Blaze bolster roster through MLL supplemental draft

With a team president, general manager and head coach in place, the Atlanta Blaze turned their attention to the product they hope to put on the field for the upcoming season after taking 15 players Wednesday in the Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft.

Head coach Liam Banks and general manager/assistant coach Spencer Ford took the first steps in improving upon last year’s 6-8 record by selecting players they thought would not only help the Blaze, but also provide a competitive training camp environment and be with the team over the 14-game schedule.

“Our goal in the draft was to come out as a stronger team than we were going into it, and I feel like we did that,” said Banks, the former MLL player hired as coach Monday. “We picked up some great players. We wanted guys that will be here for 14 games. The last few years, we had a couple of guys who played indoor lacrosse, and I think that hurt the team early on, because you’re waiting for the indoor season to end before you can incorporate those guys into the system.

“I feel like you set yourself up for failure that way. For the system I run, it’s important to have the guys there from the beginning working and building together as a family for 14 games, and then sprinkle in a few more guys at the end.”

MLL teams were able to protect 23 of the 29 players on their rosters ahead of the supplemental draft. Teams were also able to pick players who were not on MLL rosters last season.

Atlanta had the No. 2 pick in each of the 12 draft rounds after finishing eighth of nine teams last year. The Blaze also chose three players during the auxiliary round to set their current roster at 35 players.

“We filled spots at several positions,” Banks said. “We’re going to give guys a shot at training camp. There are guys in the league that haven’t been given a fair shot, so we’re going to take a look at some of them. Everybody on the roster will be able to fight for their spot on the roster.”

One of those players who was not given a fair shot, according to Banks, was attackman Dylan Donahue, whom the Blaze took with their first draft selection. He returns to the team after netting 10 goals and eight assists in 11 games last year.

“Dylan didn’t get the right opportunity here last year,” Banks said. “The offense just didn’t fit him. He has an incredible lacrosse pedigree and knowledge of the game, and with an offense like mine, I think he’ll flourish.

“Dylan and (two-time Blaze leading scorer Kevin Rice) played together at Syracuse, so they’re familiar with each other styles. I think they’ll make a big 1-2 scoring punch for us.”

Another familiar face rejoining the franchise will be midfielder Jeremy Noble, whom the Blaze took in the sixth round. He had 10 goals and two assists a season ago.

Noble’s brother, defenseman Jason, was taken in the third round.

“Jeremy is like the heart of the team,” Banks said. “He also plays indoor lacrosse, but he’s a veteran who will have a great role with our team. His brother, Jason, is one of the best defensemen in the league. This will be the first time the two of them have ever played together professionally, and the family atmosphere they’ll bring is the family atmosphere we want here for the team.”

Banks and Ford also made a trade prior to the supplemental draft, sending all-star attackman James Pannell to the Boston Cannons in exchange for the 10th overall selection in this year’s collegiate draft. The Blaze later sent attackman Randy Staats and midfielder Jesse King to the Dallas Rattlers in exchange for pick Nos. 24, 32 and 51.

Pannell was the Blaze’s second-leading scorer last season, with 21 goals and 12 assists in 13 games. Staats was the team’s second-leading scorer in 2016 (30 goals, 15 assists), but he was limited to 16 goals and eight assists last season due to injury.

The trades gave Atlanta seven picks in the collegiate draft.

“With seven picks in the top 35, it really sets us up for the future with guys that can really help us,” Banks said. “Or, we can look around the league before the draft and get trade opportunities with these picks. It gives us options to strengthen the team.”

Atlanta will have 40 players at training camp, which takes place over the first two weekends of April. The roster will be cut to 32 before its trimmed once again to the final 23-man roster, with six practice squad players.

The Blaze will begin the season against the Florida Launch on April 22 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.