The Denver Outlaws are headed to the postseason. With one game left to play, Denver is still in the running for a first-round bye and a place in this offseason’s PLL Championship Series. The results have been inconsistent, but the team is in a good place, and head coach Tim Soudan seems content to ride with his guys the rest of the way.

However, defensemen Jesse Bernhardt and Greg Weyl have both gone down injured in recent weeks. Their status moving forward is uncertain, but both could be available come playoff time. 

A late-season trade is not likely at this time, but the deadline is always unpredictable. Maybe Soudan finds a valuable trade at the buzzer, or maybe the injuries at close defense are a bit too much to overlook.

On the off chance the Outlaws look for help before Tuesday’s deadline, here are three potential targets.

Eli Gobrecht, Defense, Philadelphia Waterdogs

Eric Law’s Denver reunion has been a roaring success for team and player. How about bringing another former Outlaw back to his old team?

Gobrecht is a veteran defenseman with a championship pedigree. He’s a two-time professional champion and a two-time All-Star. He’s still producing for the Waterdogs despite their disastrous season.

However, with Philadelphia entering a sudden mini rebuild and a litany of young defensemen waiting in the wings, Gobrecht is likely the odd man out moving forward. He’s a free agent after this season and could be leaving regardless.

If Denver decides to add another close defenseman, Gobrecht is the perfect mix of talent and opportunity. And who doesn’t love a good reunion?

Matt Whitcher, SSDM, Philadelphia Waterdogs

Another All-Star Waterdogs free agent could fill one of Denver’s few potential weaknesses. Ryan Terefenko is an elite short-stick defensive midfielder, and Will Haus is a seasoned pro who rarely makes a mistake. 

Outside of those two, SSDM has been a question mark. Alexander Smith has had strong performances – including in Denver against the Carolina Chaos – and Justin Anderson filled in admirably in a two-way role. 

However, the Outlaws could use a third written-in-pen short stick to round out the defense. Whitcher is as good as it gets, and he even brings two-way ability to complement Terefenko in transition.

Charlie Bertrand, Midfield, California Redwoods

Gobrecht and Whitcher would be strong additions to round out the defensive core for the playoff push. Swinging a trade for Bertrand would add a massive new element to the Outlaws' already inconsistent offense.

For that reason, it might not be the right time for this trade. However, bringing in another lefty to complement Brennan O’Neill could add a valuable wrinkle to the offense. 

Bertrand is a versatile offensive piece who fills a ton of roles. The production’s been a bit quiet since his breakout 2022 season, but the former DII superstar is a consistent player with big-time upside in the right situation.

The long-term fit of O’Neill, Bertrand and Logan Wisnauskas could become an issue, but O’Neill and Bertrand could become a defining duo for this era of Denver lacrosse. If the Redwoods are chasing assets, maybe this trade is possible. But with how Soudan likes to operate, I wouldn’t expect a trade this ambitious on short notice.