NLL Power Rankings: Preseason

Every week during the 2023-24 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. Follow The Lax Mag on Instagram, X and Facebook to stay up to date.

Last year, only four teams ranked #1 in The Lax Mag’s in-season Power Rankings: the Buffalo Bandits, San Diego Seals, Toronto Rock and Rochester Knighthawks.

Leading into the 2023-24 regular season, little has changed at the top of our 15-team list. Below, check out The Lax Mag’s Preseason Power Rankings Edition.

Buffalo Bandits
Last Year: 14-4 (1)
Playoffs: NLL Cup Champions

They lost Ethan O’Connor in free agency and it sounds like they’ll be without both Bryce Sweeting & Adam Bomberry for most if not the entire season due to injury. That’s three full-time defenders gone. The same sorta thing happened up front last year. Players stepped up. They won the Cup.

San Diego Seals
Last Year: 14-4 (2)
Playoffs: Lost Quarterfinals

They were everyone’s favourite heading into last year but crumbled to Colorado for a second straight season in the playoffs. Brodie Merrill has hung ‘em up. Mike Poulin unretired to presumably take over their tendy top spot (and mentor Chris Origlieri). Signing Kyle Rubisch is kind of a big deal too. On paper, they should be unstoppable.

Toronto Rock
Last Year: 13-5 (3)
Playoffs: Lost East Conference Finals

With the addition of Mark Matthews, the Rock’s lefts look legit. Not having reigning Defensive Player of the Year Latrell Harris (knee injury) for the full season or Tom Schreiber for however long his PUP stay will be isn’t ideal, but Toronto are still very much title contenders whose crazy-deep defensive depth will keep them competitive all year.

Calgary Roughnecks
Last Year: 13-5 (4)
Playoffs: Lost West Conference Finals

They’ve got arguably the greatest goalie in the game today in Christian Del Bianco. Their defense is about as athletic & dynamic as they come, a nightmare to counter when they’re pushing the pace on the press. Plus, their offense continues to thrive under the direction of Jesse King & Tyler Pace.

Panther City Lacrosse Club
Last Year: 10-8 (7)
Playoffs: Lost Quarterfinals

Panther City has shown positive progression over their first two seasons in the league, and there’s no reason to think they’ll back track now. Nick Damude had a low-key outstanding season between the pipes in 2023. Matt Hossack continues to develop into one of the NLL’s top defensive leaders. Will Malcom for MVP? Maybe.

Halifax Thunderbirds
Last Year: 10-8 (5)
Playoffs: Lost Quarterfinals

The Thunderbirds franchise has not won a playoff game since Game 2 of the 2018 NLL Cup Finals, but yet again, have a roster that looks like it can go well past just the opening round of the postseason. The team is definitely younger than the previous couple campaigns, and they’ll need some new blood to step up while Randy Staats & Cody Jamieson recover on the team’s PUP to start the season.

Rochester Knighthawks
Last Year: 10-8 (6)
Playoffs: Lost Quarterfinals

There was a lot of roster movement in Rochester over the offseason, which was somewhat surprising considering the Knighthawks had a breakout season in 2023. With that said, their transactions had purpose and there was definitely a confident vibe coming out of camp. If Rylan Hartley continues to evolve as an elite stopper, Connor Fields goes MVP mode on everyone’s ass again, and that defense delivers like they did in the first half of last year, there’s no reason Rochester can’t contend for a Cup.

Georgia Swarm
Last Year: 8-10 (10)
Playoffs: DNQ

There were few teams as hot as the Georgia Swarm last March & April, and you better believe most clubs were hoping to avoid them if they qualified for the playoffs. They didn’t, but they should this year. There is no way Lyle Thompson is missing the postseason for a third straight season, and if Brett Dobson gives them the same strong stopping as he did a year ago, Georgia is most definitely playoff bound.

Colorado Mammoth
Last Year: 9-9 (8)
Playoffs: Lost NLL Cup Finals

Yes, they won the Cup and then almost won it again, but the Colorado Mammoth have not been a strong regular season team over the past two winters. With no Ryan Lee for the entire season due to his troublesome knee and a regular season double against Buffalo & San Diego, getting to the playoffs looks like it will be even more difficult than it’s already been in Denver. But hey, if they get there, they immediately turn into Cup faves for sure.

Philadelphia Wings
Last Year: 9-9 (9)
Playoffs: DNQ

The Wings feel like a most improved favourite by many, but they kinda were last year, and even the year before that too. They’ve gotten younger, faster and have two of the sport’s top offensive leaders in Mitch Jones & Joe Resetarits. We had them locked in as a playoff team in last year’s preseason power rankings and got burned. Maybe we’ll wait a see this season.

Saskatchewan Rush
Last Year: 8-10 (11)
Playoffs: DNQ

Most of the team’s former Cup-winning vets are elsewhere in the NLL now. GM Derek Keenan spent his summer swinging deals for several players that were looking for a fresh start and an increased opportunity to succeed. Frank Scigliano should give them their most stable starter since Evan Kirk, their defense is still their strong suit, and if the new names can quickly find chemistry up front, Saskatchewan should get back to the playoffs after a two-year postseason pause.

Vancouver Warriors
Last Year: 4-14 (14)
Playoffs: DNQ

The team is benefitting from the former front office’s investment in draft picks, plus bringing in Curt Malawsky as the team’s new general manager & head coach opened up the free-agent floodgates of players looking to play for last year’s Les Bartley Award winner. Aaron Bold gives them some dependability in the crease, their defense looks better than ever, but can their offense keep up?

New York Riptide
Last Year: 5-13 (13)
Playoffs: DNQ

It was a second straight summer of adding veteran defensemen to the Riptide roster, the team grossly underachieving well below all of that preseason buzz a year ago. We found out last year, even at an almost record-breaking pace, Jeff Teat can’t do everything. For New York to compete, they’ll need their other stars to shine, plus get some help from lower down their depth chart, especially in goal after Kevin Orleman, their suspected starter, was moved to the IR about a week before their season opener.

Albany FireWolves
Last Year: 3-15 (15)
Playoffs: DNQ

Few teams have the balls to commit to a massive roster rebuild like the Albany FireWolves have over the past two seasons. It’s unlikely they’ll become contenders this winter, but they are most definitely building the right way for long-term success.

Las Vegas Dersert Dogs
Last Year: 5-13 (12)
Playoffs: DNQ

Las Vegas struggled to score last year, and might again a year later. Landon Kells in net and a deceptively good defense will give them a chance to compete. If their mix of young & oldish can find chemistry and consistency up front, Vegas might be alright after all.