In a blockbuster move, the Boston Cannons traded 2024 sixth overall pick Pat Kavanagh to the Denver Outlaws in exchange for the third overall pick in the 2025 College Draft and a second-round pick in 2026. 

The decision to trade Kavanagh came as part of a mutual agreement to align his playing style with a better-fitting offensive system. 

“I could tell he wasn’t himself,” Cannons head coach Brian Holman said. “Last year was tough, with injuries and the adjustments. I asked him, ‘What can I do to help you here?’”

Following an up-and-down rookie season, Kavanagh expressed interest in returning to his natural position at attack for the 2025 season. But with two-time first-team All-Pro Asher Nolting operating from X for Boston for the last two seasons, the fit just didn’t make sense. 

After careful consideration, both parties determined that a fresh start elsewhere would provide Kavanagh with the opportunity he hoped for while simultaneously bolstering the Cannons' position for the future.

“I told Pat, ‘If I don’t get what I deem is fair value in return, I’m not trading you just to trade you,’” Holman said. “And at the end of the day, we reached a deal where all parties walked away happy.”

A fair deal for both sides

The young attackman told his coach he hoped to join either the Outlaws or the California Redwoods, as both teams needed a franchise X attackman. Holman took Kavanagh’s request seriously, working over several weeks to negotiate a trade that would not only satisfy the Teewaraton Award winner, but also ensure a fair return for the Cannons. 

As the dust settled, it was head coach Tim Soudan and the Outlaws who met Holman and the Cannons’ wishes.

“It was too good of an offer to let slip through our fingers,” Soudan told Outlaws beat writer Topher Adams.

“We're just really excited to have a guy with that type of motor, with that level of competitiveness,” Soudan said. “The grind that he puts in when he's competing is second to none.”

The trade benefits both Boston and Kavanagh, with the Cannons now holding three picks in the top 12 of the upcoming 2025 College Draft (including Nos. 3 and 4 overall), putting them in an ideal position to make a big impact with new talent.

Looking ahead

The additional picks will allow the Cannons to take a long-term approach, a luxury Holman does not intend to take for granted. 

“In the next two years, we’ll have six picks in the top 15 or 16 players,” Holman said. “If I do my job right, this sets us up for sustained success.”

While the team’s draft strategy hasn’t shifted, the Cannons are now primed to make thoughtful selections. 

“We’re looking for players who will thrive within the culture we’re building here,” Holman emphasized. “For us, this trade wasn’t just about meeting Pat’s request, but also about ensuring the future strength of our roster.”

With this trade, the Cannons gained flexibility for the future while honoring Kavanagh’s desire to play a role that suits him best. For both sides, it’s a fresh start and a chance to grow – one that could shape the Cannons’ lineup for seasons to come.

“Pat is happy, the Outlaws are happy, and we’re happy with what we got in return,” Holman said.