Redwoods LC
Key Additions
- A Ryan Lee (Injury)
- M Eli McLaughlin (Player Pool)
- A Wes Berg (FA, Chaos)
- D Owen Grant (Draft, Delaware)
- M Brian Tevlin (Draft, Notre Dame)
- M Cole Kirst (Draft, Syracuse)
- FO Zach Cole (Draft, Saint Joseph’s)
- LSM BJ Farrare (Player Pool, Penn)
- OC John Grant Jr.
Key Departures
- LSM Kyle Hartzell (FA, Cannons)
- D Finn Sullivan (FA, Cannons)
- SSDM Pat Harbeson (Retired)
- SSDM Jack Near (Retired)
The biggest story from the Redwoods this offseason is drafting defenseman Owen Grant at second overall. At 6’3”, 230lb, and as aggressive as they come, Grant will embody what it means to be a “Redwood.” He’s been training his whole life for this, and the Redwoods need it after finishing dead last in defensive efficiency last season.
While Ryan Lee will miss the first game of the year playing in the NLL Finals with the Colorado Mammoth, I don’t think his return from injury is talked about enough. The Redwoods offense finished second to last in goals and offensive efficiency. I found myself pleading with them through the TV to move on offense (except you, Joe Robertson – good job), and Lee’s playstyle will bring the spark and energy that I’ve been waiting for. Another way to inject some life into this offense could be by hiring one of the most talented offensive players to ever pick up a stick: John Grant Jr. Junior has over 2,000 points spanning both his indoor and outdoor careers and will bring a new perspective predicated on pick action, off-ball movement and leverage.
The players added/lost looks like a net positive to me, but unless we see some radical changes in the playstyle and intensity the woods bring to the field, I fear they’ll be in the same place as last year and seeking wholesale change.
