Chrome LC: What does the offense look like without Brendan Nichtern?
In 2022, Brendan Nichtern led Chrome to the second-best regular season record and helped reinvent their offense. Yet, while Nichtern dazzled in his rookie season, his long-term availability was always in question due to his military commitments.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year will miss the first three weeks of the season and potentially more games down the stretch, with his military commitments only allowing him to make mostly just Saturday games. This leaves a void behind the cage for the Chrome offense and replacing Nichtern won’t be easy. The former second rounder posted 40 points in 11 games last season.
It’ll take a collective effort to replace that production and creativity. Third-year attacker Jackson Morrill is the likeliest candidate to see an increased role and will look to re-capture the production he had during his rookie season in 2021. Rookie Jack Myers should also play a role in the attack as well when he returns from injury. Finally, fellow rookie Sam Handley will certainly carry some of the creative load out of the box.
Chrome is a strong defensive team with reigning Defensive Player of the Year JT Giles-Harris and Championship Series MVP Sean Sconone between the pipes, but this season will be defined by whether the offense can create enough consistently with their X-factor in and out of the lineup.
