Minnesota Swarm 2014 Draft Preview

Will the Swarm Have a Double-Noble Look?

September 17, 2014

What will the Minnesota Swarm be looking for in this Monday's 2014 NLL Entry Draft at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario. They do need .... EVERYTHING .... That's what team that finishes 4-14 would need to turn last season's disappointment upside up. Even with last season still unwelcomingly fresh in Swarm Owner and General Manager John Arlotta's mind, they don't need everything but they sure could get a few players to help out in 2015 and hopefully beyond.

The Swarm have the following picks in this year's draft

First Round - 3rd Overall
First Round - 5th Overall
Second Round - 10th Overall
Fourth Round - 29th Overall
Fifth Round - 38th Overall

Only five picks, a bit scarce in comparison with years past but three of them are in the top ten which in the NLL is what really counts because would one rather have a top ten player in the the draft than players that are considered to be at the bottom of the top 50. With those three top ten picks, look for at least two to dress for the home opener on January 3rd against Colorado.

After the lackluster 2014 season, the Swarm you could say earned the first overall pick in this year's draft. I think all thought at that time that the team would use that pick to select Jeremy Noble, the brother of the Swarm's second overall pick last year, Jason Noble. Noble is a righthanded forward with what the experts call a "High Lacrosse IQ" that would work well with the Swarm's all-time leading scorer Callum Crawford. Being that Jeremy and Jason are twins, maybe even identical, it would be a boost to both of their games for both of them to play together. Let's face it, they will eventually find a way in the NLL to be on the same team in their career just like we saw a couple weeks ago with the Brodie Merrill trade to Toronto to match him up with his older brother Patrick. Since it is eventual, may as well make them teammates in Minnesota to start the 2015 season.

But at the end of June, the Swarm's draft plans took an interesting and uncertain twist, when they traded the first overall pick and Tyler Carlson to the Edmonton Rush for the third overall pick and Brodie MacDonald. Now there is no guarantee that Jeremy Noble falls to the Swarm at three. So intrigue and controversy are the name of the game on Monday night.

The Edmonton Rush have the first pick in the draft now after the MacDonald-Carlson trade and many expect them to take Ben McIntosh, a big righthander scorer out of B.C. The Rush sure are hinting they are leaning towards McIntosh and are content to stay at #1. But the team with the second overall pick, is the Vancouver Stealth and that is where things get muddled. Noble would look good there of course and they could use some offense just like the Swarm. Another possiblity is local product Eli McLaughlin, a talented lefty coming straight out of junior lacrosse. I am also sure that that the Stealth have heard from the Colorado Mammoth, who may want to take Noble with his history at the Denver University. So a trade maybe on draft day could occur with those two teams. It all depends on how much the Stealth, Mammoth and Swarm want Noble. I think if the Stealth pass on Noble, then the Swarm take him at three but maybe the Swarm feel confident that the Stealth won't take Noble which was manifested by trading the first overall to begin with knowing their man would still be there at three.

What happens if Noble is gone by the time the Swarm pick at three? Well McLaughlin would look good on the left side or another lefty to consider is Mark Cockerton from Oshawa. Cockerton lives out East where most Swarm games will be and possibly more importantly a college graduate out of Virginia compared to no college for McLaughlin. The top righty after Noble and McIntosh is 2014 Tewaaraton Trophy co-winner Miles Thompson out of the Onondaga Nation and the University of Albany, who is definitely the most well-known player in this draft and would generate a lot of good publicity in town. Arlotta puts a premium on college graduation and that would lean Cockerton or Thompson. Whoever the take at three, offense is where that pick should be and my guess at Swarm preference with McIntosh gone for sure is (1) Noble (2) Cockerton (3)Thompson (4) McLaughlin.

With the fifth pick, defense can definitely be looked at especially if Robert Hope is still available. Most experts think the Peterborough native will be available at five and that Hope is the best defender in this year's draft. Both Head Coach Joe Sullivan and assistant Bobby Keast are very familiar with Hope since they have coached him with the Senior Lakers the past two seasons. If there is one 100% guarantee for the Swarm in this draft, it is if Hope is available at five, the Swarm will take him.

After the top five picks, it is very muddled at best with many experts say this is a weak draft in comparison with the 2012 and the next two drafts in 2015 and 2016. With the tenth pick the Swarm will have a plethora of players that will help with the depth of the team for 2015. My hunch is that the player will be from Ontario for sure. The player will also be someone I think has a history with a few of the players currently on the team to make the transition easier and for "team chemistry" to start brewing faster.

Three players that I could see the Swarm take at ten are:

After the tenth pick, the Swarm have a bit of wait until the 29th pick. The Swarm have shown that they will trade for picks late in the draft if someone piques their interest. With the NLL combine this weekend prior to Monday's draft, that may where we see the Swarm snag a player or two. Also, don't be surprised if the Swarm take an American player late, maybe someone they scouted at the USILA North-South game in May.

Not since the 2008 draft, is there really a consensus first pick for the Swarm. Expect wheeling and dealing for sure and a fun night of draft viewing for Swarm fans.