The 2024 season was a disappointing one for the California Redwoods. While the defense underwent some major changes during the offseason that needed time to gel, it was the offense that was particularly sour and was California’s demise. 

The Redwoods need to get younger, and they will look to make a splash in the draft. California has the No. 2 and 10 picks in the draft as well as two in the fourth round, and there are a number of talented offensive players who will be available. 

Currently, California doesn’t have a third-round pick, but head coach and general manager Nat St. Laurent routinely mentions how successful the team has drafted in that round (Garrett Degnon, Cole Kirst, Nakeie Montgomery and Charlie Bertrand).

The Redwoods will have a number of fresh faces going into training camp regardless of how many free agents they are able to sign, and that excites St. Laurent. He hopes that fresh energy helps propel the team in 2025.

Reloading the offense

The offense struggled to find any flow in the 2024 season. It finished seventh in the league in scores (104) and assists (47) and last in one-point goals (82) and shooting percentage (23.3%). They also had the second-most turnovers (199). The issue gets even more dire as talent potentially departs. Rob Pannell, the top scorer on the team last year, is exploring free agency. 

With vacancies to fill on attack, the Redwoods want to add players who take care of the ball. Limiting turnovers will not only help the team find better looks – improving its shooting percentage as well as shot totals, which they were seventh in the league in – but it will keep pressure off the defense, as well.

California has re-signed midfielders Romar Dennis and Montgomery, but St. Laurent will also aim to make significant upgrades to the midfield. Only two midfielders – Dennis and Bertrand – tallied double digits in points. Additionally, St. Laurent wants to take more pressure off the attack. That includes unlocking more from Ryder Garnsey on the lefty side. While Bertrand is at his best when he’s sweeping across the top, getting a midfielder or two who can work a two-man game would help give Garnsey some space to maneuver.

Internal improvements on defense

Last offseason, the Redwoods lost foundational pieces of their defense in Garrett Epple (signed with the Boston Cannons) and Eddy Glazener (retired), as well as veteran long-stick midfielder John Sexton. Having to fill those shoes was difficult, and fans were alarmed when the team didn’t bring in players of the same veteran experience and All-Star caliber. The result was a team that allowed the most scores in the league (136) and had the lowest save percentage (49.8%).

St. Laurent is optimistic improvements can come from the players already on the roster, however. He is excited to have Owen Grant, the second pick in the 2023 College Draft, healthy after Grant didn’t play the entire 2024 season. Additionally, he expects to have 2024 fourth-round pick Cole Kastner available. A United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Second-Team All-American at Virginia in 2024, Kastner opted to use a final year of eligibility to play basketball at Stanford; St. Laurent said he will join the Redwoods this summer. He also hopes the experience Chris Fake and Chris Conlin earned last year – the two had combined to play one PLL game prior to 2024 – made them better. 

St. Laurent said he was very pleased with the production he got from Chris Merle and Brian Tevlin. He would like to add another short-stick defensive midfielder to the group for depth purposes.

Goalie will be a position to keep an eye on. Jack Kelly is signed through 2025, but he’s been playing professional lacrosse since 2016 and retirement could be on the horizon. The team drafted Chayse Ierlan, but if Kelly were to retire, St. Laurent would want to bring in some competition at the position.

Always be ready for a trade

There hasn’t been a coach in the league who has been more active in making trades than Nat St. Laurent. Key players from the 2024 Redwoods roster were acquired via trade, including Pannell, Dennis, Chris Gray and Jared Conners. Dennis was acquired in exchange for Myles Jones, who also was acquired via trade back in 2020. 

Even if free agents begin signing elsewhere, St. Laurent will kick every tire and make every effort to improve his team.