2025 Denver Outlaws Season Preview

2024 Record: 5-5, lost in Quarterfinals

Notable Departures: Brendan Nichtern (trade), Josh Zawada (trade), Sean Sconone (retired), Will Haus (retired)

Notable Additions: Pat Kavanagh (trade), Jack VanOverbeke (free agency), Zach Geddes (free agency)

Draft Picks: Logan McNaney, Pace Billings, Kevin Parnham, Jack Gray

The Outlaws went .500 last season, an improvement from a very difficult 2023. A major part of their success was the addition of Brennan O’Neill. The offensive end of the field continued to evolve this offseason. Logan Wisnauskas returns to the field after missing last year due to health issues, they acquired Jack VanOverbeke in free agency, and made a big splash by acquiring Pat Kavanagh from Boston in a trade. They also made arguably the biggest free agency signing of the offseason, as they signed Zach Geddes away from Carolina.

Last summer, Outlaws were maybe the league’s best League Pass team. For the uninitiated, that expression means they were a team that would always be fun to watch, regardless of whether they won or lost. O’Neill was always about to do something incredible, Graham Bundy Jr is within range when he walks out of the locker room, Jake Piseno is an exciting combo of takeaway artist and offensive threat at the LSM spot. Lot of fun reasons to watch. This year, things have to be different. The offense was improved, the defensive midfield was addressed in free agency and the draft. Pace Billings availability is in doubt; he’s already on the holdout list, so the close defender spot could be a little dicey as they age on that end of the field. JT Giles-Harris is elite, but it’s possible the Outlaws could be looking for answers on that end of the field due to age this year.

For the Outlaws, this is a year where they have to run with the big dogs. Five wins last year, but four of them came against the Redwoods, Chaos, and Waterdogs, the three worst records in the league. To be contenders they have to hang with contenders. They beat Utah last year, but it took O’Neill departing his earthly form to become an unstoppable lacrosse god scoring goals with sheer will for the fourth quarter and OT. With the roster changes made, they need to establish themselves as a contender for the title.

Best Case Scenario

Mike Manley and Jesse Bernhardt continue to beat the brakes off Father Time. Manley remains one of the best cover defenders in the sport in year 14, and Bernhardt is once again a top tier coach on the field level close defenseman. JT Giles-Harris breaks through and wins a DPOY, and attack units struggle to be successful in individual matchups. Kevin Parnham gets his share of minutes as a close defender and it’s immediately clear he’s a Manley heir apparent down low. The defensive midfield unit of Geddes, Terefenko, and Gray plays with speed and physicality that looks closer to an NLL transition group than a PLL trio, and they do plenty of damage on offense. The addition of Logan McNaney creates competition at the goalie spot that elevates the play of all netminders on the roster.

On the offensive end, there’s a clear and obvious lineup at attack, and the player who moves to midfield is successful right away. The player who makes the move has a Grant Ament level adjustment, maybe bumpy at first but ultimately a MOTY caliber player that came from attack. Logan Wisnauskas return to the field is seamless. Graham Bundy Jr leads the league in two pointers, and Sam Handley gets short stick matchups that he buries consistently.

With one of the best young rosters in the PLL, the Outlaws return to Championship Weekend.

Worst Case Scenario

On the defensive end, Father Time finally wins. Manley and Bernhardt both lose a step, leaving the Outlaws team defense vulnerable. McElroy struggles against top tier opponents, and McNaney doesn’t quite get comfortable as a rookie, leaving the team with goalie questions. A sophomore slump from Luke Wierman keeps the Outlaws on their back foot, playing much more defense than they should.

On the offensive side, they never really settle on who the attackman out of the box is. Sometimes it’s O’Neill, sometimes Wisnauskas, it rotates but nobody clearly looks comfortable doing it. The square peg in a round hole leads to inconsistent offensive sets that are disjointed. The individual talent on the field is enough to create some magic regardless because guarding all these weapons at once is just too much to handle, but there’s always a sense they’re underachieving.

Stifled a bit by personnel issues, the Outlaws once again finish around .500 and exit early from the playoffs.