NLL Player Rankings: Dhane Smith, Connor Fields and Josh Byrne
Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith and Connor Fields (Photo: Michael Hetzel)
After the first several weeks of the 2023-24 National Lacrosse League season are complete, The Lax Mag will publish a weekly NLL Player Ranking, examining the league’s Top 30 players from Week 1 right up until the end of the regular season.
TLM’s Top 30 NLL Player Rankings have nothing to do with reputations, career resumes, success in past seasons, whether we know a player personally, recognizing deserving players who’ve previously been passed over, player popularity, the size of their social media following, whether you slide into their DMs, or who others around the league tell us should get hype.
Our rankings, which only take into consideration a player’s performance for the current regular season, will be calculated using both our star-rating system after each game, but also a player’s season-long statistical position (based on per-game averages) across the league (more on both breakdowns below). Only players who have played two-thirds of their team’s games or more will qualify.
Click here for an even more in-depth breakdown of our scoring system.
Byrne, Fields and Smith (Photo: Ben Green)
In the two seasons after the above picture was snapped, these three players have finished in the following positions in The Lax Mag’s season-ending NLL TOP 30…
2023
1. Dhane Smith
4. Connor Fields
10. Josh Byrne
See full list
2024
1. Josh Byrne
2. Connor Fields
3. Dhane Smith
See full list
In our preseason NLL TOP 100 this year, we had them…
1. Dhane Smith
3. Josh Byrne
4. Connor Fields
See full list
Plus, during our current weekly in-season NLL TOP 30, they’ve ranked in the following order the last number of weeks…
2025
1. Dhane Smith
2. Connor Fields
3. Josh Byrne
Over the past three seasons, no three players have been featured more prominently in our weekly rankings than Dhane Smith, Connor Fields and Josh Byrne (well, Jeff Teat too, just not quite as much this year).
While San Diego’s Zach Currier could certainly be argued for MVP consideration this year due to his solid complete stat line, all indications are pointing to our year-end #1 ranked player (AKA The Lax Mag’s NLL MVP) coming down to Smith, Fields and Byrne.
While Smith and Bryne have been Buffalo staples since being drafted by the Bandits, as we pointed out earlier this week, Fields’ road to the top has been anything but a traditional one, while his fight for league-wide respect and recognition has taken longer than it has for many others.
All that may play into Fields’ favour when it comes time to submit MVP votes this season though. Why?
Below, we outline why Smith, Fields and Byrne are strong MVP favourites, plus what they’ll need to do over the next two weeks to ensure they win the award this year.
Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Alexis Goeller)
Dhane Smith
On pace to smash the single-season assists and points record much earlier this season, as was somewhat expected, Smith’s per-game totals simmered as the season went on. With that said, Smith should still challenge for his own assists in a single season record, set last year with 101. He’s on pace to hit 100 right now. As we’ve highlighted before, record setters are almost always given the MVP nod, except for a small handful of exceptions (like Josh Byrne sneaking by Smith last year, plus when another player has also broken the same record in the same season).
While Fields co-leads the league in points with two weeks left, he’s also played an extra game than both Smith and Byrne, who actually lead the NLL with a matching 7.4 points-per-game average. In the NLL (and in most other pro sports), point leaders are by far the most popular pick for MVP.
As mentioned in last week’s Player Rankings analysis, although Smith is considered a full-time forward, only the previously mentioned Currier and Halifax Thunderbirds two-way talent Ryan Terefenko may have a more evenly distributed full stat line than Smith. We pulled the Top 100 per-game averages for: goals, assists, loose balls, caused turnover and blocks. Currier and Terefenko were the only players in the league to rank in all five of those key categories. Smith was one of only four forwards to rank in four of five, which he has consistently been doing for the entire season.
Last Two Weeks
Well, breaking his own assists record for a fourth consecutive season and leading the league in points, all while leading the Bandits to a highly anticipated first-place finish feels like it would be more than enough to land Smith his third MVP. Any other league and/or sport that has an athlete leading their loop in points, re-breaking records (similar to Wayne Gretzky in the 80s and probably no one else), playing both quality offensive and defensive minutes, all while leading the best team in the league would vote that player MVP. How come? Because it’s the logical and deserved decision.
Connor Fields, Rochester Knighthawks (Photo: Micheline Veluvolu)
Connor Fields
We polled our almost 45K Instagram followers this week, asking them to pick an MVP between Smith, Fields and Byrne. The results? Fields edged Smith with 44% of the vote to 41%. His outstanding season coupled with the Rochester Knighthawks’ stunning second-half success (went from 4-7 to 10-7 and have already locked in a post-season spot), has made Fields the fan favourite when it comes to MVP consideration.
You could argue that Fields had an even stronger season last year (much higher goals and loosie totals), but with so many voters tying in team success to seemingly all individual awards in the NLL (especially during the modern era), expect to finally see Fields as an MVP Finalist this year. Although we had him ranked season in our year-end NLL TOP 30 a season ago, he failed to finish as an official MVP final three and someone how only managed a Second Team All-Star mention.
Even though individual regular season awards in any sport are intended to acknowledge top performers in that specific season, as is often the case in the NLL, reputation and friendships often play too significant role in award votes. It’s been this way for a bit, and with fewer non-lacrosse media members covering the league (and garnering a year-end vote) than ever before (an extremely concerning topic for a future article), those buddy votes have a bigger impact now than they did a decade or more ago. This is the most likely reason why Fields was MIA in last year’s MVP talk.
Well, it’ll be tough to fuck him over in two straight seasons.
Blue Cross War Memorial, Rochester NY (Photo: Jonathan Tenca)
This year, it’s impossible to ignore what Fields has done not only in 2025, but in his previous two seasons since being left exposed by the Buffalo Bandits (and then drafted and traded) ahead of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs Expansion Draft (we tracked his insane trade trail here). For MVP voters that need more than sky-high statistical dominance and prefer a scintillating storyline, well, there is no bigger headline than the one Fields has essentially written over the past three years: a significant statistical uptick and now on par with his former league-leading teammates (Smith & Byrne), getting an often-injured Rochester roster into the playoffs the past two years, all while never having grown up playing box in Ontario (an apparent must-have based on award archives). Fields, who is still the only player this year to hit a 30/60/90 (G/A/LB) slash (and doing it in just 14 games), is one of the greatest self-made success stories in the NLL, and if you still can’t see that, please delete your online ballot when the league fires them off in a few weeks, because you’re badly biased, bro.
Last Two Weeks
Well, although there are two weeks of regular season lacrosse left, Fields and the Knighthawks are on a bye this weekend. He has just one game left to convince voters he deserves their most valuable first-place pick when Rochester hosts the Toronto Rock on April 19. Again, although he currently co-leads the league in points, it’s unlikely he’ll hold on to that title with both Smith and Byrne (the other two co-leaders) with a game in hand and averaging a whole half point more than Fields. With a strong finish against the Rock, Fields could still potentially win the goal-scoring race (he’s currently three back behind Rochester teammate Ryan Smith, but only has the sixth highest G/GP average in the league, so…), which would most definitely help in winning additional votes for MVP. If the Knighthawks win their last game next week, they’ll finish the season with an 11-7 record, a significant three W increase from last year. With team success playing a role in the way many MVP voters use their pick, that improved record could help Fields’ MVP push too.
Josh Byrne, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
Josh Byrne
Like Smith, Byrne is holding down a 7.4 points-per-game average, easily the best in the league. The likelihood that either Byrne or Smith win the point-scoring crown is extremely high and would need a complete statistical collapse by one or both of them for that not to happened. As mentioned in Smith’s spot above, in the NLL, the league’s top point producer is often also that season’s MVP.
Byrne should also finish right around his 2024 MVP-winning point total (135, currently on pace for 133), but with even stronger LB scooping stats, just six away from joining the 30/60/90 Club for the first time in his career (former 30/60/90 players have also often won MVP).
If Byrne (and Smith) can maintain or better their 7.4 points-per-game average over their final two games, they’ll end this season with one of the highest ever PTS/GP averages in NLL history, which seems kinda good, no? See those 7.4 or more seasons below, a list littered with MVPs in those specific seasons.
Season – Player (Team) Avg. (GP)
2012 – John Grant (Colorado) 8.3 (14)
2001 – John Tavares (Buffalo) 8.2 (14)
1996 – John Tavares (Buffalo) 8.1 (10)
1992 – Paul Gait (Detroit) 7.6 (7)
2016 – Dhane Smith (Buffalo) 7.6 (18)
2023 – Jeff Teat (New York) 7.6 (18)
1999 – Gary Gait (Baltimore) 7.5 (11)
2022 – Dhane Smith (Buffalo) 7.5 (18)
2024 – Josh Byrne (Buffalo) 7.5 (18)
2025 – Dhane Smith (Buffalo) 7.4 (16…)
2025 – Josh Byrne (Buffalo) 7.4 (16…)
2007 – John Grant (Rochester) 7.4 (15)
2024 – Dhane Smith (Buffalo) 7.4 (18)
And for those countering by questioning how two forwards on the same team could possibly both be considered for MVP, just take a look at the obscene gap between their 118 points and the next player on their roster. In fact, let’s take a look at how Byrne and Smith’s totals compare to not only third on their team, but third across the league.
Buffalo -71
Josh Byrne 118
Dhane Smith 118
Ian MacKay/Kyle Buchanan 47
Philadelphia -42
Joe Resetarits 110
Mitch Jones 102
Holden Cattoni 60 (since traded but still ranks third on team in points)
Rochester -30
Connor Fields 118
Ryan Lanchbury 110
Ryan Smith 80
Calgary -33
Curtis Dickson 98
Jesse King 94
Tanner Cook 61
Halifax -33
Clarke Petterson 86
Randy Staats 86
Thomas Hoggarth 53
Las Vegas -24
Jonathan Donville 75
Jack Hannah 74
Casey Jackson 50
Ottawa -20
Jeff Teat 99
Connor Kearnan 58
Jacob Dunbar 38
San Diego -20
Rob Hellyer 87
Wes Berg 80
Ryan Benesch/Ben McIntosh 60
Vancouver -20
Keegan Bal 100
Adam Charalambides 70
Kevin Crowley 50
Colorado -10
Ryan Lee 88
Will Malcom 75
Connor Robinson 65
Toronto -9
Josh Dawick 62
Chris Boushy 52
Tom Schreiber 43
Albany -8
Alex Simmons 85
Tye Kurtz 73
Ethan Walker 65
Georgia -8
Lyle Thompson 86
Shayne Jackson 70
Andrew Kew 62
Saskatchewan -4
Zach Manns 67
Ryan Keenan 65
Austin Shanks 61
Not only is the second-to-third space between Byrne & Smith and MacKay/Buchanan by far the biggest in the league, that 71-point gap alone is a higher total than the leading point getter for either Saskatchewan or Toronto has. The only player above you could argue is more relied on than either Byrne or Smith for offensive production is Jeff Teat in Ottawa, the team’s 41-point differential between Teat and their number two, well, not at all shocking. Also, the NHL has a history of including teammates in their final three finalists, even when those players are not producing at the potential record-setting levels Byrne and Smith are presently. It happens, especially when you’re as good as Byrne and Smith are. Dumb debate done.
Byrne and Smith, Buffalo (Photo: Isaiah J. Downing)
So, Byrne is on pace to win his second straight point-scoring crown, is on the verge of joining the exclusive 30/60/90 Club, and is one of the most relied on players in the NLL while playing for the top team in the league. MVP worthy? Are you kidding. Of course it is. Few have done what Byrne is doing this year, and this season Smith and maybe Fields are the only ones that come close to comparing.
Last Two Weeks
The biggest knock against Byrne might be that he won MVP last year, and in a league that has not recognized the same player as MVP in back-to-back seasons (although probably should have a few times already) since John Tavares in 2000 and 2001 (before that Gary Gait was MVP for five straight seasons, both like Byrne and Smith, often leading the league in goals, assists and/or points), some everyone-needs-an-award voters will likely not vote for Byrne no matter what he does over the next two weeks. Sad and silly, but 100% true.
With that said, to solidify his chances of winning the award, Byrne just needs to keep producing at his present rate. In fact, while Smith’s points-per-game average has slipped a few decimal points in recent weeks, Byrne’s has gone up a smidge after averaging 7.5 over his past four games, including last week’s 10-point performance against Colorado.
Byrne (and obviously Smith too) is 19 points away from matching Smith’s single-season record of 137 points, which would require him to produce at a higher rate than his 7.4 average right now. Doable? Yes. Earlier this year, Smith has had back-to-back games where he’s registered a combined 22 (against Philadelphia and Albany) and 21 (against Ottawa and Rochester) point totals. Buffalo hosts Halifax this weekend and travels to Georgia next week to close out their regular season.
NLL TOP 30: Week 20
TW. (LW) Player, Team (Pos.)
1. (1) Dhane Smith, Buffalo (F)
2. (2) Connor Fields, Rochester (F)
3. (3) Josh Byrne, Buffalo (F)
4. (4) Zach Currier, San Diego (T)
5. (6) Ryan Lanchbury, Rochester (F)
6. (9) Joe Resetarits, Philadelphia (F)
7. (5) Zach Higgins, Ottawa (G)
8. (10) Curtis Dickson, Calgary (F)
9. (7) Mitch Jones, Philadelphia (F)
10. (8) Jeff Teat, Ottawa (F)
11. (11) Matt Vinc, Buffalo (G)
12. (13) Lyle Thompson, Georgia (F)
13. (19) Keegan Bal, Vancouver (F)
14. (16) Randy Staats, Halifax (F)
15. (14) Jesse King, Calgary (F)
16. (12) Matt Hossack, Saskatchewan (D)
17. (18) Owen Grant, Vancouver (T)
18. (15) Alex Simmons, Albany (F)
19. (17) Robert Hope, Colorado (D)
20. (24) Dillon Ward, Colorado (G)
21. (20) Jake Withers, Halifax (T)
22. (22) Ryan Terefenko, Halifax (T)
23. (25) Mitch de Snoo, Philadelphia (D)
24. (28) Clarke Petterson, Halifax (F)
25. (27) Ryan Lee, Colorado (F)
26. (21) Wes Berg, San Diego (F)
27. (23) Jake Boudreau, Saskatchewan (T)
28. (30) Ryan Smith, Rochester (F)
29. (29) Nick Weiss, Buffalo (T)
30. (NR) Josh Dawick, Toronto (F)