2023-24 NLL Preview: Will Busy Offseason Bring Success to the Riptide?

With the 2023-24 National Lacrosse League season set to begin Dec. 1-2, USA Lacrosse Magazine is going team by team in the days leading up to the opener. Today, we take a deep dive on the New York Riptide.

NEW YORK RIPTIDE

2022-23 Record: 5-13
Head Coach: Dan Ladouceur, third season
 Assistants: Jason Crosbie, Pat Jones, Angus Dineley

Additions: Matthew Bennett, D (Rochester); John Lafontaine, T (Albany); Austin Madronic, F (Saskatchewan); Kiel Matisz, T (Philadelphia); Mitch Wilde, T (Calgary)
Departures: Tyler Digby, F (Panther City); Scott Dominey, D (Philadelphia); Jordi Jones-Smith, D (Albany); Dan Lomas, F (Rochester); Dan MacRae, D (retired); Steven Orleman, G (Buffalo)

STORYLINES TO WATCH

Will veteran additions be enough to improve the defense?

It’s no secret that defense has been Achilles’ heel for the Riptide ever since their 2020 inaugural campaign. New York finished last in the league in goals against in each of its first two seasons and improved only slightly last year, finishing just ahead of the Vancouver Warriors.

The front office worked to address that issue through free agency, signing John Lafontaine and Mitch Wilde days apart in early August. Combined, they add 21 years of experience and three NLL Cups.

A three-way trade with San Diego and Philadelphia also brought two-time Transition Player of the Year finalist Kiel Matisz to Long Island, and Matthew Bennett was added to the fold following his release from Rochester.

Young pieces also return — among them Ron John, Matt Marinier and Brent Noseworthy. The defense should, at minimum, be steadier than in years past, but goalie remains a question mark considering none of Cameron Dunkerley, Kevin Orleman or Will Johnston boast much NLL experience.

If the Riptide hope to compete for a playoff spot for the first time, it starts with the back end clicking. Has New York done enough to make that happen?

What more does Jeff Teat have in store, and can the rest of the offense help out?

Despite a lack of team success, Jeff Teat has been all he was promised to be in the NLL. Last season, Teat won his first scoring title in just his second year as a professional, finishing one point shy of Dhane Smith’s single-season points record with 136.

A year after setting new NLL bests for assists and points as a rookie, Teat notched 56 goals and ranked among the top forwards in loose balls with 105.

And yet, the Riptide still finished in the bottom third in the league in scoring, a major dip from the year prior. Connor Kearnan was the only other player to surpass the 30-goal mark, carrying much of the weight for the team’s right side.

Youthful reinforcements have arrived through trades, including Austin Madronic, Colton Lidstone and Matt Anderson, and Matisz is likely to spend a good deal of time out the front door, too. Kearnan is locked up long term, and Reilly O’Connor is back for a second year on the Island after a 65-point debut.

Can they all combine to take some of the pressure of the Riptide’s superstar?