2025 Boston Cannons Season Preview

2024 Record: 7-3, lost in Quarterfinals

Notable Departures: Jake Pulver (retired), Matt Kavanagh (retired), Cade Van Raaphorst (retired), Pat Kavanagh (trade), Mike Robinson (box lacrosse), Chris Aslanian (trade), Carter Parlette (trade)

Notable Additions: TJ Comizio (free agent), Owen Grant (trade), Graydon Hogg (free agent), 

Draft Picks: Coulter Mackesy, Mic Kelly, Ben Ramsey

The Cannons are starting to get type cast. Top team in the regular season, quarterfinal exit. It was what happened last year, as even though they had a very good offense, the Chaos absolutely slammed the door on them in the postseason.

Some major roster impact this year will not come from new players but from guys getting healthy. Jack Kielty, one of the league’s best defenders, returns this year, as does swiss army knife Jon Donville. They do lose Bubba Fairman to injury; he’ll start the year on IR, but a late round draft steal of Ben Ramsey should help them at the position. 

The Cannons kept their core together, but plenty of major moves happened. Pat Kavanagh was traded, and in a bit of a winding road of deals ultimately delivered Owen Grant to the Cannons. Matt Kavanagh, Jake Pulver, and Cade Van Raaphorst all retired, while Chris Aslanian was dealt to Carolina along with Carter Parlette. For all that movement, the Cannons really shouldn’t look all that different. Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman remain the key weapons on the offense, Garrett Epple is the key weapon for the defense. Colin Kirst backstops it all. This much feels immovable. Nolting has been up for MVP and Attackman of the Year in each of the last two years; he finished second only to Jeff Teat in points and assists a year. Matt Campbell’s quantum leap a year ago saw him become one of the best middies in the PLL, finishing third in the league in two pointers scored.

Boston enters this year once again feeling like a contender who is not far away. The obvious spot that needed improvement was at lefty attack where they were inconsistent a year ago, and between the draft and free agency, they’ve bolstered the spot significantly. 

Best Case Scenario

The Cannons push all the right buttons and break through. The moves to build a stronger left side of the offense pay off, and Asher Nolting leads the league in assists with the help of dominant shooting seasons from Holman, Mackesy, Campbell, and others. Jack Kielty returns and is every bit the player he was despite so much missed team, which gives the Cannons the feel of adding two outstanding defenders when they pair him with Grant. New DC John Odierna has the best schemed team defense in the PLL, and there is no one quite as balanced as the Cannons. With so much complimentary play, the Cannons secure a bye and make it to championship Sunday. 

Worst Case Scenario

Deja vu all over again. The well coached Cannons have a clear identity, top tier talent, and quality leadership on the sideline. But even the addition of Mackesy in the lefty attack spot and Owen Grant bolstering the defense doesn’t break the curse of the quarters. The Cannons once again are a high seed, but miss the bye, and lose to a lower seed in the opening round. The repeat exit has fans asking if it’s time for a larger reshape of the roster, fearing that this team may have maxed out its potential. With a large chunk of the roster on one year deals, blowing things up becomes easy to do. A rebuild means that their veteran leadership may take a look around for opportunities to get a ring, which would happen outside of Boston.