What's Next 2025: Denver Outlaws

2025 Season Result: 7-3, lost in Championship

Draft Selections: 1.7, 3.6, 3.7, 4.4, 4.7

Pending Free Agents:

Jesse Bernhardt, D

Jonathan Donville, M

Eric Law, A

Mike Manley, D

Owen McElroy, G

Jack VanOverbeke, A/M

Dalton Young, A/M

SEASON RECAP:

Acquiring Pat Kavanagh in the offseason led to high expectations for this offense. Landing arguably the most pursued and highest profile free agent in PLL history, Jared Bernhardt, gave this team four Tewaaraton winners and title or bust goals. After dropping their first two games of the year, the Outlaws moved to Logan McNaney in net. The move, along with Bernhardt finding his stride, sparked a six game winning streak, with an average margin of victory of four goals. The team clearly looked like the most dominant force in the PLL, and the question became could ANYONE actually beat the Outlaws?

With so much success, the hardware abounded for the Outlaws. Pat Kavanagh and Brennan O’Neill had outstanding seasons, both finishing as finalists for MVP and Attackman of the Year. McNaney, a 2nd round draft pick, would win Goalie of the Year and was a Rookie of the Year finalist. His clean save rate was astronomical, and a key part of the Outlaws identity as those saves turned into quick strike attacks in transition. Ryan Terefenko took home SSDM of the Year as a key part of that transition attack. Jake Piseno won LSM of the Year and was the leading scorer in the PLL at the position. Bernhardt was a Midfielder of the Year finalist. Tim Soudan was named Coach of the Year. JT Giles-Harris was a Defender of the Year finalist for the third time in his still young career. There was nowhere on the field that was an obvious weakness, or even a position you might call league average.

But even with all those individual accolades, the Outlaws came up just short. They entered the 4th quarter of the title game with a one goal lead in a back and forth game, but managed just one goal in the final quarter, coming with just under two minutes left, and lost to the Atlas by a goal. The Outlaws played to their formula in the game, as Kavanagh and O’Neill were leading scorers and Piseno had an impact in transition. But a down game from McNaney and the dominance of Atlas faceoff man Trevor Baptiste kept the Outlaws just out of reach of the crown. 

The Outlaws, at their best, looked unbeatable. Coming up a goal short surely is painful, but they looked like one of the most complete and dominant teams we’ve seen in a long time. 

OFFSEASON PLAN:

All four Tewaaraton winners are under contract. Terefenko, McNaney, and Giles-Harris are also signed long term. The 2026 Outlaws should not look terribly different on offense. Dalton Young and midseason signing Jon Donville provide quality complimentary pieces on the offense. They are excellent in two man games, off ball, and setting picks to create space for the Outlaws primary dodgers to do their thing. Bringing back those two to play with the four Tewaaraton winners, sharpshooting Graham Bundy, and proven vet Justin Anderson reloads this roster for another year of offensive highlights.

The real offseason question for the Outlaws is who retires. Mike Manley and Jesse Bernhardt have been playing pro lacrosse for well over a decade, as has Eric Law. With Denver so close to a title, the trio returning for one more title run wouldn’t surprise anyone. All three can still play and be productive; Manley is playing indoors again this winter for Georgia which could indicate a plan to keep playing lacrosse at least for now. Should Manley and Bernhardt retire, the Outlaws would obviously need to make moves on the defensive end. Giles-Harris would remain the top cover man, and Piseno is the top LSM, but pole could be thin otherwise. Last year they drafted Kevin Parnham from Penn State and Pace Billings out of Michigan (Princeton before that). Parnham didn’t crack the roster much while Billings was on the Holdout List. Both would be in line for more opportunities. The Outlaws pick last in the first round, and then don’t pick again until round three, so they may look to invest that early pick on a close defender.