Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome
After all the recent trades over the past week, many Outlaws fans were wondering why some of those trades were made; as well as what is going on with the Denver Outlaws. I went one-on-one with Denver Outlaws GM Tony Seaman to find out the answers to some of those questions.
Do you feel that the defense is performing up to the normal standards expected by the Outlaws organization? There has been much criticism that the team needs to cut some of the veteran players and bring in a younger group. What are your thoughts?
- Tony said: “The truth of the matter with our defense is that we are missing 2/3’s of our close defense. Dillon Roy has not played a minute this season with an injury. Dillon is one of the top three defenseman in the league. Chris O’Dougherty has not played a minute this season also out with injuries. It is very difficult to have two of the best defensemen in the MLL not play and expect your defense to be as good as they have been in the past. Add to that the fact that our nine year starting goalie, Jesse Schwartzman retired at the end of the year and we have been breaking in two rookies so far this season. It takes a while to adjust to the volume of shots that you see in a MLL game, very different than in college. Our defensive play has nothing to do with age.”
With the Dom Sebastiani/Nick Ossello trade, there was some skepticism that the Outlaws needed defensive players not offensive. Realizing that Nick was originally drafted by the Outlaws 60th overall in the 2015 MLL Collegiate draft, then chose to be a 5th year senior playing football at Notre Dame, he seemed to fit in really well with the team. What may have prompted that decision?
- Tony commented: “We have had our eyes on Nick for a long time and drafted him in his senior year of college. He stayed a year to play football; was on the open market; and picked up by the Bayhawks with the first pick of the supplemental draft, with a pick they had one spot ahead of us. Living in Denver, being the all around athlete he is and the fact that our interest in him has never changed we jumped at the chance to trade for him. Dom has been a very good player for us for four years, but lives in Baltimore and has a new job which effects his availability playing for us each week so the trade made sense for him and for Nick. We do have depth at the SSMD position so we didn’t feel like we were short changing our defense with this trade. Greg Downing and Noah Molnar are playing very well for us.”
There are a lot of new faces on the team, many of the college draft picks are really stepping it up a notch and bringing a level of energy to the team that hadn’t been there this season. Are the Outlaws in a rebuilding mode after losing so many key players over the current season?
- Here’s what Tony had to say: “We are never trying to rebuild, but always looking to improve. Our 2014 Championship Team was filled with very experienced players with the likes of Lee Zink; Jesse Schwartzman; John Grant, Jr;, Matt Bocklet;, Dillon Roy; Chris O’Doughetry; and Jeremy Sieverts to name a few. Just looking over those names only Bocklet and Sieverts are still with us. MLL Rosters are ever changing and my job is to bring in new players; fill spots that are open; and put the best possible product on the field each week. The Outlaws are greatly affected by the NLL indoor season running into the first four weeks of the MLL season because we have a number of players who play in both leagues. It’s really only now that we are really playing together with a consistent group. It is time for us to find the players that can replace all of those outstanding Outlaws, and that can best be done with the college draft. Certainly players like Kavanagh; Tills; and Grill will be around for a long time to come. We are excited about their current play and their potential.”
Chris Bocklet has been out for much of the season. Some people think that he may have lost his starting spot on the roster; others say it’s just due to an injury. Can you provide your view point?
- Tony said: “Chris Bocklet is a very good and very successful player in the MLL. Coach O’Hara and his staff have been trying to fit together our attack as players return to us as the NLL ends and as the college players become eligible. It has been an ongoing process and as can be seen in the results our offense has been very good and very productive in almost every game.”
The huge trade with Grant Jr. for Adam Fullerton on Wednesday shocked Outlaws fans. What do you feel Adam can bring to the team in net? Jack Kelly had a spectacular game last Friday against the Lizards, but Ryan has been having a tough go of it. Do the Outlaws plan on keeping three net-minders or possibly putting one of the other two, Kelly or LaPlante on the practice squad?
- Tony commented: “Every team must have a goalie in the game at all times under league rules so we must have two goalies on our game day roster each week. Bringing Adam Fullerton in gives us experience in the goal while Kelly and LaPlante are trying to adjust to the rigors of playing in the MLL. We were impressed with Jack Kelly’s growth in the goal over the past two games and it’s really good for us to know we have someone like Adam Fullerton, with his experience and ability with us as our two rookies gain experience. John Grant, Jr. cannot be measured in goals scored or assists given. He is the true ultimate professional; great in the locker room; great on the field; and one of the very best to ever play the game. The Outlaws future does not lie in his hands like it did in 2014 when we brought him into our organization and he helped lead us to our first MLL Championship. Sadly his days are numbered and we are very excited about having Matt Kavanagh with us as his heir apparent. We wish him the very best as his unbelievable career continues.”
Chris O’Dougherty and Dillon Roy are on the PUP list. Do you see either of them returning in 2016?
- Tony’s final comments were: “We have no idea if either will return this year. Nothing would make us happier if either or both do.”
We would like to thank Tony for his time, as well as his insights on the happenings within the Outlaws organization.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Denver Outlaws
Lacrosse is Awesome