Clutch Kings: Connor Fields is the NLL’s most money marksman after 15 weeks

Connor Fields, Rochester Knighthawks

The Lax Mag’s Clutch Kings tracks an individual player’s game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals, then weighs them based on when they’re scored (first, second, third or fourth quarter, plus OT), but also in what on-floor situation they’re finished (even-strength, power-play or short-handed goals). The Clutch Kings countdown calculates the league’s most money goal scorer all season long, crowning the king at the conclusion of the current NLL campaign. Click here for a more detailed breakdown of Clutch Kings scoring.

Josh Byrne, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Michael Hetzel)

After a few weeks off, Clutch Kings is back, and like this week’s NLL Player Rankings, the Clutch Kings has a new leader too: Connor Fields.

No player has scored more combined go-ahead (5), game-tying (5) and game-winning goals (2) than Fields has coming out of Week 15. No player has scored more of those game-swinging or securing goals in the fourth quarter and beyond (OT) than Fields either. All of those money markers except for one were finished five-of-five too.

Others that not far off from Fields’ twelve total GA, GT and GW goals: Will Malcom (11), Josh Byrne (11), Dhane Smith (10), Connor Robinson (9), Chris Boushy (9), Robert Church (9), Keegan Bal (9) and Ryan Benesch (9).

Will Malcom, Panther City Lacrosse Club (Photo: Steven Richardson Jr.)

The fact the Byrne, who missed three full games and most of a fourth due to injury, still ranks so high on the leaderboard below speaks volumes of how clutch he’s been this year. He slipped back into the Top 10 of our NLL Player Rankings this week as well.

In Byrne’s return to the Buffalo Bandits lineup last week, he had a second quarter GTG and second quarter GAG in Halifax, plus pulled Buffalo within one late and then assisted on Kyle Buchanan’s tying goal that got the Bandits into OT. Byrne also assisted on Chris Cloutier’s extra-time winner. While not all those points register in Clutch Kings, they do provide proof of how paramount Byrne’s game is this year.

Rob Hellyer continues to rank really high. The Las Vegas Desert Dogs’ vet sits just 48th in regular league goal scoring, but due to the importance and timing of his finishing (more on how we grade goals), Hellyer is sky high here. Half of Hellyer’s 16 goals this year have been either a GA, GT or GW goal.

Rob Hellyer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs (Photo: Jaclyn McKee)

Philadelphia Wings forward Blaze Riorden, who led the Clutch Kings leaderboard throughout last season, has crashed it again in 2023, currently 11th overall.

While some from last year’s final leaderboard have fallen off a season later, many continue to show their clutch touch was and is no fluke. Tehoka Nanticoke, Lyle Thompson, Ben McIntosh, Curtis Dickson, Joe Resetarits, Ryan Smith, Robinson, Boushy, Church, Benesch, Byrne and Riorden were all on 2022’s season-ending ranking, and remain there almost a full year later.

Fluke? Nope. These guys are certified clutch based on when and how they score… when it matters most.

NLL Clutch Kings: Week 15

CKs Rank. Player (NLL Gs Rank), Team, CKs Points (GTG/GAG/GWG)

1. Connor Fields (2), Rochester, 23.00 (5/5/2)
2. Dhane Smith (12), Buffalo, 20.75 (2/5/3)
3. Connor Robinson (T28), Colorado, 19.00 (3/5/1)
4. Will Malcom (T6), Panther City, 17.25 (6/3/2)
5. Rob Hellyer (T48), Las Vegas, 14.00 (5/1/2)
6. Randy Staats (T24), Halifax, 13.50 (0/4/2)
7. Josh Byrne (T8), Buffalo, 13.25 (5/5/1)
8. Chris Boushy (16), Halifax, 13.00 (4/5/0)
9. Stephen Keogh (T18), Toronto, 12.75 (1/2/3)
10. Joe Resetarits (T12), Philadelphia, 11.75 (1/4/2)
T11. Robert Church (5), Saskatchewan, 11.25 (5/4/0)
T11. Blaze Riorden (T18), Philadelphia, 11.25 (3/4/0)
T13. Connor Kelly (T35), Albany, 11.00 (5/3/0)
T13. Jeff Teat (1), New York, 11.00 (2/2/2)
T15. Keegan Bal (T8), Vancouver, 10.50 (4/5/0)
T15. Ryan Smith (T18), Rochester, 10.50 (1/5/1)
T15. Tehoka Nanticoke (T35), Buffalo, 10.50 (3/2/1)
T18. Ryan Benesch (T24), Halifax, 10.25 (4/5/0)
T18. Kieran McArdle (T50), Albany, 10.25 (2/2/1)
20. Ryan Keenan (T57, Saskatchewan, 10.00 (3/3/1)
21. Lyle Thompson (T8), Georgia, 9.75 (0/3/1)
22. Jon Phillips* (T57), Las Vegas, 9.50 (0/1/2)
T23. Ben McIntosh (17), Philadelphia, 9.00 (3/1/2)
T23. Matt Gilray (T95), Rochester, 9.00 (1/0/3)
T23. Curtis Dickson (T8), San Diego, 9.00 (1/0/2)

*Rookie

Scoring System

First 3 Quarters (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Power-Play Goal: 0.50/0.75/1.00
Short-Handed Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00

Fourth Quarter (GTG/GAG/GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 2.00/3.00/4.00
Power-Play Goal: 1.00/1.50/2.00
Short-Handed Goal: 4.00/6.00/8.00

Overtime (GWG)

Even-Strength Goal: 6.00
Power-Play Goal: 3.00
Short-Handed Goal: 12.00