NLL Power Rankings: Week 5
Every week during the 2022-23 National Lacrosse League season, The Lax Mag will publish updated NLL Power Rankings reflecting the previous week’s performances, as well as incorporating a team’s overall regular season rep, status, and success rate.
After a relatively quiet weekend coming out of the league’s Christmas break, plus minimal movement in The Lax Mag’s NLL Power Rankings (San Diego remains #1 , a spot they’ve secured since our preseason edition), instead of our usual weekly rundown, we’re instead focussing on each team’s past, present and future goaltending situation.
In our Goalie Edition of the weekly NLL Power Rankings, we’ve confirmed each club’s minute munchers since 2017 (numbers beside goalies below indicates what percentage of minutes each goalie has owned for that specific team going back to 2017), how teams look between the pipes right now, plus the level of positional planning they’ve done for the future too.
San Diego Seals 3-0 (1)
The starting spot is obviously safe in Frank Scigliano’s hands, but the Seals staff have shown a tremendous amount of confidence in youngster Chris Origlieri. During their last two close contests (both wins), Origlieri has played money minutes late in both games and is surely the Seals’ starting stopper of the future.
% of team minutes played since 2017*
Frank Scigliano 81.83%
Nick Damude 9.55%
Chris Origlieri 3.99%
Tyler Carlson 2.68%
Justin Geddie 1.96%
*First season 2019
Buffalo Bandits 2-1 (3)
Over their last two games, Matt Vinc has looked incredible and has elevated the entire team’s play as a result, last week stumping the Halifax Thunderbirds in a pivotal early-season clash. Many feel a Cup win by the Bandits this year would send the 40-year-old Vinc into retirement. Then what?
With Doug Buchan on the team’s hold-out list, it’s youngster Devlin Shanahan backing up Buffalo’s GOAT goalie. While getting many minutes behind Vinc this year seems highly unlikely, Shanahan did have a strong summer playing for Nanaimo in the Western Lacrosse Association this past Senior A season.
While Vinc has played 56.14% of the Bandits minutes going back to 2017, since his Banditland arrival in 2019, he’s actually played 96.47% of the team’s regular-season minutes.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Matt Vinc 56.14%
Alex Buque 13.70%
Anthony Cosmo 11.26%
Davide DiRuscio 9.63%
Zach Higgins 8.21%
Doug Buchan 1.05%
Halifax Thunderbirds 2-1 (2)
Since Matt Vinc left the franchise (previously Rochester Knighthawks 1.0), 30-year-old Warren Hill has transitioned well into the team’s top tendy spot, often Halifax’s MVP when playing at the top of his game. The Thunderbirds seem pretty prepared for their future too, giving rookie Drew Hutchison their backup position (over the experienced Aaron Bold) and already awarding him prime-time minutes this year too. Hutchison has started (and won), plus has played almost identical minutes to Hill so far this season.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Warren Hill 37.40%
Matt Vinc 35.47%
Angus Goodleaf 18.97%
Aaron Bold 3.89%
Peter Dubenski 2.59%
Drew Hutchison 1.68%
Saskatchewan Rush 2-1 (4)
It’s been a bit hectic since Evan Kirk departed, but the Rush seem to be in a stronger shot-stopping situation this year with Alex Buque & Eric Penney between their pipes - so far at least. Their third & youngest option is local product Laine Hruska, who is presently on the team’s practice roster.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Evan Kirk 40.66%
Adam Shute 23.57%
Aaron Bold 18.22%
Eric Penney 8.07%
Tyler Carlson 4.80%
Alex Buque 3.31%
Cam Dunkerley 1.19%
Peter Dubenski 0.19%
Rochester Knighthawks 3-0 (5)
Their on-paper plans likely went a bit sideways after losing Evan Kirk last year, but with a healthy Rylan Hartley, that might not matter much. The 24-year-old Hartley has been one of this year’s hottest goalies a month in, and is a big reason why Rochester remains undefeated early on. Few play the uber-athletic, always-acrobatic and often unorthodox style that Hartley does, which makes him an extremely critical commodity in the Knighthawks’ crease. Still just 25 years old, Rochester also has Riley Hutchcraft on their roster ready to relieve Hartley if needed. It’s a very decent duo for a still really young squad.
% of team minutes played since 2017*
Rylan Hartley 42.51%
Joel Watson 24.92%
Steve Fryer 12.93%
Craig Wende 12.81%
Evan Kirk 6.00%
Lukas Coote 0.80%
Lucas Nagy 0.04%
*First season 2020
Calgary Roughnecks 2-1 (6)
At 25, Christian Del Bianco is already playing in his seventh NLL season and will clearly be Calgary’s top goaltender for as long as he chooses to remain with the club. With Landon Kells now in Vegas via the Expansion Draft, the team promoted Adam Bland to their backup role. Bland was one of this past summer’s top Junior A goalies, getting the Victoria Shamrocks to their second straight Minto Cup. Goaltending is not a cause for concern in Calgary, short or long term.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Christian Del Bianco 76.49%
Frank Scigliano 22.24%
Zach Higgins 0.86%
Landon Kells 0.20%
Tyler Richards 0.19%
Adam Bland 0.03%
Toronto Rock 1-2 (7)
Since 2017, no team has relied on a single goalie more than the Toronto Rock have with Nick Rose. While the Rock have had a rough last couple games, Rose has been extremely clutch & consistent for the club, a year after having arguably his strongest season stopping. Although they lost Riley Hutchcraft in the Las Vegas Expansion Draft, Troy Holowchuk has impressed in the minimal minutes he’s seen over two seasons. Toronto also drafted Sam Haines in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft, the Rock hoping he could be one of the steals of this past September’s draft.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Nick Rose 94.90%
Brandon Miller 2.30%
Riley Hutchcraft 2.21%
Troy Holowchuk 0.59%
Colorado Mammoth 1-1 (8)
Like Vinc, Rose and Del Bianco, Dillon Ward it right up there when looking at the most relied on stoppers since 2017. Tyler Carlson has remained their backup for the past few seasons, plus the team has Nate Faccin on their practice roster too. Ward, who could still have a decade of pro lacrosse ahead of him, signed a four-year deal with the team back in October of 2019. Hard to imagine him wearing anything but Mammoth maroon though, right?
% of team minutes played since 2017
Dillon Ward 88.91%
Steve Fryer 4.16%
Tyler Carlson 3.61%
Alex Buque 3.32%
New York Riptide 0-2 (8)
Last year’s rookie run by Steve Orleman was one of the more impressive first years for a goalie in a bit. New York also has one of the most promising pro prospects in Will Johnston. Even with 28-year-old Gowah Abrams in the mix, their depth between the pipes is bright, but unproven at this level. The team did have Alex Buque after acquiring him in their Expansion Draft, but later traded him for a 2022 fifth-round selection from New England (now Albany). New York drafted American Sam Handley with that picked-up pick, a selection that was later voided by the league.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Steve Orleman 53.43%
Alex Buque 28.15%
Gowah Abrams 17.93%
Will Johnston 0.49%
Philadelphia Wings 1-1 (10)
The trade that sent Doug Buchan and a fourth rounder to Buffalo in exchange for Zach Higgins and a second could be the Wings’ (2.0) most significant transaction. Higgins has been the team’s MVP since that swap, and should be again this year if his consistency continues. Philadelphia drafted Peterborough prospect Deacan Knott last year. “We’re excited for the future and we think there’s a lot of good things to come for him,” said Wings GM & Head Coach Paul Day regarding his newest netminder.
% of team minutes played since 2017*
Zach Higgins 56.87%
Doug Buchan 25.80
Davide DiRuscio 5.34%
Gowah Abrams 3.52%
Brandon Miller 3.28%
Eric Penney 2.38%
Angus Goodleaf 2.30%
Nolan Clayton 0.51%
*First season 2019
Albany FireWolves 1-1 (11)
At only 26, Doug Jamieson has already established himself as one of the NLL’s top goalies. While teams have attempted to lure him in the past, the FireWolves are set for a starting stopper as long as Jamieson remains. The team did sign Justin Geddie, one of last summer’s top Junior A goalies and a San Diego Seals hero a season ago. They should be good in goal for a while.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Doug Jamieson 54.41%
Aaron Bold 19.38%
Evan Kirk 18.34%
Alex Buque 7.44%
Ethan Woods 0.43%
Panther City Lacrosse Club 2-2 (12)
Based on his play in the second half of 2022 and his even stronger start this season (three-goals-against game & this), it certainly seems like Nick Damude has earned Panther City’s starting spot. With Kevin Orleman still on PCLC’s PUP list, backup duties have been handed to prospect Cam MacLeod, who led the St. Catharines Athletics to an OJLL title in 2021.
% of team minutes played since 2017*
Nick Damude 73.96%
Kevin Orleman 25.91%
Cam MacLeod 0.13%
*First season 2022
Georgia Swarm 0-2 (13)
Like many all timers on here, Mike Poulin has played a majority of the Georgia Swarm’s minutes since 2017. After his retirement this past summer, those starting duties have seemingly been moved to Craig Wende, who has shown pro promise, but had played under 400 minutes prior to his recent promotion. Brett Dobson was drafted eleventh overall in last year’s draft, and is one of the more buzzworthy backstop prospects around today.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Mike Poulin 87.20%
Craig Wende 4.82%
Kevin Orleman 4.06%
Brodie MacDonald 2.97%
Warren Hill 0.83%
Brett Dobson 0.12%
Vancouver Warriors 0-3 (14)
The Warriors, who dropped so-far starter Steve Fryer over the holiday break, have had more goalies garner minutes for them than any other team since 2017. Vancouver moves forward with prospects Ethan Woods & Aden Walsh, the duo combining for about an hour of NLL minutes played on their short (yet promising) pro resumes leading into Week 6. The youngsters will get the loaded San Diego Seals offense this weekend.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Eric Penney 36.29%
Tye Belanger 18.66%
Alex Buque 15.32%
Aaron Bold 11.22%
Steve Fryer 7.61%
Tyler Richards 5.06%
Brodie MacDonald 4.52%
Aden Walsh 0.90%
Nolan Clayton 0.42%
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 0-2 (15)
As has been the case with most recent expansion teams, the Dogs are likely to give both Landon Kells & Joel Watson opportunity to show their stuff, the more impressive likely to lock up their starter spot in the second half of 2023. Most feel that starting load will likely go to Kells reasonably soon, although if Watson can play as well as he did in Rochester when he was thrust into a starting role late last season, the decision may not be that easy. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of competition, especially for an expansion team looking to firm up an early identity.
% of team minutes played since 2017
Landon Kells 62.81%
Joel Watson 37.19%