2023-24 NLL Preview: Will Mitch Jones Be in the MVP Conversation?

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 Philadelphia Wings.

PHILADELPHIA WINGS

2022-23 Record: 9-9
Head Coach: Paul Day, fifth season
 Assistants: Ian Rubel, Jeff McComb

Additions: Holden Cattoni, F (Rochester); Scott Dominey, T (New York); Mike McCannell, T (San Diego)
Departures: Trevor Baptiste, T (San Diego); Kiel Matisz, T (New York)

STORYLINES TO WATCH

Can the Wings make the leap after three straight years near .500?

In 2022, 9-9 was good enough for Philadelphia to sneak into the postseason. The Wings weren’t as lucky last year, despite season-closing victories against Albany and Rochester getting the team to the same record. Philadelphia was the first team out in the East, with the franchise still looking for its first playoff victory of the modern era.

This season, expectations are as high as they’ve been since the Wings returned to the NLL in 2019. Two 100-point players are back in the fold in Mitch Jones and Joe Resetarits, and they’ll be well supported by the likes of Ben McIntosh, Holden Cattoni and Blaze Riorden. Cattoni is the latest addition, joining Philadelphia after a career-best 84 points with Rochester.

On defense and transition, the Wings added two promising players under 26 years old in Scott Dominey and Mike McCannell. They’ll be in front of Zach Higgins, who hopes he’ll see a little less rubber than he did last season. Only Matt Vinc faced more shots in 2023.

Philadelphia’s rabid fanbase has been patiently waiting for a return to glory for the historic franchise. Is this the season it all comes together?

What does a full year of Mitch Jones in Philadelphia look like?

The Wings landed a player they hope will be an offensive cornerstone for years to come when they brought in Mitch Jones in a trade with Vancouver last season. Jones lived up to the billing, scoring at a pace that placed him among the best offensive seasons in league history.

The Delta, British Columbia, native upped his points per game from 5 in seven games with Vancouver to 7.58 in 12 games with the Wings. That added up to 126 points in 19 games — good for the sixth best offensive season all time. It was a 43-point increase from his previous career high.

Jones finds himself in an unfamiliar, but positive, position. Given the Warriors’ recent struggles, the lefty had never been featured on a team this good. Even in his final season in Buffalo, when he finished second to Dhane Smith with 81 points, the Bandits went 8-10.

Now with game experience under his belt and a full training camp with the team, can Jones tap into improved chemistry with his running mates? Plenty of evidence points toward an MVP level season.