After the first six weeks of the 2022-23 National Lacrosse League season are complete, The Lax Mag will publish our weekly NLL Player Rankings, examining the league’s Top 30 players from Week 1 right up until the end of the regular season.

The rankings are based on our star-rating system (individual game analysis) and overall statistical positioning (full season analysis). For a full breakdown of how both areas are ordered, click here.

We have a new #1 with Buffalo’s Josh Byrne taking the biggest leap on this week’s list after seeing significant spikes in both areas of our player-rankings analysis (scroll up if you skipped our intro). Byrne’s sock-trick (6 goals) against Albany made him one of Week 7’s biggest difference makers, also leading the league in points per game (7.40) and tied with Rochester’s Connor Fields with the league’s highest goals-per-game total too (4.00). This year’s first edition of Clutch Kings (a goal-scoring system that grades game-tying, go-ahead and game-winning goals, including when in a game they’re scored and whether they’re even-strength, power-play or short-handed goals) debuts later this week. Like last year, Byrne ranks high there too.

Had Toronto’s Nick Rose started last year’s season as well as he has during the current campaign, there is almost no doubt he would have gotten his first GOTY award. Past the fact that Rose leads the league in both GAA (8.53) and save percentage (.821%), he’s also been the team’s most consistent and clutch player so far this year. Toronto has had two bad games this season. Rose has had zero.

Rochester’s Rylan Hartley gets into the Top 10 after another solid effort, this time keeping the New York Riptide to just 8 goals this past Sunday. While we have Knighthawks teammate Fields ranked slightly higher, it wouldn’t be hard to argue that Hartley has been the still-undefeated Knighthawks’ (5-0) most valuable asset during this squeaky-clean stretch. While some of today’s tendies are extremely athletic, no one plays the same sprawling, spry and split-saving style as Hartley does. His season-long stats (GAA 9.60, SV% .805) aren’t too shabby either.

While Brodie Merrill remains the only player to ever win both the league’s Defensive (2009, 2007 and 2017) & Transition (2006) Player of the Year awards, the NLL legend never won both in the same season. Is it impossible? Based on his play at either side of centre so far this year, Toronto’s Mitch de Snoo may make it a reality. Last year’s DPOTY has again been relentless, ruthless and resilient in the Rock’s own end, but has been connecting in transition at an unreal rate too. If he can maintain his silly stat line (1.60 GPG, 9.80 LBPG, 1.20 CTOPG, 1.00 BLKPG), there no reason why de Snoo won’t be in end-of-season award conversations for either accolade come late April.

And speaking of the Rock’s fire transition game, since Toronto captain Challen Rogers has moved back to his more traditional defense-first, two-way heavy role, he’s played by far his best lacrosse of the season. Rogers presently places just a handful of spots outside this week’s Top 30.

Buffalo’s Ian MacKay, Nick Weiss, and Steve Priolo, also a definite DPOTY contender, have all contributed regularly to the team’s offensive press this year, and sit just outside the Top 30. So does Calgary’s Shane Simpson, who is on pace to smash his offensive stats from a season ago. Rochester’s Matt Gilray cracks the Top 30 this week, and has to be an early favourite for TPOTY honours too. Gilray and the Knighthawks host the Bandits at Blue Cross Arena this Friday (7:30pm ET), a game that both team’s explosive press will undoubtably play a pivotal role in determining a winner.

Albany has received outstanding early efforts from defenseman Greg Downing and goalie Doug Jamieson, but it’s FireWolves forward Kieran McArdle who gets into the 30 this week. Beyond his clutch performance in Albany’s OT win over the Halifax Thunderbirds last Friday, McArdle is also one of just eleven players averaging 6 points or more in a game this year. So, who will do all the scoring for Albany with so many known names lost over the offseason? Well, for one, McArdle, and for two, Connor Kelly, who sits slightly outside of today’s 30.

NLL Player Rankings: Week 7

TW. (LW) Player, Team, Position

1. (9) Josh Byrne, Buffalo, F
2. (2) Connor Fields, Rochester, F
3. (4) Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan, D
4. (2) Curtis Dickson, San Diego, F
5. (7) Nick Rose, Toronto, G
6. (5) Dhane Smith, Buffalo, F
7. (6) Robert Church, Saskatchewan, F
8. (3) Randy Staats, Halifax, F
9. (10) Dillon Ward, Colorado, G
10. (13) Rylan Hartley, Rochester, G
11. (16) Mitch de Snoo, Toronto, D
12. (8) Dane Dobbie, San Diego, F
13. (15) Christian Del Bianco, Calgary, G
14. (11) Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan, F
15. (12) Wes Berg, San Diego, F
16. (14) Kiel Matisz, Philadelphia, T
17. (20) Tom Schreiber, Toronto, F
18. (17) Jeff Teat, New York, F
19. (18) Reid Bowering, Vancouver, D
20. (21) Zach Currier, Calgary, T
21. (25) Lyle Thompson, Georgia, F
22. (28) Graeme Hossack, Halifax, D
23. (19) Jake Withers, Halifax, D
24. (22) Joe Resetarits, Philadelphia, F
25. (24) Jesse King, Calgary, F
26. (26) Brad Kri, Toronto, D
27. (29) Will Malcom, Panther City, F
28. (NR) Matt Gilray, Rochester, T
29. (NR) Kieran McArdle, Albany, F
30. (NR) Matt Vinc, Buffalo, G

NLL Player Rankings: Week 7

NLL Player Rankings: Week 7

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THE LAX MAG