The Major League Lacrosse season starts Saturday, April 21. These team-by-team previews — in order of finish as projected by US Lacrosse Magazine contributor Phil Shore — were written before the MLL collegiate draft.

Find those results here.

1. Ohio Machine
2. New York Lizards 
3. Dallas Rattlers
4. Denver Outlaws
5. Chesapeake Bayhawks
6. Florida Launch 
7. Atlanta Blaze
8. Boston Cannons 
9. Charlotte Hounds

Denver Outlaws

2017 Record: 9-5
MLL Playoff Finish: Lost in championship game
Coach: B.J. O'Hara (5th season)

Power Rankings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Defense: ⭐⭐
Faceoffs: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goalie:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Key Losses: Mike Bocklet, A; Greg Downing, M; B.J. Grill, D
Top Returners: Eric Law, A; Jeremy Sieverts, M; Drew Snider, M
New Arrivals: Shawn Evans, A; Chris Fennell, D; Josh Hawkins, M

MVP Watch

Jack Kelly, G

Only once in league history has a goalie been named the MVP, and that was in 2002 when Greg Cattrano won the honor. In 2017, Kelly was a finalist for the award after winning two Defensive Player of the Week awards, finishing first among goalies in wins (nine), third in save percentage (.548), and fourth in goals against average (11.82). After Denver missed the playoffs in 2015 and started 2016 with a record of 2-6, Kelly’s arrival has been the turning point in the team’s fortunes. “He’s been the lynchpin of that [defensive] group,” O’Hara said. “We expect he’ll pick up where he left off. He’s awfully excited for being named to Team USA. That gives him more motivation to prepare and work.”

Under-the-Radar Star

Finn Sullivan, D

Sullivan graduated from Hofstra in 2016, but he did not play in an MLL game that season. He was selected in the supplemental draft by the Outlaws, who were filling some holes on defense, and he took advantage of the opportunity. He played in all 14 games and was in the top 10 in caused turnovers and became one of the team’s most dependable defenders. “Finn Sullivan became one of our top cover guys,” O’Hara said. “Having him back is comforting.”

Scouting Report

Three things you need to know about the Outlaws

1. Defense takes a hit.

Going into the 2017 season, the Outlaws defense had a lot of question marks, thanks to the retirements of two stalwarts, Max Schmidt and Michael Skudin. The team found pieces to fill in for them, however, and the Outlaws finished third in the league in goals against average. They will have more holes to fill this season, as midfielder Greg Downing retired. O’Hara also said defensive midfielder Noah Molnar and defender B.J. Grill will not be playing in 2018. The team has been working on contingency plans, however. “Molnar and Downing gave us quality minutes over the years,” he said. “They helped us in the championship game. Having Josh Hawkins helped fill that hole tremendously. Nick Tintle is back and healthy. He wasn’t able to dress for the playoffs. Nick and Josh will be the core of the defensive midfield, and we’ll have to add one or two guys to the mix.”

2. Brent Adams should debut.

The Outlaws landed Adams from Boston through the player movement policy in the 2017 offseason. It was a big signing, as he accumulated career-highs in goals (20), assists (nine) and points (30) in 2016. He didn’t play, however, due to injury. He’s not playing in the NLL this season, however, and O’Hara expects him to be ready and finally make his Outlaws debut alongside an already strong midfield group.

3. Year two for Romar Dennis.

Denver got a lot of production from its first-round selection in the collegiate draft, Zach Currier, and has high hopes for their second-round pick, Larken Kemp. It was fourth-round pick Romar Dennis, however, that surprised many and could play a big role early in the 2018 season. He scored six goals (including one 2-pointer) and added four assists in seven games; he also scored two goals in the semifinals of the playoffs. He’s surrounded by lots of talent on the offensive end, which should open him up for good looks. “He’s on his own to get ready,” O’Hara said. “We’re confident he will. It’ll be interesting to see where he’s at. He was a dynamic offensive player for us.”

Biggest Question Mark

Who fills in for Mike Bocklet on attack?

The former supplemental draft pick was a revelation for the Outlaws, finishing in the top three in scoring each of the past three seasons, including 2015, when he led the team in points. Denver traded him to New York over the offseason, however, leaving a hole in the attack. The team will still have Eric Law and Matt Kavanagh, who finished first and third on the team in scoring, respectively. The Outlaws will have to wait for Wes Berg to return to the lineup, however, due to his NLL commitments, as well as supplemental draft pick Shawn Evans. Jay Carlson, who played four games with the Bayhawks each of the past two seasons, will likely get the first opportunity to make the position his own.

Enemy Lines

What the opposition has to say about Denver

“They’re absolutely loaded. They find some diamonds in the rough. Every time you think they lost somebody, they fill in with somebody equally as talented. … Some of the veterans did a nice job of allowing the young guys to contribute at a high level. They’re playing a dangerous style of unselfish lacrosse. … Faceoff and goalie, they have two good ones. Strong d-middies. They picked up Hawkins, so they get deeper there too. … They’ve been building with that core group of guys and have been to the championship the past couple years.”

Number of Significance

28

Jeremy Sieverts is one of the most veteran players on the Outlaws. He’s a leader and one of the best midfielders in the game. In 2017, however, he scored his fewest points since arriving in Denver. His 28 points were 11 fewer than the previous year, which marked the previous low during his time as a member of the Outlaws. He also had Denver-lows in goals (13) and 2-point goals (two), while his assist total declined for the third consecutive season. While he still is an integral piece of the puzzle, Denver hopes his declining statistics aren’t a trend.

Bottom Line

Denver is primed for another long season, possibly even a third trip to the championship. At first glance, the Outlaws may seem overly optimistic considering the holes they have to fill – again – on defense, but the Outlaws organization seems to have a knack for finding unheralded stars that just need an expanded role and opportunity.