What's Next: 2025 Boston Cannons

2025 Record and Result: 4-6, Missed playoffs

Draft Selections: 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 3.4, plus the Outlaws 2nd round pick.

Pending Free Agents

TJ Comizio, SSDM

Ryan Drenner, M

Garrett Epple, D

Bubba Fairman, SSDM

John Geppert, LSM

Adam Ghitelman, G

Owen Grant, D/LSM

Jules Heningburg, A/M

Graydon Hogg, M

Marcus Holman, A

Jack Kielty, D

Connor Kirst, M

Will Manny, A

Asher Nolting, A

Zac Tucci, FO

SEASON RECAP

The Cannons started the season winning three of their first four, and that included wins over New York, Utah, and Maryland. In mid june, they were solidly in the title contender tier of PLL clubs. However, a woeful second half saw the Cannons crash down the standings. It culminated in an 0-2 homestand in the final weekend of the regular season that kept them out of the playoffs, when winning either game would have had them in. 

The Cannons defense was the primary culprit as they year went on. In their last five games they gave up 17+ goals three times, and they gave up 33 goals across two games in their homecoming weekend. Despite leading the league in caused turnovers, they had a league worst SAA of 13.8; only one other team had an SAA of 13 or more. They gave up a league worst 138 scores. 

The offensive side of the ball was solid for Boston. They were tied for the league lead in two pointers, were third in shooting percentage, and were second in assists. Asher Nolting led the league in assists with 26. There were some anomalies. Nolting, despite remaining an assist machine and having one of his best seasons in the turnover column, only scored 10 goals. That’s his lowest total of the year. As Nolting wasn’t able to score on his own, defenses could play the Cannons a bit differently. 

Rookie Coulter Mackesy took a little bit to find his footing, but by year’s end was looking the part of the 4th overall pick. He finished with 15 goals, including a four goal game during homecoming weekend. Matt Campbell had a MOTY caliber campaign with 28 points to lead the league in scoring at the position. Ryan Drenner registered another 20 point season, Marcus Holman refused to age for yet another year. The Cannons just couldn’t win the shootouts late in the year. 

OFFSEASON PLAN

That’s a long free agent list, but that’s nothing new for the Cannons. This has been a tight locker room since Coach Holman took over, and despite most of the roster being on one year deals, they’ve stuck together to chase a title. This year, however, things might change. The past three years have been a backslide. In 2023 they lost in the semifinals, last year they lost in the quarterfinals, and this year they missed the playoffs altogether.  Despite being a tight locker room and staying together, things seem to be moving in the wrong direction, and in pro sports that usually means time for a shake up. 

Given the performance in the second half, the defensive side of the field is likely a place to start for Boston. Bubba Fairman being out for the year did them no favors, but rookie SSDM Ben Ramsey was very good in year one. If they decide to bolster the position pending, they pick second in the draft and there is no shortage of players that could help. Duke’s Aidan Maguire is one of the best SSDM prospects in years and is a plug and play pro.

Garrett Epple turns 31 next year, while Bryce Young crosses the 30 threshold. There are plenty of pro ready poles in the draft to pick from down low, with Will Schaller and Bobby Van Buren being obvious options near the top of the board for Boston. It’s more likely that Boston tries to improve the defense starting down low and building forward. 

Faceoff could also be a spot where they look to improve. Zac Tucci went 44% this year. The Cannons have no other faceoff specialists rostered, they could look to bring in more options to at least compete for the position.