s intro the time it takes to get used to the professional level. Why won’t it be the same for the Pride of the Pride. Don’t get me wrong, I think Concannon’s talent does deserve him the fourth spot but he won’t get drafted that high.
I could honestly see someone doing exactly what the Machine did with Bernlohr where they draft Big Rig, then get one of the younger goalies like Concannon or Gunnar Waldt.
Speaking of Gunnar Waldt. All you need to do to find out what kind of dominate goalie this guy can be is go back and watch the first round of the 2014 NCAA playoffs where he, in my opinion, lead the upset of Syracuse when he was at Bryant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XpfFDJUTM that’s the link to the highlights to wet your whistle.
Thanks for the comment Max! I actually had Concannon going ninth – I screwed up the final list in the conclusion but just fixed it now. Agree with you on the analysis – he’ll need some time to adapt. Thanks for wetting the whistle with some sweet Gunnar highlights haha
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I think you have a solid list, however I’m slightly confused about a couple of things on your list.
In your predication for the draft, you have Jack Concannon going fourth overall ahead of two former MLL Champion goalies in Scotty Rodgers and Kyle Bernlohr. Plus you mentioned in Dan Morris’s intro the time it takes to get used to the professional level. Why won’t it be the same for the Pride of the Pride. Don’t get me wrong, I think Concannon’s talent does deserve him the fourth spot but he won’t get drafted that high.
I could honestly see someone doing exactly what the Machine did with Bernlohr where they draft Big Rig, then get one of the younger goalies like Concannon or Gunnar Waldt.
Speaking of Gunnar Waldt. All you need to do to find out what kind of dominate goalie this guy can be is go back and watch the first round of the 2014 NCAA playoffs where he, in my opinion, lead the upset of Syracuse when he was at Bryant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XpfFDJUTM that’s the link to the highlights to wet your whistle.
As always, great content! Keep it up!
Thanks for the comment Max! I actually had Concannon going ninth – I screwed up the final list in the conclusion but just fixed it now. Agree with you on the analysis – he’ll need some time to adapt. Thanks for wetting the whistle with some sweet Gunnar highlights haha