Trade Tornado & Card Craze
Hey. I'm Parker Bottcher, and this is Crease Monsters, the podcast where we talk all things lacrosse about epic highlights, gear reviews, game predictions, and, of course, some special guests. Whether you're stringing up a new pocket, gearing up for game day, or just chilling between practices, this is your go to spot for all things lacrosse. And if you haven't already, hit that follow button wherever you're listening, and let's get into it. Okay.
Speaker 1:If you've been anywhere near the lacrosse world this week, you know it's been absolute chaos. The NL just went wild with the trades and got a new collective agreement that almost gave everyone a heart attack. PLL's out here making trading cards like it's 1995. This week has been a movie, and I'm here for all of it. Alright.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about what's actually going on, the NLL agencies, and the trades because, honestly, this has been one of the wildest seasons I can remember. The Buffalo Bandits basically got stripped for parts. Vancouver is loading up like they're trying to break the league, and the Desert Dogs are out here shopping like they just won the lottery. So I'm gonna run my top 10 moves of the off season because there is just too much to cover. Number 10, Chris Kluche moved to the Vegas Desert Dogs.
Speaker 1:Three time NLLA champion, Chris Kluche leaving Buffalo for Vegas. Look. You got a guy who's picked up a 128 goals and a 159 assists in six years. That hurts. The Desert Dogs are building something in Vegas, And adding a proven winner like Kluche, that is a statement of the move.
Speaker 1:He knows how to win. He's been out there, done that, got three rings. Number nine, Mitch Jones to Vegas Desert Dogs. Another big ad for Vegas. Jones was in Philly, and now he's joining Vegas rebuild to the Desert Dogs.
Speaker 1:The GM's Sean Williams is clearly blow it up and start over mode. I respect it. Sometimes you gotta tear it down to build it right. Number eight, Tony Malcolm to Vegas. Seeing a pattern here.
Speaker 1:Vegas is loading up. Malcolm comes over from Philadelphia over 95 goals, 95 assists, eight seasons, plus 704 loose balls. This dude is a transition beast.
Speaker 2:This is where
Speaker 1:Vegas is turning into a place where the veterans go trying to make a run. Number seven, Chase Fraser to the desert dogs. Now this is where it gets spicy. Chase Fraser is a walking highlight reel. Dude scores backhands for fun.
Speaker 1:Three time NLL champion with Buffalo, a 151 goals, and a 108 assists in six years. He's taking his talents to to Vegas. Fraser can score, and at 30 years old, he's in his prime. Buffalo is still stacked, but don't get me wrong. Losing that kind of firepower is going to be felt.
Speaker 1:Number six, Mitch D. Suno to Philadelphia. The wings got themselves into a problem on defense. D. Suno won defensive player of the year in 2022.
Speaker 1:They're going all in, alongside their existing defense. Good luck scoring on the wings. Alright. Number five. Sticking in the East, Eric Fennel has found a way home, and it's in Philly.
Speaker 1:The Wings and Fennel have two year deal, and honestly, this guy deserves more stability. And if you've been following along, Fennel has been on quite the journey in the past year and a half last season started with the Halifax got traded to Albany before the season played five games with the fire wolves, then got flipped to Ottawa mid season. Now he's got a two year commit from Philadelphia, taking about someone who once put up 29 goals and 52 points in a season. He's a physical forward who can score, but also does the dirty work, setting picks, battling for ground balls. Number four, Reece Callies to Vancouver warriors.
Speaker 1:Vancouver keeps adding pieces. Reece Callies is another signing of the warriors. Another example of Kurt Molosky bringing all the BC boys home. Callies is from Langley, BC, and he's been playing solid defense in the league. What I love about this move is how it shows how Vancouver isn't just going for the flashy offensive names.
Speaker 1:They're building a complete team. Defense wins championships. And adding Cali's to the defense court, that already has Ryan Dilks, Matt Beers. That's legitimately shut down. Vancouver is building a championship roster with local talent who's known each other.
Speaker 1:They play together in the WLA, and who want to win in their home province? That's gonna be chemistry is gonna be huge. Number three, Jesse King to Vancouver warriors. This one is big. Jesse King leaving Calgary after years as a roughneck, that's huge.
Speaker 1:King put up a 105 points last season. Tied seventh in the league with Keegan Ball. He's almost been one of Calgary's most consistent playmakers. The dude can set up goals like it's nothing, and now he's joining forces with ball instead of competing against him? Vancouver is absolutely stacking the deck.
Speaker 1:You got Dixon and King on the same team now, both coming home to BC. Kurt Miloski is building something special. This isn't just adding talent. This is when adding proven winners who know how to play in the big moments. Calgary losing King hurts.
Speaker 1:He was a leader in that locker room, and now Vancouver gets to plug him into their system. The warriors just got more dangerous. Alright. Number two on our list. This one stings a bit, but for us.
Speaker 1:But Logan is heading back to Calgary. The our roughnecks signed a guy after after he spent the last several seasons in Vancouver. Look. We're happy for Riley, man, but this hurts. Riley Lowen has been a solid for the Warrior.
Speaker 1:This guy is a lefty forward with serious playoff experience and clutch scoring abilities. Calgary bringing them back can already prove that he can thrive in their system. It's smart move for roughnecks. But for us Warriors fans, it's tough to let Riley go. Wish him nothing but the best except when he is playing against us.
Speaker 1:Number one, Curtis Dixon moved to the Vancouver Warriors. It may have been one of the worst kept secrets of the off season, but Superman Curtis Dixon officially signed with his hometown club, Vancouver Warriors. Dixon is now 37, coming off a 108 season in his final year with the roughnecks. Let me break it down. This is massive.
Speaker 1:Dixon spent fourteen years in Calgary, 148 goals and 60 assists in his last season alone. This man is a Port Coquitlam kid coming home, and Vancouver fans are about to witness one of the greatest gold scorers to ever play the game. Nickname Superman isn't just for show. This dude has been defying gravity for his entire career. And at 37, putting up elite numbers, when you got you add Dixon to a team that already has Keegan Ball, top five goal scorer.
Speaker 1:Jesse King, a 105 points last season. Owen Grant, Reese Callies. Vancouver is gonna be a problem next season. I'm talking 12 plus wins. Deep playoff run.
Speaker 1:This team is loaded. Alright. Let's switch gears. I've been using the mark two f stiff face off, Ed. I've got thoughts.
Speaker 1:First off, the good stuff, the bend back on this thing is perfect, and it snaps right back. That is clutch. You really need stiffness to win clench this head delivers. It's got enough pinch without feeling like you're wrestling a python. The control is solid, and the scoop designed to make ground balls way easier than it should be.
Speaker 1:But, and this is a big but, they can't call it white because it's not white. It's baby blue. I don't know who is that shrinking and like, yeah. That's white. But my guy, that is not white.
Speaker 1:It's closer to powder blue. Now if you're rocking blue color scheme, perfect.
Speaker 2:But if you
Speaker 1:wanted to match actual white to your team colors, you might be a bit disappointed. Great head for performance exactly how you would want a face off head. But for color situation, this is a question we'll ask. Speaking of gear, it's giveaway time. We're running our first ever Crease Monsters swag giveaway.
Speaker 1:One lucky listener will score an exclusive Crease Monsters hoodie. To enter, follow at Crease Monsters on Instagram, like this giveaway post, and tag a teammate in the comments. Each tag equals an extra entry. The giveaway Winner will be announced right here on the podcast and in our Instagram page. No purchase necessary.
Speaker 1:USA and Canada only. Good luck, everyone. Alright. This one's exciting. The PLO just launched their twenty twenty five field side card trading card set.
Speaker 1:And, honestly, this is huge for lacrosse. Let me just tell you why. The PLL is producing their own cards now, and that means they can make it actually what fans want. It's massive for the growth of the sport. Now they're making mystery mini sticks for the PLL teams.
Speaker 1:This kind of stuff? Lacrosse in the mainstream sports, kids are collecting PLL cards in the same way that they're collecting NFL and NBA cards. That's how you grow the game. Plus pulling a one out of one autograph card of your favorite player. That's just cool.
Speaker 1:I don't care who you are. Last but definitely not least, the NLL NLLPA reached a new collective bargaining agreement. Okay. Talk real. There was a minute where we didn't know if we were gonna have a season.
Speaker 1:Free agencies kept getting delayed, and people were nervous, and it was looking sketchy. But on October 20, they announced a new collective agreement. Four more years of the NLL guaranteed. The NLL collective agreement includes better benefits for players and support league growth. Are the increases enough?
Speaker 1:Probably not. But bottom line, the season is on, and we're about to witness some incredible lacrosse. Vancouver is loaded. Buffalo is still champs. I cannot wait.
Speaker 1:Alright. That's it for this week. Absolute chaos and l l NL and PLO trading cards are here, and we've got a season to look forward to. Hit me up on Instagram or YouTube at Crease Monsters with what your predictions are for next season. Who's winning the cup?
Speaker 1:Keep your head on swivel, and I'll catch you next week. Alright. That's it for this episode. Thanks for hanging out. And if you liked this episode, hit that follow button so you don't miss what's coming out next.
Speaker 1:You can catch extra clips, gear reviews, and more content on Instagram, YouTube, and just search at Crease Monsters. Until next time, share it, save it, string it up. We are just getting started.
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