2008 DRAFT GRADES - By: Kyle Devitte
This article is the reason I’m not allowed at MLL drafts. At least, that’s what I tell myself. This year’s draft was chock full of top-level talent. It was also riddled with trade rip-offs and putrid selections. This is pretty long, so feel free to scan through to check out your team, or bring the laptop to the bathroom and read the whole thing. It’s your call.
Boston: A-
Paul Rabil is not a man-child. Paul Rabil is not the great white hype. Paul Rabil is not a messiah. You know what he is? He’s next level. He’s a beast master. He’s the best #1 pick in five years. Analysts questioned the two-for-one deal the Cannons made with the Machine, but they fail to recognize the importance of a midfielder of Rabil’s caliber in Major League Lacrosse. He is a one of a kind player that can take over a game at any time. The Bucktooth/8th pick/Morris trade is a great trade for the Cannons. Morris had two goals and six assists in his first game in a Boston uniform this past weekend. Once ‘lil Powell is healthy, Rabil is in uniform, and the goalie situation is resolved the Cannons will be one of the scariest teams in the league. Chris Eck is a great pick up - he‘s a poor man’s Geoff Snider. The reason that Boston gets an A- instead of an A is because they took no name local players instead of potential impact players like Notre Dame teammates Joey Kemp (G), and Sean Dougherty (D). If the Cannons wanted to pick local/UMass guys they should have taken Brian Danvers – the second-best-last-picked-player ever.
Chicago: B+
The Machine had a strange draft day. Trading away the first pick was pretty much a no-brainer. The Machine need more than one impact player – they need nine…teen. On draft day they managed to snag three and a half of those types of players in the first two rounds. The debacle of having to trade for Mike Leveille was a smart/scumbag move by the NJ front office, so I’m calling a Mulligan there. Leveille is a great pick, as evidenced by his four-point game against the Bayhawks this past weekend and his gaudy Tewaaraton hardware. I still think he’s a little small to be a #2 attackman, but he will do wonders for the Machine’s chemistry playing with his brother and fellow Orangeman Steven Brooks. Brooks had a rough go of it on championship weekend, but he will be a solid contributor at midfield - and so will UMBC’s Terry Kimener. Virginia’s Will Barrow is a D-middie so he’s the half of the three and-a-half great picks. G-town’s Brendan Cannon is a great sleeper in the third round. Chicago’s biggest error was not selecting a single defenseman. Or goalie. A run and gun offense is likely the explanation, but eventually the Machine will have to stop someone from scoring to win a game.
Denver: B
Princeton ManBearPig Dan Cocoziello is a great pick for the Outlaws. If he were their only pick the draft grade would be a lot higher. It is hard to do much with three picks, but Denver should have snagged a goalie in the fourth round. Or fifth. Or at any point. I’m not slagging off Schwartzman, but the late rounds are for depth – not nepotism. (I’m looking at you, Tierney.) If Coco can become a true shut down defenseman instead of a hard checker, Denver will really go places in the playoffs.
Los Angeles: B+
I liked the Riptide’s moves on draft day. They quietly unloaded an unhappy Sean Lindsay for a top-tier finisher in Kevin Huntley and traded Spencer Ford at the highest point of his value for the fifth pick. GW Mix used that pick to grab underrated Ohio State midfielder Kevin Buchanon. Buchanon doesn’t have great size but has incredible field vision and a howitzer of a shot. However, the best move that the Riptide made was nabbing Notre Dame standout Joey Kemp with in the third round with the 29th pick. Kemp is going to be a starting MLL goalie eventually and being Jarboe’s understudy will only help his development and transition. I’ll say this for LA – they’re not scared to make moves for the guys they want. Sort of like my heartless ex-girlfriends.
Long Island: A
Long Island had an incredible draft with very limited picks. Getting Ben Rubeor (UVA, A) and Jerry Lambe (D, G-Town) in the second round were unreal selections. Lambe is one of the best defensemen in the draft and Rubeor was on a lot of people’s boards in the first round. Rubeor might not make a big impact this year – his body is held together by bubblegum and duct tape right now – but next year he will be a solid starter. The diminutive UVA star will be the Kyle Dixon of this draft and become a fantastic player in 2009. Taking Mike Unterstein in the fourth round was another great move. Unterstein was a serious contributor on the offensive end for the Pride this past season with 33 points (20g’s, 13a’s) and two game winning goals. As I mentioned in the Cannon’s preview, UMass’ Brian Danvers is a runner-up for greatest Mr. Irrelevant. He is topped only by his Long Island teammate Stephen Berger, who was picked last in 2004. 2008 was a great draft for Long Island.
New Jersey: B+
Yes, I am aware that everyone else gave them an A. They are sheep. Danowski is a great pick, there’s no denying that. If he has any drawbacks it’s his size, but his passing ability and quickness more than make up for his lack of girth. Heh, heh - girth. Unfortunately – I do not agree with the Peyser pick/trade. I would have taken Brooks over Peyser for the simple reason that Brooks has a defined role: he’s a scorer. Is Peyser a more complete player? Of course he is. However, Peyser is a jack-of-all-trades – but a master of none. He’s got a good shot. He can take face-offs. He can play a little D. What is Peyser’s greatest asset? I’m sure the Machine/Pride didn’t draft him to take face-offs. Playing with his two brothers surely can’t hurt, though. Picking up Maryland pole Joe Cinosky instead of Georgetown D-man Jerry Lambe also seems like a misstep to me. Kevin Unterstein is a great pick as a D-middie; it’s an increasingly important position in the MLL. New Jersey’s worst pick was definitely Princeton goalie Alex Hewit. Hewit is prone to mental miscues and is inconsistent on clears. You can’t play in the MLL if you can’t clear the ball. Sorry.
Philadelphia: C
Yeah, they get a C. Could the Barrage really have helped themselves in the draft? Does anyone know what picks they would have had? Would anyone want to be a newbie in that locker room? What kind of conditioner does Spallina use? Some questions will have no answers. Philly would have just screwed up their best asset – team unity – by acquiring new players. Plus, giving an “incomplete” is for girls and cowards. Girly cowards.
Rochester: B
The Bucktooth trade was going to happen eventually; I just sort of hoped it would be for Jack Reid instead. The fact that it resulted in the Cannons getting Sean Morris makes the trade more even than it first appeared. Rochester taking a ‘Cuse player is not all that surprising. Taking close defenseman Kyle Guadagnolo definitely is, though. Georgetown’s Jerry Lambe would have been a great fit for the Rattlers and he was still on the board. I guess the Rochester front office wanted a guy that was closer to home to add depth to their demonic trio of Reid, Bliss and Merrill. Rochester’s other big pickup was also a defenseman, Duke’s Nick O’Hara. I don’t care if he is labeled as a long stick middie - O’Hara is a solid player. His biggest asset is his tenacity and I believe that it will serve him well in this league. I expect O’Hara to have more of an impact than Guadagnolo or the Rattlers third round selection, Army goalie Adam Fullerton. Local spitfire and star of the Warrior Major League Challenge game, Albany goalie Brett Queener, dressed for the blowout win over Philadelphia this past weekend. Queener even saw some time on the field; stopping all five shots that the Barrage managed to half-heartedly toss his way. No goalie runs, though.
San Francisco: C
I know - I’m being generous with a C. I have nothing to offer but sympathy and apathy for the Dragons. It has to be hard to get players to play there considering they basically everyone on the team flies out for games. Flying over five hours round trip only to lose ALL THE TIME can’t be a fun experience. Grabbing one of my sleepers Matt Lalli was a sound move, but I think he went a little high. Apparently, he’s a middie. Hey, you’d get confused too if you watched him play in college since he sets up from behind the net a lot. Stupid invert slow down offenses. I’m not sold AT ALL on Notre Dame’s Mike Podgajny. Dude, you’re a spell-check nightmare. Podgajny would have been a fantastic second or third rounder, but seeing him go in the first round was a definite surprise. Then again, San Fran needs all the help they can get. Trading for Lindsay was a solid move, he’s a fixture on the West Coast at this point and will give the Dragons midfield experience and scoring.
Washington: C-
Matt Bocklet was a good pickup for the Bayhawks. He will find a role as a wingman and transition player, but I don’t see him being a solid starter unless he becomes the world’s strongest man. Washington’s other picks make no sense and have done nothing but anger me. Fellow columnist Dan Freshman implored me to fail the Bayhawks, but that’s because he’s even angrier than I am. At least I’m short, Dan – what’s your excuse? A Michigan FOGO? Seriously? I just…ah hell, change the grade to a D+ - the most insulting grade one can give. It’s like saying that you’re not so incompetent to completely fail, but I don’t like you enough to throw you the C- s you can go play JV badminton. D+ it is.
Don’t like the grades? Email info@laxunited.com and use a fake name so I can’t find you. It’s for the best. 
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