Max Adler Signs with Whipsnakes LC
Why It Should Happen: This is a move that would make Chaos LC fans sick and simultaneously shake up the faceoff market. Entering this offseason, the Chaos and Chrome will be looking to re-sign their leading faceoff men and Cannons and Archers are two other teams in need of an upgrade at the stripe. Then the Whipsnakes joined these teams when their starting faceoff specialist Joe Nardella went down with an ACL injury during Team USA tryouts. The Whipsnakes, who had few needs heading into the offseason, suddenly had a big question mark at the stripe.
While there are a handful of options available for Coach Jim Stagnitta via the 2023 PLL College Draft, could Stags have his eye on adding a proven veteran instead?
Adding Max Adler on a one-year deal would be a savvy move that would provide the Whips with some stability at the faceoff and Adler with a chance to command a higher contract next free agency period. Connor Farrell is another free agent faceoff athlete that the Whipsnakes could target, but I like them going after Adler instead for a variety of reasons.
While Farrell had a stronger year statistically, Adler performed well down the stretch once he got full healthy. If I’m Stagnitta, I’d target Adler as both the better faceoff option and potentially cheaper signing. And if you’re Adler and want to test free agency, why not sign with a contender with great wing support?
Additionally, Nardella and Adler train together and are friends off the field, both coaching future faceoff athletes as instructors with the Faceoff Factory. The connection between the Whips and Adler is already an easy one to make and would be great way for the Whips to hamper their rival before even stepping on the field.
Why It Won’t Happen: Adler has given no indication that he wants to play for any other team and his relationship with many of his Chaos teammates—a handful of which play with him on the Buffalo Bandits as well—extends beyond the PLL season. Furthermore, if the Bandits go far into the postseason like last year, the Whips could still be without a starting faceoff man for one to two weeks. I think Adler is much more likely to re-sign with the Chaos then sign elsewhere, but with a few teams in need of a starting faceoff man, now could be the best time for Adler to at least test the waters.
