The Boston Cannons pulled off a big trade Wednesday, acquiring defensemen Matt Landis from the Florida Launch for defenseman Evan Connell and the No. 4 overall pick in the next Major League Lacrosse draft. Boston also landed defenseman Robby Haus in the deal.
Landis, a two-time Schmeisser Award winner as the NCAA's most oustanding defensive player at Notre Dame, joins fellow 2016 graduate Brandon Mullins (Syracuse) and veterans Brodie Merrill and Mitch Belisle on the Cannons defense. With Chad Wiedmaier, James Fahey and Michael Pellegrino also in the fold, Boston boasts arguably the deepest stable of long poles in the league.
“We acquired one of the best young defensemen in the league today,” Cannons general manager Kevin Barney said on the team's website. “Landis and Mullins were arguably the two best defensemen in the NCAA last year, and we now have them both on our back line.”
As US Lacrosse Magazine's Joe Keegan pointed out, Landis had a profound effect on Florida's defense as a rookie.
In 8 games with Matt Landis, the Launch D allowed 2.59 fewer points per 45 possessions. From league-worst to top-4: pic.twitter.com/f4TEHAUPaI
— Joe Keegan (@joekeegs) February 1, 2017
With marquee players engaged in the MLL's new player movement policy and several trades leading up to the supplemental draft, the league's official website took stock of “old faces in new places” on Wednesday — and that was before the Landis trade. Among notable players who changed scenery this offseason:
Ryan Tucker - Midfield
Traded from Atlanta to Chesapeake
Joe Walters - Midfield
Signed with New York, which forfeited a first-round pick to Chesapeake per player movement policy
JoJo Marasco - Midfield
Traded from New York to Rochester
Brent Adams - Midfield
Signed with Denver via player movement policy (formerly with Boston)
Will Koshansky - Defense
Signed with Chesapeake, which forfeited a fifth-round pick to Rochester
Chris Bocklet - Attack
Signed with Atlanta via player movement policty (formerly with Denver)
Jeff Reynolds - Midfield
Signed with Atlanta, leaving Florida with player movement option
Deemer Class - Midfield
Traded from Atlanta to Charlotte
Dylan Donahue - Attack
Traded from Charlotte to Atlanta
