’Necks eye draft to bolster lineup
Missing playoffs adds to pressure
When the Calgary Roughnecks finished out of the playoffs in the spring of 2017, for only the second time in franchise history, the organization knew it had to revamp its efforts in putting together a National Lacrosse League contender.
That process began during the summer, with player resignings, and it continues Monday with the draft in Toronto.
“Certainly,” agreed Riggers general manager Mike Board. “We didn’t make the playoffs, so to me it’s an open book. If we can improve any position, we’re going to do it. There’s more pressure. Missing the playoffs still stings, and the draft is one of the ways you build your team. We think this draft and next year’s are very important to shape the team.”
Board has been in the Toronto area for a weekend highlighted by the two-day combine, and, ultimately, the 2017 NLL draft, to be held on Monday (5 p.m.). The Roughnecks have seven picks, beginning with No. 3 and proceeding with Nos. 11, 22, 23, 26, 45 and 54.
The ’Necks staff met throughout the past few days to study the available talent. According to most prognosticators, the consensus top-two picks are Zach Currier, out of NCAA’s Princeton Tigers, and Josh Byrne, out of NCAA’s Hofstra Pride. When it comes to the Calgary club’s pick, some of the players mentioned are transition guy Anthony Joaquim out of the NCAA St. Joseph’s Hawks, defender Jake Withers of the NCAA’s Ohio Buckeyes and scorer Austin Shanks, also from the Buckeyes.
“We’ve got three names at that spot, and we’ll see how it goes,” said Board, playing his cards close to the vest. “We think the first two players that go. If any of those two fall, we would take those. But we don’t think they’re going to fall.
“We know we’re going to get a good player who can step into our lineup at three. We’re going to take the best available player. We’re not really looking at a need — we’re more along the philosophy of take the best player available and see where that takes us.”
This draft isn’t one for the ages, but there is enough talent there to make a difference on teams.
“There’s options,” Board admitted. “There’s some good defensive players, there’s some good offensive players. We’ll narrow things down, look at some film, and come up with a definite plan.
“There’s not a lot of superstars, I don’t think. Not to knock the kids, there’s a lot of good players. But you’re not getting a generational player — there’s not a Connor McDavid type or a Sidney Crosby type, as there have been in previous drafts, but a lot of good players who will have NLL careers, for sure.”
There is no particular area that the Riggers are looking to enhance, just the obvious ones.
Board has been busy this summer, re-signing players (he’s still working on Wesley Berg and Holden Cattoni) and adding a free agent in offensive lefty Tyler Ferreira. There was one huge minus, though — losing forward Jeff Shattler to the Saskatchewan Rush via free agency.