Denver has all the dodgers it needs, and now it also has the selfless off-ball guy that will do whatever it takes to make life easier for their top weapons.
Next game: Friday, Aug. 1 vs. Carolina Chaos (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
3. Philadelphia Waterdogs (4-4)
What they need to do to win a championship:
Get Jake Taylor more involved.
In the last two games, Taylor only has one goal. It’s true Taylor doesn’t need to be productive to make his presence felt; his movement inside frees up other players on cuts and opens up space for dodgers, much like Donville. But, like the Atlas have done with Xander Dickson the last few weeks, it feels like Philadelphia can make a more concerted effort to look for Taylor on the inside.
Taylor’s lack of production has coincided with the return of CJ Kirst. It’s not that Kirst isn’t playing well, but his presence is shifting attention away from getting Taylor the ball on the interior.
Taylor needs to be on attack for every single minute for his true value to be felt, and while I understand it’s tough to have your top draft pick run out of the box, I think that’s the decision that needs to be made for this Philadelphia offense to click on all cylinders heading into the postseason.
Also, Matt DeLuca needs to be the everyday starter in the cage. It made zero sense that Dillon Ward was inserted in the second half of the Carolina game. DeLuca had nine first-half saves, and that decision to not play him in the second half might have cost the Waterdogs in their overtime loss.
It’s pretty clear DeLuca has been the better goalie all season for Philadelphia; he has a 55.5% save percentage compared to Ward’s 47.7%.
Any moves they need to make?
Not necessarily, but here’s a crazy one: trade for Graeme Hossack.
It’s not like Philadelphia’s defense has been bad by any means, but it’s just been good. Adding a top defender in Hossack could help Philadelphia match up with elite offenses like New York’s and Denver’s in the playoffs.
Not only is Hossack a terrific one-on-one defender, but he also would bring a toughness and leadership aspect to this young group of poles.
It’s a long shot, I know. Hossack is the heartbeat of the Archers defense after back-to-back titles, and it’s hard to imagine a world in which Utah moves him.
But on the flip side, he’s 33 years old, so who knows how much time he has left in the PLL. For a floundering Archers team, perhaps they could pick up a top draft pick for Hossack if they are looking to start a rebuild of sorts, especially if Carolina and California win this week and Utah’s chances to make the playoffs drop.
And for the Waterdogs, if they are looking to go all in this year, this could be the move that makes it happen.
Next game: Friday, Aug. 1 at Boston Cannons (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
4. Carolina Chaos (4-4)
What they need to do to win a championship:
Blaze Riorden needs to play like the best goalie in the world every game.
And it’s happened before! In the Chaos’ 2021 title run, Riorden averaged 15 saves and a 62.5% save percentage. When he has better than a 62.5% save percentage this season, the Chaos are 3-0.
I know it’s a lot to ask your goalie to save the ball at that clip, but like I said, Riorden has done it before.
And the offense around him? They’ve shown they are capable of scoring; Carolina is averaging 11 scores a game.
Rookies Jackson Eicher and Owen Hiltz provide a dynamic duo at the attack position, but the key has been the emergence of speedy midfielder Ross Scott on this offense; he’s averaging 3 points per game over his last four games.
The offense isn’t lighting up the scoreboard by any means, but that might be all the Chaos need to go the distance if Riorden and the defense can shut the door.
Any moves they need to make?
Sign Payton Rezanka.
The lefty short-stick defensive midfielder was released by New York to make room for Dox Aitken, but he’s an upgrade to the Carolina rope unit.
Rezanka played in all 10 games last season for the Atlas, and he’s a physical defender who is tough to beat.
Next game: Friday, Aug. 1 at Denver Outlaws (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
5. Boston Cannons (3-4)
What they need to do to win a championship:
They need their best players to step up on both sides of the ball.
Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman are having some of their worst years as Cannons, while goalie Colin Kirst has the worst save percentage among full-time starting goalies in the league (50.5%).
If Boston’s stars are able to turn it on heading into the playoffs, it would give juice to the rest of the squad and generate belief that they can go win the whole thing.
Any moves they need to make?
Move Owen Grant to close defense.
Boston has allowed the most scores in the league (63), and it starts with breakdowns at the close defense position.
Garrett Epple and Jack Kielty have each let in 15 goals this season as the closest defender, tied for second-most in the league.
Grant’s offensive ability and length make him an asset at long-stick midfield, but the Cannons need him more at close defense for the time being.
To fill the vacant LSM spot alongside Ethan Rall, Boston could bump one of the close defenders up or try out John Geppert at the position.
While Geppert hasn’t played at all this season, head coach and general manager Brian Holman spoke highly of the former Maryland Terrapin after signing him this past year. Geppert has the tools to succeed in the league as an offensive-minded LSM with a great handle in the middle of the field.
Another idea? Trade for AJ Pilate. Denver might not be willing to part ways with Pilate as he provides crucial depth at both LSM and close defense, but he has looked the part in his three games with Denver this season.
It’s a short-term solution, but it’s a move that would be intriguing as Boston looks for answers on its back line.
Next game: Friday, Aug. 1 vs. Philadelphia Waterdogs (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
6. Maryland Whipsnakes (3-5)
What they need to do to win a championship:
The Whipsnakes defense will keep them in games, but to win a championship, TJ Malone has to start taking over games again.
Malone averaged 4.3 points per game for Maryland during its run to the title game last season, but he’s been in a little bit of a slump of late, tallying just two goals in his last four games.
Maryland is getting good production from new additions Matt Brandau and Aidan Carroll, but Malone needs to score unassisted goals off the dribble for Maryland to have any shot at making another run.
Any moves they need to make?
Move Brandau to attack full-time.
Brandau has played attack for the Whips this season, but hasn’t started the game there.
I know it displaces either Rob Pannell or Matt Rambo, but Brandau is tied for the most goals in the league (19). He should be on the field at all times with the finishing ability and spark he brings to the offense.
Next game: Saturday, Aug. 2 vs. California Redwoods (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
7. California Redwoods (3-5)
What they need to do to win a championship:
Play defense like they played this past Friday.
I said in last week’s power rankings that the Redwoods needed goalie Chayse Ierlan to play lights out to beat Utah; he had 14 saves for a 67% percentage and was certainly the player of the game for California.
To be a PLL champion, you need exceptional goalie play. The average save percentage of a championship-winning goalie since 2019 is 59.07%; Ierlan is at 50.8%.
The offense certainly needs to shoot better and score more goals (the Redwoods have the lowest shooting percentage in the league at 23.7%), but a lot falls on Ierlan and the defense in front of him.
Any moves they need to make?
Moving Cole Kastner from LSM to close defense was a smart move.
Kastner is a long, disruptive pole who has the footwork to guard quicker attackmen, while Chris Fake is more capable on a physical dodger.
The Redwoods will look to upgrade their defense and goalie position eventually, but it’s unlikely they can make a move at this point that will move the needle.
Offensively, they tried to get more midfield firepower when they traded for Sam Handley midseason, but he’s been out of the lineup the past two weeks after shooting just 11% in his four games as a Redwood.
They could look to add an Atlas midfielder such as Hugh Kelleher or Jackson, but I would keep turning to Charlie Bertrand. Bertrand has been in and out of the lineup this season, but he’s more than a capable scorer after leading the Woods’ midfield in points in 2024.
Next game: Saturday, Aug. 2 vs. Maryland Whipsnakes (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
8. Utah Archers (3-6)
What they need to do to win a championship:
Follow the Chaos formula and win with their defense.
It’s clear the offense is pretty broken this season, plus Tom Schreiber and Grant Ament missed the last game with injury. But the positive? They still have a top goalie in Brett Dobson and are only allowing 11.2 scores per game in 2025.
It’s not far-fetched to think the Archers could win this way. Plus, the playoff experience can’t be overstated; all they need to do is win three games in a row once they make the playoffs, something they’ve done before.
Any moves they need to make?
If California and Carolina win this weekend, Utah’s playoff chances look grim.
In that case, if I’m head coach and general manager Chris Bates, I would look to be sellers at the trade deadline.
Hossack, attackman Connor Fields and midfielder Ryan Ambler stand out as players that the Archers could move on from, but that is way easier said than done. All of them have played such a crucial role in Utah’s success over the last two seasons and fill key roles for this team.
Hossack and Ambler are getting up there in age, and there’s no telling how much lacrosse they have left in them. If the price is right and the Archers can stack a few draft picks, they can try and inject youth into key positions.
Next game: Friday, Aug. 8 at Carolina Chaos (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2/ESPN+)
