The Top 100 NLL Players: 2022-23 Edition
Earlier this week, all 15 National Lacrosse League teams submitted their 2022-23 opening-day rosters to the league office.
That’s a total of 315 players on teams’ season-starting active rosters, the most ever over the NLL’s 35-year history.
Last year the addition of the Panther City Lacrosse Club in Fort Worth, Texas broke the NLL’s record for most active franchises in a single season. With the Las Vegas Desert Dogs officially joining lacrosse’s largest & by far oldest professional league this season, the NLL’s all-time team total continues to climb.
Rob Hellyer, Las Vegas Desert Dogs (Photo: Christian Bender)
By the end of the upcoming season, that league-wide player count will easily surpass 350 names, and likely finish closer to 400 after all is said and done.
The original LAXMAG was the sport’s first to rank the league’s Top 50 players. We did it for a number of seasons in our printed publication, later lending it to other sites while LAXMAG went on a 15-year hiatus.
Well, The Lax Mag returned 365 days ago, and brought back our lengthy list, but figured we’d double it: the NLL Top 100. The celebrated & scrutinized countdown has been by far our most popular post since the relaunch, traffic rolling in for the feature almost daily since it dropped a year ago.
Today, the second edition of TLM’s NLL 100 goes live, as we again order the best 100 players in the league right now.
To create this best-of list, the following criteria was used to evaluate a player’s placement: career regular season & playoff resume with an emphasis on most recent NLL runs (which we tracked all season-long in our Top 30 Player Raking too), reputation & reviews from pro-playing peers (we even polled the players this year), expectations & potential for this upcoming season, and lastly, positional impact & overall value they provide their team. Any players that are confirmed or suspected of missing the entire year due to injury (or otherwise) are not ranked. Last year that forced us to leave off the likes of Randy & Austin Staats (more on that in their spots below), but most 100-worthy players presently sidelined with injuries sound like they’ll at least play part of the upcoming year.
Last year Graeme Hossack of the Halifax Thunderbirds sat in the top spot. While our graphics probably tipped you off for first to fifth, scroll down (a lot!) to see all the players that placed in this year’s NLL Top 100.
Last Year (LY) Legend
NR = Not ranked last year
IN = Injured & not ranked last year
🔥 = Climbed 10-19 positions from last year + new players ranked 76-100
🔥🔥 = Climbed 20-29 positions from last year + new players ranked 51-75
🔥🔥🔥 = Climbed 30+ positions from last year + new players ranked 1-50
Age: 25
Season: 3
Position: Defense
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Toronto, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
While the at-times-perfect play of Dillon Ward between the pipes and the defensive leadership of Robert Hope hogged headlines during last year’s playoffs, secondary performances like the one Warren Jeffrey gave were critical to the Colorado Mammoth’s Cup clinch too. Big (6’3”, 225 lbs), strong, mobile and mean, Mammoth Head Coach Pat Coyle has Jeffrey pegged as a future Defensive Player of the Year. He’d know.
Age: 29
Season: 3
Position: Defense
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Ithaca, NY
Last Year: NR 🔥
When it comes to the league’s top American defensive defenders, San Diego’s Eli Gobrecht has quickly forced his way into the conversation. Entering just his third season with the Seals, Gobrecht is a consistent pain in the ass to play against, had above average defensive digits last year (96LB, 20CTO), and has matured into a reliable & responsible defender in San Diego’s underrated own-end unit. Had it not been for the PLL’s ban on Senior A play, Gobrecht was set to suit up for the New Westminster Salmonbellies last summer.
Age: 26
Season: 4
Position: Defense
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Caledon, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Since 2018, the Swarm have seen full-time defenders like Ethan O’Connor, John Ranagan, Connor Sellars, Alex Crepinsek, Jason Noble, Chad Tutton and Joel White erased from their game-day lineup either through trades, free agency or expansion. That significant overhaul has allowed for opportunity, and no defenseman in Georgia grew their game more over the last two seasons than Adam Wiedemann. Aggressive in his approach on the defensive end (104LB, 19CTO), Wiedemann is a sometimes secondary threat in transition too (3G, 11A).
Age: 25
Season: 4
Position: Transition
Team: New York Riptide
From: Toronto, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Scott Dominey finished eleventh in the NLL in loose balls (not including full- or part-time FO takers) and had 6x the amount of caused turnovers (18) over one season in New York than he did during two partial ones with Toronto. His 10 goals & 6 helpers in transition provided a significant boost to the Riptide’s overall offensive output, plus few in the league can pull off stuff like this or this.
Age: 28
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Glenside, PA
Last Year: 65
Many were expecting a career year from Matt Rambo in 2022, but his point production stayed about the same or even slipped some. We dropped well over a dozen forwards from the 100 due to that same statistical stagnation. Rambo remained due to the opportunities he’ll likely have this winter. At times, the Wings offense felt crowded, confused and chaotic a season ago. Due to a number of noteworthy moves this offseason, that vibe looks likely to change in coming months, and Rambo should be one of a few that benefit.
Age: 25
Season: 4
Position: Defense
Team: Albany FireWolves
From: Toronto, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Officially listed as a defender but nailing down a stat line (5G, 6A, 123LB, 8CTO) that reads more like an emerging top transitional talent (hands up from those that feel the league should scrap T as a position altogether), Jackson Nishimura was most definitely in demand this past offseason. Left exposed and then snagged by the Las Vegas Desert Dogs in the Expansion Draft, two months later the Albany FireWolves traded to get him back. With Tony Malcom now in Fort Worth, Adam Bomberry on the holdout list (Bomberry was one of last year’s best defenders in the handful of games he got into), and the Albany offense getting a massive overhaul, Nishimura has a ton of opportunity to excel even further in 2023, on both sides of centre.
Age: 33
Season: 9
Position: Defense
Team: Las Vegas Desert Dogs
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥
The NLL’s new blocked-shot stat highlighted defensive players that typically don’t get much recognition. The big & burly Garrett McIntosh was one of them, finishing with 20 D blocks in 2022. Is that good? Apparently it’s very good, third best in the league good in fact (only former Vancouver Warriors teammate Reid Bowering and the Buffalo Bandits’ Bryce Sweeting had a handful more). McIntosh will have plenty of opportunity to better those numbers playing for the expansion Las Vegas Desert Dogs, where he likely ranks #1 on the team’s defensive depth charts.
Age: 26
Season: 3
Position: Defense
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Thorold, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
It was rarely if ever mentioned last year (we were just as guilty), but the game-day growth in Holden Garlent’s pro game was on full display in Saskatoon a season ago. He was equally impactful both in a defensive defender role but also pressing the floor in transition. His offensive/defensive statistical sum (8G, 10A & 88LB, 23CTO) was one of the more balanced in the league. With Chris Corbeil now in Toronto, the search for the two-way talent’s replacement is likely already on the Rush roster. While we’re obviously talking about Garlent, that conversation could also include two outstanding Rush rookies from last year: Bobby Kidd III & Connor McClelland. A long list of good Rush defenders have left the team over the past almost decade now (usually through trade and/or increased opportunity elsewhere), but GM Derek Keenan keeps topping off their talent pool with next-gent talent regularly.
Age: 30
Season: 9
Position: Forward
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: Oshawa, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Injuries to key players made 2022 a difficult year for the Knighthawks, who finished dead last while limping to the IR for much of the season. A lot obviously went wrong, but one thing that went incredibly right was the performance of Curtis Knight, who had easily one of his most productive campaigns in the league last year. His 23 goals & 61 points were the second most of his career, his 38 assists a new single-season high. With everyone seemingly healthy (knock on wood) and the addition of Connor Fields, 40+ assists this year seems like a lock for the often underrated Knight.
Age: 29
Season: 5
Position: Defense
Team: Panther City Lacrosse Clubs
From: West Islip, NY
Last Year: NR 🔥
We brought up the topic of today’s top American defender in Eli Gobrecht’s spot a bit higher on the page, but Liam Byrnes has clearly just entered the chat too. Byrnes smashed his career best loose ball (137) & caused turnover (26) figures while fighting for last year’s expansion entry in Fort Worth. Plus, forget isolating him in an American-only category, his season-long defensive digits were amongst the highest in the league, period. Heck, with 4 goals on just 10 shots in transition last year, PCLC might want to let him off his leash a bit more in 2023.
Age: 27
Season: 4
Position: Defense
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Langley, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥
During the 90s and early 00s, a defender that stood 6’7” and was over 240lbs was likely going to kick the shit out of you, but his role kinda ended there. That’s not the case with Calgary’s Reece Callies, who measures at those exact dimensions, but does a ton more than crosschecking you back onto the bench. Callies is strong, smart, athletic and can be a danger darting up the floor as well. He captained the Langley Thunder to a Mann Cup appearance this past summer, and Callies is clearly one of Calgary’s key defensive leaders as their roster continues to get reshaped since 2019’s Cup triumph.
Age: 28
Season: 7
Position: Defense
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Peterborough, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Garnering a good number of votes as the league’s dirtiest in our NLL Player Poll, Bryce Sweeting had arguably his best NLL season with the Buffalo Bandits last year. His work in traffic mucking it up in the middle often went unnoticed by most (well, outside of the guys that voted him most dirty), but was somewhat spotlighted last year when he finished second in the NLL with 21 blocked shots. As is the case throughout Buffalo’s lineup, Sweeting fills a very precise role for the Cup-hungry Bandits, and after allowing just 185 against in 2022, their formula is clearly clicking.
Age: 28
Season: 4
Position: Defense
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Armstrong, BC
Last Year: 97
One of the league’s most bruising & punishing defenders, Owen Barker’s game most definitely has some serious bite. He once again found himself near the top of the NLL PIM standings (47, tied for fourth), but also set new personal bests with 78 loose balls & 22 caused turnovers too. Barker pitched in at the face-off circle after Tyrell Hamer-Jackson went on the IR too, taking over 100 draws in a commendable relief effort. His old-school approach isn’t one that is often recognized at the highest level these days, but it’s a smash-mouth style that fits Vancouver’s defensive vibe for sure.
Age: 26
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Kitchener, ON
Last Year: 86
While he failed to hit 30 goals for the first time in his career (he was trending there during the cut short 2020 season), Chris Cloutier did set new single-season highs in goals (25), assists (34), points (59), loose balls (65), shots on goal (117) and even game winners (2) last year. With Connor Fields’ 32 goals from 2022 now on rival Rochester’s roster, expect Cloutier to not only hit 30, but likely see even more lift in those other categories too.
Age: 24
Season: 3
Position: Defense
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Halifax, NS
Last Year: NR 🔥
While he didn’t land in our end-of-season Top 10 defender ranking, Alex Pace’s 2022 wasn’t that far off from finding a spot on that best-of list. The Philadelphia defender trailed only FO full-timer Trevor Baptiste for loosies (113), was second on the squad in caused turnovers (17), and second again in blocked shots (13). While there are other more high-profile names on Philadelphia’s roster, Pace was probably the team’s top defensive player last year, largely due to his relentless work ethic & effort.
Age: 24
Season: 2
Position: Forward
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
If Tehoka Nanticoke didn’t find himself on the league’s most-stacked offensive unit in Buffalo, would he have been more of a factor in last year’s Rookie of the Year race? Clearly the answer is yes. The fact Nanticoke was still able to standout out so often playing behind some of today’s most dynamic offensive players speaks volumes of what this Six Nations studs is capable of. A physical presence inside that gives zero Fs when banging around the net, Nanticoke also proved critically clutch for the Bandits. He led the league in game-winning goals (6), which also set a new rookie record too.
Age: 31
Season: 10
Position: Defense
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥
Whether it was due to the all the excitement during the Expansion Draft or that the 3x Cup winner is still criminally underrated, the addition of Jeff Cornwall to the Calgary lineup is a pretty significant one. “I don’t think people realize just how good he is, both defensively and in transition,” Calgary Head Coach Curt Malawsky recently told the Calgary Sun. “He’s a leader, and he’s just one of those good people you want to have on your team…I believe he’s a premier defenceman in the National Lacrosse League, and that’s how we’re going to play him.” With Cornwall, the already ranked Callies, Curtis Manning, Eli Salama, speedster Shane Simpson, and an all-over-the-floor Zach Currier, Calgary’s defense is for sure Top 5 in the league this year.
Age: 29
Season: 8
Position: Transition
Team: Panther City Lacrosse Club
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: 83
While his offensive production slowed somewhat in comparison to his breakout 2020 season, Tony Malcom was again one of the league’s top transitional threats last year. Malcom remained Albany’s highest point-producing defensemen, but also managed to finish second on the squad in caused turnovers (19). Malcom’s athleticism, speed and scoring touch are now on-floor assets in Panther City after an unexpected trade during the offseason. One of the fastest players in the league should have ample opportunity to supercharge his O-press scoring while playing in PCLC’s upbeat & athletic system.
Age: 24
Season: 2
Position: Forward
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: Burlington, ON
Last Year: 99 🔥
Ryan Smith was one of just three rookies we ranked in the 100 last year – Jeff Teat & Reid Bowering were the other two. He largely lived up to that hundo hype. He finished second in rookie goals (35) and third in points (59), bettered by only recording-setting rookies Teat & Patrick Dodds. He proved to be a big plus for the Knighthawks on the power play. Smith’s 8 power-play goals were 2x more than anyone else on Rochester’s roster. His previously mentioned first-year goal total was easily tops on the team too. Only two other franchise (now the Halifax Thunderbirds) rookies have led the Knighthawks in goals: Cody Jamieson (2011) & John Grant (2000). Not a bad piece of trivia to be a part of.
Age: 30
Season: 7
Position: Defense
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Courtice, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
Tough, tenacious and truculent, Chad Tutton is a massive addition to the Philadelphia Wings’ defensive end. One of just twelve players last year to hit at least 100 loose balls & 25 caused turnovers, Tutton is a hard-hitting menace that will always leave a mark on his matchup. While some of what he dished out during this year’s Mann Cup would have him in Brian Lemon’s office, his style of play is much needed on Paul Day’s slightly reworked roster. No team gave up more shots on goal than the Wings did last year (966). Tutton should help in that department too.
Age: 28
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Oshawa, ON
Last Year: 64
Ryan Keenan, among other Rush forwards, took some serious internal heat for the team’s slow start and struggles to score early on last season. Some of it was justified, some not so much - statistically speaking at least. While many felt the loss of Ben McIntosh would mean more goals for everyone in Saskatoon, neither McIntosh or the Rush forwards flourished to the heights most had hopped. With that said, Keenan still managed to top the 40-helper mark, and continues to be one of the league’s better off-ball assets.
Age: 35
Season: 11
Position: Defense
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 37
Bumped up to alternate captain after the Shawn Evans trade, Dan Coates, as expected, emerged as one of Rochester’s defensive leaders. Coates topped 100 loose balls for the first time in his career last year. He was one of just five players on Rochester’s injury-riddled roster to play in all 18 regular-season games for the group, who struggled to find consistency with key players in & out of the lineup. With hopes high again entering the season, Coates will most certainly be leaned on again as the Knighthawks look to lock up a post-season spot in the uber-competitive East Conference.
Age: 27
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥
If 2022 was his breakout campaign, 2023 will surely be a statement season from Brendan Bomberry playing as a full-time forward. Listed as a transition player last year, Bomberry did most of his damage playing offensive minutes for the Swarm. With space continuing to open up on Georgia’s offense, Bomberry should have an even more spectacular season excelling as one of the team’s main offensive threats. No Swam player put up more power-play points than Bomberry did last year (19), his refined outside rip easily one of the league’s scariest special-team weapons.
Age: 32
Season: 11
Position: Transition
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Hamilton, ON
Last Year: 78
Still so athletic, still so dynamic, and like we saw with that ridiculous goal in Game 3 of the West Conference Finals, still so money when it matters most. While some maybe worried about a lack of leadership with Dan Coates signing in Rochester, that was not even close to the case as Cupido & Colorado captain Robert Hope led this group to an improbable Cup win last year. The former TPOTY is often praised for his offensive-press skills, but Cupido is an underrated defender that has excelled playing for HC Pat Coyle & DAC Andrew McBride.
Age: 36
Season: 17
Position: Forward
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Peterborough, ON
Last Year: 34
Clearly 2022 was not Shawn Evans’ best season in the big leagues. In fact, statistically it was easily the future HOFers worst, especially after being dealt midseason. Still healing from a suspected ankle injury (although he’s been spotted back on the floor with the team during camp), there’s feeling his dropping digits may see a significant spike after signing with the Vancouver Warriors. Why? Well, even though the brand of ball is clearly not the same, Evans had a record-breaking Senior A summer with the Peterborough Lakers, and also finds himself on a Warriors roster that will benefit greatly from his experience, attitude and effort. Vancouver actually seems like a pretty perfect fit for Evans in a lot of ways.
Age: 28
Season: 6
Position: Defense
Team: Panther City Lacrosse Club
From: Port Perry, ON
Last Year: 91 🔥🔥
Last year we felt Matt Hossack would mature into a Top 15 defensive defender in the NLL after being taken by Panther City in their Expansion Draft. Well, we were wrong. After an outstanding season playing for the expansion side, Hossack is clearly creeping closer to Top 10 territory than simply 15. Taking on the opposition’s #1 forward on seemingly every shift last year, Hossack was easily the team’s top-defensive defender, setting new single-season highs for loose balls (117) & caused turnover (25). He even went .500 at the dot supporting Jeremy Thompson at the face-off circle (46/92).
Age: 35
Season: 12
Position: Forward
Team: Toronto Rock
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 49
His offensive stats last year weren’t the strongest we’ve seen from him, but Corey Small was far from the only Philly forward to trend that way in 2022. With that said, Small was one of last year’s most productive power-play point getters, easily leading the Wings in special-teams scoring (24STP) and only topped by Robert Church (15) for the league lead in power-play goals (Small had 11). The new Rock lefty should have plenty of opportunity to pump his O digits back up this year. Although Toronto’s power play looked much improved from two seasons ago, Small should help the Rock rise from tenth overall in league power-play productivity (42.5%). Ranked low in other offensive categories, the Wings actually led the league in power-play efficiently last year (55.4%).
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Courtice, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
Last year Austin Shanks transitioned into the Thunderbirds main shooting (co-led team in shots on goal with 144) & scoring (led the team in goals with 31) threats. For players that shot as frequently as Shanks did, he also maintained decent turnover (33) & blocked shot (12) numbers, both statistical totals well below average for the league’s more prominent shooters. While the Halifax offense will look decidedly different this year with the high-profile additions of Randy Staats (trade) & Ryan Benesch (free agency), Shanks has shown steady improvement & reliability since his rookie season in 2018, and should be a go-to option again this year.
Age: 29
Season: 6
Position: Transition
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Oakville, ON
Last Year: 63
A top transitional threat playing a similar role to Challen Rogers or former NLL teammate Kiel Matisz, Bryan Cole is a valuable asset on Head Coach Ed Comeau’s roster no matter what end of the floor he’s munching minutes. With now-former Swarm defenders Chad Tutton leaving for Philadelphia and Joe White retiring, Georgia may need Cole’s focus & leadership on the backend more than up front this season. Either way, except him to excel, again.
Age: 33
Season: 12
Position: Defense
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
Vancouver vet Brett Mydske easily had one of his most impressive campaigns in 2022 after a decade of success in the NLL. As smart as he is smash mouth, Mydske’s lead-by-example approach definitely justified sewing a C on his sweater last year. He leads a big, physical defensive unit that is one of the hardest working in the league. Vancouver’s D was arguably the team’s greatest asset last year, and is likely why defensive AC Curtis Hodgson avoided the axe others received.
Age: 33
Season: 12
Position: Defense
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 56
Not that it’s at all shocking, but Matt Beers fit into Saskatchewan’s still-stacked defense pretty perfectly last year. After spending a decade with the Stealth/Warriors franchise, Beers surprised some when he opted for Saskatoon over Vancouver. The hard-hitting, first-flying, some-say-dirty (like today’s pro players) defender is still one of the league’s most menacing & feared D-first forces (83LB, 19CTO), but one that continues to chip in on transition too (3G, 9A).
Age: 28
Season: 7
Position: Defense
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 57
In last year’s 100, we thought Bell’s offensive numbers would look more like his early-season totals in Calgary. During his first year in Halifax, he did end up matching his career-high 14 points, but what stood out even more with the Thunderbirds was what he did in his own end. Bell was aggressive, physical and seemingly always looking for a loosie while he loomed over the opposition. In fact, the 115 balls he scooped last year were a new career high for the St. Kitts stud. With some key defensive losses over the offseason, expect Bell to star in an even more prominent role on Halifax’s defensive unit. Could be a career year for sure.
Age: 31
Season: 9
Position: Forward
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Ladner, BC
Last Year: 52
Challenged by Vancouver Warriors GM Dan Richardson to be a dominant offensive force similar to what he was with a Stealth sweater on, Logan Schuss failed to mirror those memorable seasons, and that actually might be a good thing. With sharpshooters Keegan Bal, Kyle Killen and a returning Mitch Jones on the Warriors roster, Schuss has quietly transitioned into a strong set-up source, last year almost matching his career best solo-season assists total (51), while also playing a critical middle-man role on Vancouver’s power play too (6PPG, 17PPA). Good players fade away while simply continuing to try and do what got them to the show. Great ones adapt & reinvent themselves.
Age: 28
Season: 4
Position: Transition
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Port Elgin, ON
Last Year: 71
Ian MacKay plays the transitional position more by the role’s intended definition versus what it’s been stretched & manipulated into over the past decade plus. He plays a majority of his minutes on the backend, his decision making & speed are hard to slow, and MacKay produced more points directly off the press than seemingly almost anyone last year (11G, 12A). Plus, he topped 100 loose balls for the first time and set a new single-season best for caused turnovers too (19). His stat line, both defensive & offensive digits, were even more impressive in the playoffs (6GP, 4A, 8A, 43LB, 5CTO).
Age: 26
Season: 6
Position: Goalie
Team: Albany FireWolves
From: Ohsweken, ON
Last Year: 21
This clearly feels way too low for 2020’s GOTY, but stack up his half-season stats from that season (8.77GAA, .826SV%) to last year (10.34GAA, .787SV%), plus factor in where most feel an extremely young Albany side will finish, and Doug Jamieson kinda just ended up here after sorting out all the stoppers. At his best, Jamieson is still capable of being one of the top backstops in the game, and still has a strong defensive cast in front of him. With a massive overhaul to Albany’s offense, if FireWolves are going to experience any success this season, they’ll need Jamieson standing on his head surely.
Age: 26
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: New York Riptide
From: Courtice, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
If the NLL handed out a most improved or breakout end-of-season honour, there’s a good chance Connor Kearnan would have at minimum been nominated for the accolade. Heck, he mighta won it. Check out his offensive per-game averages during his first two seasons in San Diego in comparison to what he nailed down in New York with the Riptide last year:
San Diego (2019-2020)
Goals: 0.65
Assists: 0.85
Points: 1.50
Shots on goal: 4.05
New York (2022)
Goals: 1.89 (+1.24)
Assists: 1.56 (+0.71)
Points: 3.44 (+1.94)
Shots on goal: 6.22 (+2.17)
Age: 27
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: East Amherst, NY
Last Year: 93 🔥🔥
For those that wondered if Connor Fields could stand out in Buffalo’s super-skilled attack last year, well, he did. Like a lot. Instead of getting lost in a lineup full of high-end point producers, Fields quickly adapted & found a game-fitting role in the Bandits’ booming offense. Goals (32), assists (35), points (67), you name it, all his stats were career highs in 2022. Surprisingly left exposed during the Las Vegas Desert Dogs Expansion Draft, Fields found his way to Rochester, where he’ll likely lead more than simply support or compliment.
Age: 34
Season: 12
Position: Defense
Team: New York Riptide
From: Oakville, ON
Last Year: 33
Don’t read too much into his drop in the 100, because Dan McRae is still one of today’s top team leaders and more reliable defensive players. With D-first reinforcements brought in last year (Damon Edwards, Scott Dominey and Brent Noseworthy) and again 365 days later (Kevin Brownell, Jordi Jones-Smith and eventually first-rounder Zack Deaken) MacRae has an experienced unit to share the defensive load with, which wasn’t the case during the team’s expansion season in 2020.
Age: 27
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Vancouver, BC
Last Year: 61
He may be the most unliked player in the NLL (NLLers voted him most overrated), but you better believe the Buffalo Bandits value having a player like Chase Fraser in their game-day lineup. A brash, pest-like player that can get under the opposition’s skin with either his skill or smack, last year Fraser set new single-season highs in goals (32), assists (24) and of course points (56), all while playing a back-up role at the dot (36/85). While some behind him here had more points, Fraser brings an added edge that most definitely ups his overall value. Sidelined for likely the first few months of the season, Fraser is a fun forward to watch for those that reside in Banditland, but a frustrating one for their unwelcome guests.
Age: 25
Season: 3
Position: Transition
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: Port Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 82 🔥🔥
While some may look last year’s standings and simply see negatives for the Knighthawks (they were dead last at 4-14, scored the fewest goals, allowed 221, ended on an 1-8 streak, etc.), for those paying attention, the 2022 season provided opportunity & growth for many on Rochester’s roster. One such player was Ryland Rees, who transformed into a top transitional talent in the NLL, and was one of Head Coach Mike Hasen’s most reliable, ready and resilient runners. His ever-improving stat line reads future TPOTY (11G, 118LB, 15CTO, 10BLK), and it wouldn’t be hard to argue Rees was the team’s MVP in 2022.
Age: 37
Season: 16
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Kitchener, ON
Last Year: 41
Last year, Ryan Benesch registered his eighth 80-point season, albeit in 19 games played, but still. With Halifax looking to smooth out some offensive wrinkles that popped up in the second half of last year, Benesch is the kind of vet that will unquestionably help iron out those creases through his creativity & composure alone. The former first-overall draft pick is also just 20 regular-season goals shy of 500 for his career. That list of legends in the league’s 500 club include:
1. John Tavares, 815
2. John Grant, 668
3. Gary Gait, 635
4. Dan Dawson, 543
5. Colin Doyle, 527
Age: 30
Season: 9
Position: Transition
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Port Hope, ON
Last Year: 48
It’s a shame that the NLL dropped their time-of-floor stat last year, because there is no doubt Nick Weiss would have again been at the top of the minute-munching charts (led the Bandits in 2020 and finished third in the league with a 26:01TOF). Far from flashy (although his NLL Finals Game 1 winner was flashy AF), Weiss is a dependable defensive asset for Buffalo, who can push the pace on the press when needed (again, see the Cup’s Game 1 finish). His overall defensive numbers are a bit deceiving after missing five games due to COVID-protocol pause and a late-season stint on the team’s IR. Buffalo went 1-2 with Weiss MIA from late March into mid-April.
Age: 22
Season: 3
Position: Forward
Team: Panther City Lacrosse Club
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
Too high a placement for Panther City’s young gun? If that’s what you think, you likely missed many PCLC games last year. Malcom was magic for 2022’s expansion entry, seeing his stats skyrocket playing big-money minutes for the promising Panther City roster. The 81-point forward has an electric first step that allows him to scream into good scoring spots, but he has the ability to move the ball to teammates just as quickly to create goal-scoring opportunities (54A). Malcom has an elusive mid-range rip that has keepers continually dropping early, but he’s slippery enough to get it done in tight too.
Age: 30
Season: 5
Position: Goalie
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: 53
Warren Hill was a GOTY frontrunner and even an MVP maybe during the first half of Halifax’s season, but much like the theme for the team during their second-half chapter, consistency became an issue in mid-March and onward. At his best, Hill is an athletic, agile and clutch keeper that can frustrate any top forward in the league. If Hill can give the Thunderbirds that type of high-end play over a full season, the franchise could find themselves in the NLL Finals with a goalie not named Matt Vinc for the first time since 2007 (Pat O’Toole). Supported & pushed by former NLL Cup winner Aaron Bold last year (including a brilliant relief effort in the playoffs), Hill will have rookie Drew Hutchison (Burlington/RIT) behind him this year.
Age: 33
Season: 11
Position: Defense
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Whitby, ON
Last Year: 59
Yes, Frank Scigliano was tremendous last season. And 100%, Brodie Merill is still the GOAT. But when you ask yourself how the San Diego Seals were able to give up so few goals in 2022 (183, by far the best in the West, and third behind only Toronto & Buffalo leaguewide), Cam Holding better be the next name out of your mouth. Holding is teetering on Top 10 defensive defender territory while co-leading the Seals defense. His hustle, heart and work ethic are amongst the best in the biz, but so his is positional IQ, anticipation and alertness.
Age: 28
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Rochester Knighthawks
From: Calgary, AB
Last Year: 31
During the first few weeks of last year, we had Holden Cattoni ranked #1 in the NLL after the Knighthawks forward had a seriously strong start to the season. After an early stay on Rochester’s injured-reserve list, his hot streak had simmered, and Cattoni’s stats sank to arguably the lowest of his career. Although this year’s Peterborough Lakers were an all-star team of sorts, Cattoni’s Mann Cup performance for the team was deemed series MVP worthy by many (Curtis Dickson won that trophy though). With likely the strongest offense the team has had since the restart in Rochester (2.0), Cattoni should have a comeback campaign in 2023.
Age: 25
Season: 3
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Toronto, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
Since 2012, just three different players had topped the Halifax Thunderbirds franchise (Rochester Knighthawks 1.0) in points: Cody Jamieson (7x), Joe Resetarits (2x) and as of last year, Clarke Petterson. While his 72 points were the second lowest PTS total to lead a team in 2022 (Holden Cattoni’s 63 in Rochester was the only one lower), Petterson bettered his impressive rookie stats-per-game figures and stepped into a bit of a leading-man role earlier than many projected. With incoming reinforcements through the additions of Randy Staats & Ryan Benesch, it will be interesting to see how Petterson is played a season after offensively leading this lineup.
Age: 34
Season: 13
Position: Transition
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Oakville, ON
Last Year: 36
We had Chris Corbeil pegged higher prior to learning he’d be sidelined for most if not all of the upcoming season with a torn pec. The addition of the former Saskatchewan Rush captain was a massive off-season get for the Toronto Rock, who already sported the league’s stingiest defense. Even if he does return, his overall impact this year will obviously be limited. It’s a shame, because last year Corbeil proved he was still one of the NLL’s top transitional players after over a decade of dominance in the league.
Age: 27
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 73 🔥🔥
Hands down, last year was easily Tyler Pace’s best year in the league. Although he only fit into 15 games, it was the most he’s played in a single season so far. Had he played a full 18-game season, Pace would easily have been a Top 20-point producer, if not better. With Curtis Dickson soaking up the sun (and likely scoring a sh** load) in San Diego, Pace has the chance to even further elevate his game this winter with the opportunities Calgary’s off-season loss presents. Ditto for 22-year-old forward Haiden Dickson, who led the WLA in goals this past summer (40) and has shown big pro promise the previous two seasons in Calgary.
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Shelburne, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥
For all those that were dumping on Toronto’s lefties leading into last year, Dan Craig would like a word. Honestly, how crazy good was Craig last year? In addition to topping 30 goals and finishing behind just Tom Schreiber for Toronto’s point-scoring lead, Craig showcased serious defensive skills too. His 110 loose balls and 10 caused turnovers are stats not usually shared by top point getters like Craig. He wasn’t all that far off from joining the extremely exclusive 30-60-90 club either (34-45-105). The Rock really couldn’t have asked much more from him last year.
Age: 26
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Cavan, ON
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥🔥
Since 2016, only 16 players have scored 40 times in a single season. As of last year, Vancouver’s Kyle Killen is one of them, his 43 from a season ago fifth best in the NLL, and just four away from first. Prior to that, he had 34 goals in 24 starts for the Colorado Mammoth. His goal-scoring potential popped off in Vancouver last year, but Warriors GM Dan Richardson thinks there’s more to come. Richardson told The Vancouver Province, “…with the way our offence will be structured this year and our new coaching staff, we think Killen hasn’t reached his ceiling. He has that much potential.”
Age: 26
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥🔥
Another contender for 2022’s best breakout performance, Connor Robinson not only tusked up last year, he Hulked up hard too. From very much a secondary scoring option in Saskatchewan, Robinson led the Colorado Mammoth with 42 goals and saw one of the biggest statistical spikes of any player across the league. He was one of last year’s most clutch scorers during the regular season, then played a critical role for Colorado to help the shot-manned Mammoth win it all. Few saw their stock sore like Robinson’s game last year.
Age: 21
Season: 2
Position: Forward
Team: Panther City Lacrosse Club
From: Victoria, BC
Last Year: NR 🔥🔥🔥
An Expansion Draft afterthought by many, Patrick Dodds went on to record one of the most spectacular first seasons by a forward in the NLL, well, ever. His 58 assists were the fourth highest single-season total for a rookie (only Randy Staats, Tom Schreiber, and Jeff Teat last year had more), Dodds’ 84 points sixth on the all-time charts too (only Ben McIntosh, Rhys Duch and again Schreiber, Staats, and Teat topped him). He followed that up with another strong season with the Junior ‘A’ Victoria Shamrocks, helping lead the team to a Minto Cup appearance in Brampton. At only 21 years of age, Dodds will again be one of the NLL’s youngest players, and best.
Age: 35
Season: 12
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: 13
Last year was the first time in Cody Jamieson’s Hall-of-Fame worthy career that he did not score at least 20 (he usually hits 30). Even though he missed two games early due to injury, his helpers were down a bit too. With that said, a few months later, Jamieson’s heart, hustle and competitive fire landed him the MSL’s MVP award while leading the Six Nations Chiefs to the provincial finals. While many of the league’s next-gen talent took up more spots in this year’s 100, Jamieson will always remain relevant because of his authority, drive, dedication, and legendary locker-room leadership.
Age: 32
Season: 10
Position: Forward
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Bowmanville, ON
Last Year: 10
Shayne Jackson’s stat line read about the same as his COVID season MVP campaign, only difference, he needed five extra games to statistically match those most-valuable metrics. Still, Jackson is one of the Swarm’s most relied on players, especially now that the roster continues to get younger through trades, free agency and retirement. His three game-winning goals were no fluke either. Going back to 2016, the Swarm’s first year in Duluth, Jackson has netted the game winner in nearly 20% of Georgia’s regular-season Ws.
Age: 31
Season: 8
Position: Forward
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Port Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 24
On reputation alone, Ben McIntosh is at worst a Top 20 player in this league. When his stick is humming, you could easily argue he’s Top 10 material for sure. Based on what happened during his first year in Philadelphia, well, neither of the above is all that accurate. McIntosh scored 30 times last year, but that per-game average is arguably the worst of his stellar career as a top NLL goal scorer (ranked just 27th in goals & 54th in points last year). The more shocking statistical surprise was his negligible 19 assists over 16 starts. And finally, his 50 total points were also an all-time low for the former Rookie of the Year. With some minor tweaks to the Wings’ offense, plus the addition of Jeff McComb as their offensive coordinator (McIntosh’s long-time assistant while in Edmonton & Saskatoon), there is just no way he sees the same slump a season later.
Age: 41
Season: 17
Position: Defense
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Montreal, QC
Last Year: 38
No longer the league’s top transitional threat, Brodie Merrill has remained a defensively dominate presence for the Sean Diego Seals, whose underrated D unit was one of last year’s best. As always, Merrill finished with 100+ loosies (something he’s done every season except the shortened pandemic one), 20+ caused turnovers (something he’s done seven times now since the NLL started tracking the stat in 2011) and at 41 years of age, continues to throw his weight around with some of the league’s toughest talent.
Age: 31
Season: 10
Position: Goalie
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Courtice, ON
Last Year: 46
There is no way the Philadelphia Wings make the playoffs last year without the consistent crease play of Zach Higgins, who could easily be argued as the team’s MVP in 2022. Only GOTY Matt Vinc was required to make more saves than Higgins a season ago (747 vs. 688). The Wings stopper one of just four starters with a save percentage higher than .800 (only the three goalies nominated for GOTY were ever so slightly higher than his .801). The only thing holding him back from garnering greater individual accolades are his rep (not a single player voted for Higgins in our goalie player-poll question) and playing for an underachieving Wings team last year.
Age: 33
Season: 11
Position: Transition
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Oakville, ON
Last Year: 76 🔥🔥🔥
The last time Jordan MacIntosh was tasked with coming anywhere near 100 shots was way back in 2015, well, until last year. One of the modern game’s most versatile players, MacIntosh was required to play more offensive minutes for the Swarm as they looked to fortify their attack (Randy Staats traded, Zed Williams traded, Miles Thompson hurt, plus other offensive deficiencies) and remain relevant in the NLL’s hyper-competition East Conference. While Georgia missed the playoffs for the first time since moving to the southern state (2016), MacIntosh trended the other way. He posted strong offensive stats (19G, 33A) in a supporting role, yet still managed to grab over 100 loose balls, go double digits in caused turnovers (a season streak he’s had since his rookie year in 2012), and fill in at the face-off circle.
Age: 27
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Silver Creek, NY
Last Year: 94 🔥🔥🔥
If the 100 took into account post-season play alone, well, Zed Williams would like rank as high as #1 and no worse than second or third. No player, maybe in league history, has elevated his game from the regular season to Cup Finals more than Williams did for the Mammoth’s monumental run. As we outlined during that drive, Williams statistically popped off during the playoffs while taking on a much more meaningful role with key contributors injured. During the regular season, his off-ball play proved much more valuable than his on-paper production for the Mammoth, Williams also collecting a high-turnover total (58) for a player with under 50 total points. With Ryan Lee still sidelined to at least start the year, it will be interesting to see how Williams will be used over the Mammoth’s 18 games. Clearly, last year he showed he’s capable of carrying a lot of the offensive load.
Age: 25
Season: 7
Position: Goalie
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 19
No goalie in the NLL played more minutes than Christian Del Bianco did for Calgary last year (1070:28). The 2019 Cup winner also matched a career-high 10 wins in a season, his 17 assists tying his best-ever total there too. With that said, Del Bianco’s 11.04GAA ranked just tenth overall in the league, while his .772 save percentage sat even lower in the statistical stopper standings. Of course, Del Bianco’s success has always been more about timely stops, not chart-topping numbers. While he slipped a bit in the 100 (only 2022’s three GOTY nominees & Frank Scigliano are ahead of him here), Del Bianco remains one of today’s top tenders.
Age: 29
Season: 8
Position: Forward
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Surrey, BC
Last Year: 47
Last year we crowned Eli McLaughlin the league’s most clutch scorer during the 2021-22 regular season. His 5 game-trying, 7 go-ahead and 4 game-winning goals, much of that happening in the fourth quarter, made McLaughlin the most money goal getter in the NLL. While he missed the Mammoth’s last two pivotal playoff games en route to their Cup victory due to injury, the fact he still won the post-season scoring crown (41 points) shows how massive his game is when he’s needed most. With Ryan Lee unavailable for an undetermined amount of time, except McLaughlin to play that leading-man role, again.
Age: 30
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: IN
Relax. Sure, based on the last time we saw Randy Staats playing regular season ball in the NLL, sitting him at 38th is criminally low. Well, a lot has happened since, and none of it involves Staats playing an NLL regular-season game for about one thousand (yes, 1,000!) days in this league. Knowing he’d be lost all season last year due to a knee injury, he didn’t rank in 2022’s 100. When healthy & fit, Staats is easily one of the most lethal forwards in lacrosse. There’s no debating that. He returned this summer to play with the MSL’s Six Nations Chiefs, producing 13 points in nine regular season games, another 14 over six starts during Ontario’s playoffs. Traded in a blockbuster from Fort Worth to Halifax, the Thunderbirds might be the most-perfect team to cue a Randy Staats comeback. It’s by far one of this season’s most intriguing storylines.
Age: 30
Season: 11
Position: Forward
Team: Las Vegas Desert Dogs
From: Lions Head, ON
Last Year: 12
The Toronto Rock trade no one saw coming sent Rob Hellyer to the expansion Las Vegas Desert Dogs in August, giving the NLL’s newest franchise a legitimate #1 to lead their young offense. Hellyer leaves the Rock’s increasingly crowded righty mix for a far less high-profile group, but one that might not be half bad if they can stay healthy (Zack Greer, Reid Reinholdt, Jacob Ruest, Charlie Bertrand, Marshal King, Jack Hannah, etc.). With Tom Schreiber back on the Rock roster last year, Hellyer was seeing two less shots per game versus his MVP-finalist season in 2020, his shooting percentage sliced in half comparing those campaigns too (went form 18% to just 9% last year). Leading an inspired Las Vegas lineup to frist-season success could inject Hellyer back into the most-valuable conversation.
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Defense
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Peterborough, ON
Last Year: 28
Continue the debate if you choose, but face it, Jake Withers is the NLL’s best drawman, and most nights, it’s not even close. Withers again dominated the dot for the Halifax Thunderbirds, and was also one of the team’s top defensive assets too. With some own-end losses over the offseason (Scott Campbell, Brad Gillies and David Brock, but then not David Brock), the team’s reliance on Withers looks like it will be even greater this season. His always high loosie count was second best in the league (218), while only seven defenders had a higher caused-turnover total than Withers (27). Whether fighting ferociously for a face-off in the middle of the floor or a lively loose ball against the boards, few bring an added edge to the game like Withers.
Age: 33
Season: 10
Position: Transition
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Stoney Creek, ON
Last Year: 18
Similar to Challen Rogers in Toronto, it can be so difficult to define Kiel Matisz’s exact role because of the full-floor demands continually placed on him. Topping 100 loose balls for his third straight season (and time third ever too), Matisz matched his highest single-season caused-turnover total last year too (19). He was definitely less involved in Philadelphia’s offense (2019: 9 shots/game, 2020: 7, 2022: 4), and with the Wings finishing with one of 2022’s worst goals-for sums, Matisz’s up-front value seems pretty evident. The Wings captain will enter his tenth season in the league listed as a T, again.
Age: 28
Season: 6
Position: Transition
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Surrey, BC
Last Year: 39
Big, mean, strong and as smash mouth as they come, Mike Messenger had easily his most impressive season in the NLL last year, setting personal bests across the statistical board. Depending on your definition of a “transition player” (and we examined at pretty much all of them), Messenger could have easily been a contender for the position’s year-end accolade last year, but wasn’t. “His role has grown each year since we drafted him and his ability to play various roles is an asset to the team,” said Saskatchewan Rush Head Coach Jimmy Quinlan after the club signed him to a one-year deal in October. That overall game growth sounds like it will continue to climb with Messenger expected to play more offensive minutes this year. Scary.
Age: 24
Season: 4
Position: Forward
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Six Nations, ON
Last Year: IN/NR
We left him off the NLL 100 last year because unofficial word was, Austin Staats was done for the year with another knee injury. Staats shockingly returned relatively early in the season, and as usual, went off (in more ways than one). We’ve yet to see Staats over a full 18-game schedule largely due to injury issues, but his per-game numbers spread over a full sked would easily have him hitting 40 goals & 90 points or more. Skilled, sneaky and the kinda player you hate to play against but love if he's on the same side, Staats will hopefully come close to or surpass those full-season projections this year.
Age: 30
Season: 11
Position: Goalie
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 92 🔥🔥🔥
Forget wondering if Frank Scigliano can be one of the game’s top-rated goalies, because the backstop proved that last year. The current question should be, how soon until he’s voted the game’s #1 netminder? Although Scigliano missed mention in last year’s GOTY final three (Vinc, Ward and Rose), he was most definitely part of that conversation. Allowing as few as four goals in games last year, Scigliano was one of just two goalies with GAAs under 10 (9.78, Nick Rose was the other at 9.05) and held down a sharp save percentage too (.793, fifth best in the league). Was last year’s NLL performance a fluke? His equally sensational summer stopping in Senior A (all the way to the Mann Cup) would say otherwise.
Age: 34
Season: 13
Position: Goalie
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Orangeville, ON
Last Year: 40
After over a decade in the league, netminder Nick Rose strung together what was arguably his best season ever at the pro level with Toronto in 2022. A GOTY Finalist for the third time, Rose was probably the Rock’s second-half MVP last season, making some of the most stunning saves of any stopper during the team’s remarkable late run (7-1 finish to end the regular season). His GAA was the best in the biz (9.05) and the lowest of his career when starting. Only Matt Vinc (.807) & Dillon Ward (.804) had slightly stronger save percentages last year (.803). Since 2005 (the furthest back full-season NLL stats are publicly available), only one starting goaltender has had a better completed-season GAA than Rose’s previously mentioned mark: Aaron Bold (2014: 8.73). While a GOTY nod would be nice, Rose would surely trade that accolade for his first-ever Cup victory instead.
Age: 33
Season: 13
Position: Defense
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 25
Last year, Steve Priolo was a Defensive Player of the Year Finalist for a remarkable sixth time. Since 2014, when the league first started naming a final three for their various end-of-season honours, only Kyle Rubisch matches Priolo’s six noms. The Rush’s Rubisch has won the award twice since that season, twice before that too. Priolo, who’se been one of the top pure-defensive powerhouses for the past decade, has yet to win the award. Can he pull it off this year? He’s still physical AF, matches up against the opposition’s #1 nightly, and allows low percentage looks. So, can he? Sure.
Age: 31
Season: 8
Position: Defense
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Peterborough, ON
Last Year: 32
To captain the West’s lowest seed to a comeback NLL Cup win for the ages is one thing. To do it all over (albeit as favourites) with the Peterborough Lakers for a record-setting Mann Cup victory is next-level leadership. The Colorado Mammoth’s Robert Hope could very well be the most influential captain in the league after his double Cup performance over the last several months. Plus, Hope continues to be one of the NLL’s top defensive players. His high-ranking loose ball (128) & caused turnover totals (27) from last season would certainly support that statement.
Age: 30
Season: 9
Position: Defense
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Acton, ON
Last Year: 27
We had Brad Kri ranked #3 at the end of last season when counting up 2022’s top defensive players, even though the Toronto Rock shutdown defender failed to garner his first DPOTY Finalist mention. Based on his play over the last few seasons, however, that end-of year accolade is most certainly coming. Last year, Kri also added some unexpected offensive flare to his game, scoring five times (he previously had just three regular season goals over 92 games) for the Rock, all of which were offensive-press daggers. Whenever the next World Box (previously Indoor) Lacrosse Championships take place (no updates on the World Lacrosse site, which has an “Oops, this page could not be found!” page for box documents, probably because it’s not sixes), adding Kri to Team Canada is a no brainer.
Age: 32
Season: 11
Position: Defense
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Hamilton, ON
Last Year: 23
Since 2012, only six different defenders have been named the NLL’s DOTY. Ryan Dilks is one of them, and based on his continued consistent play for the Saskatchewan Rush, there’s no reason why his name won’t be engraved on that award again. With Kyle Rubisch & Chris Corbeil spending a short time in the free-agency pool this past summer, the Rush handed Dilks the team’s franchise tag. “We believe he is one of the best defenders in the NLL and what he brings to our team in terms of skill and leadership is hard to quantify," said Rush Head Coach & Associate GM Jimmy Quinlan. "His versatility to cover the oppositions’ best players no matter the side of the floor makes him an integral piece to our line-up.”
Age: 34
Season: 11
Position: Forward
Team: San Diego Seals
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: 20
The Philadelphia Wings’ offensive flaws overshadowed what was another solid season for Kevin Crowley. His 89 points were the most we’ve seen from Crowley since his first year in New England (2016), Crowley’s 64 helpers his highest assist total ever. During the past two seasons, Crowley’s shooting percentage has dipped to around just 10%, easily the lowest of his incredible career. An automatic 30-goal getter over his first nine years, Crowley has transitioned to more of a set-up option, which this year, could mean even more apples playing alongside Curtis Dickson, Dane Dobbie, Wes Berg, Austin Staats and others in San Diego. Seriously, Dhane Smith’s 94 from last year may already be in jeopardy with what the Seals are sporting this season.
Age: 29
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 26
Sinking 30+ again, Wes Berg hit the 50-assist mark for the first time in his career in 2022, and like we said above (see #26 Kevin Crowley), that helper tally should go even higher with the absurd amount of talent Berg will have surrounding him in San Diego. Not far off that really rare 30-60-90 range already (he was 34-50-78 last year), Berg is a versatile forward who does much more than simply specialize in selective areas on offense. This upcoming season has all the makings of a career year for the Cup-hungry Coquitlam product.
Age: 31
Season: 9
Position: Forward
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 30
For the first time in his career, Robert Church led the Rush franchise in points last year (94). In fact, it was the first time Mark Matthews has not topped the team in that category since 2013. Church’s better-than-average (for forwards) loose-ball total remained high (78), but he also saw his turnover total spike a season ago (42TO, the highest of his career). Under Church (& Matthews) the Rush offense adjusted, improved and succeeded (sans Ben McIntosh) as the season went on, and look locked & loaded leading into their highly anticipated upcoming campaign.
Age: 24
Season: 6
Position: Defense
Team: Toronto Rock
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 44 🔥🔥
While his official position last year was listed as defenceman, Latrell Harris’ stat line read very much league-leading transition player (14GP, 8G, 10A, 114LB, 28CTO), the Toronto Rock’s super-athletic defender dominant in either of those roles. Voted to the league’s 2nd Team All-NLL, it’s likely Harris got votes for both DPOTY & TPOTY honours, quite a feat considering he missed close to a quarter of the Rock’s regular season. A pounding defender that can also spark the Rock’s potent press, 2023 could be a big one for Toronto’s talented two-way workhorse.
Age: 32
Season: 10
Position: Forward
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Oshawa, ON
Last Year: 15
After some early hiccups and an eventual rare Rush post-season miss, Mark Matthews still managed to finish Top 10 (10th) in NLL point production (92) and was the league’s power-play point topper too (34PPP). With that said, his 2022 totals were lower than what we’re used to seeing from Matthews (minus his 2020 pandemic-slowed stats he had five consecutive 100+ point seasons), which sure, are still stronger than most of the league. With the Rush looking to rebound after last year’s disappointing campaign, their first under Priestner Family ownership, and Matthews about to enter his tenth NLL season, 2023 is a critical one in his already HOF-worthy career.
Age: 30
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Victoria, BC
Last Year: 55 🔥🔥🔥
In last year’s 100, we wondered who would replace Dane Dobbie’s consistency on Calgary’s game-day scoresheet, responding with, “…King could be that guy.” Leading the Roughnecks lineup in assists (66) & points (95), King delivered at an exceptionally high rate. A year later, another franchise legend has bounced during free agency (Curtis Dickson), but the panic seems much less of a worry after King’s killer campaign in 2022. An unselfish power forward that uses size, skill and smarts to outmaneuver his matchup, look for King to enter elite-league status this season.
Age: 30
Season: 7
Position: Defense
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
From: Port Perry, ON
Last Year: 1
By his own 3x DPOTY standard, Graeme Hossack was good last year, not #1 great like we positioned him in our preseason countdown. A nominee for the best defender honours the previous four years, Hossack did not net another final-three finish in 2022. In fact, Head Coach Mike Accursi had the since-retired Scott Campbell higher than Hossack on the Thunderbirds’ defensive depth charts. Like many in Halifax last year, the second half of the season did not go as planned, and that includes Hossack, who at times was maybe trying to do too much. Hossack is too dominant a defenseman for that to happen again.
Age: 38
Season: 17
Position: Forward
Team: New York Riptide
From: Ottawa, ON
Last Year: 5
Many felt Callum Crawford was 2020’s MVP, but the pandemic-canned campaign allowed for more friend-favour voting than even this league is used to seeing. Finishing second in our NLL Player Poll when it comes to the league’s most overrated, his peers aren’t that swayed by Crawford’s skills, but it’s hard to argue with his seemingly always sky-high stats. Missing a handful of games in 2022, Crawford still managed to net nearly 40 goals & 50 assists, a points-per-game haul that was amongst the best in the league. Entering his 17th season, Crawford ranks in the all-time Top 10 for assists (708) & points (1,137), surrounded by many of the game’s GOATS up & down that list of legends.
Age: 30
Season: 10
Position: Forward
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Delta, BC
Last Year: 7
While changes clearly had to be made after years of post-season-less underachieving, it’s no fluke that the Vancouver Warriors’ 2022 went from hugely promising to frustratingly painful when Mitch Jones went down after just four games. Although it would have been difficult to maintain that fire four-game pace (6.5 points/game, his points per-game average would have seen Jones flirting with 120 for the year. How will he look in the NLL coming back from his significant foot injury? Well, if the 65 points he produced with the New Westminster Salmonbellies over just 14 games this past summer is any indication, Jones should be just fine.
Age: 35
Season: 15
Position: Forward
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Elora, ON
Last Year: 3
Yes, his stats were still high even after sitting on San Diego’s IR for three games, but what Dane Dobbie did during both the NLL playoffs & Mann Cup last year continues to confirm his status as one of today’s top leaders & competitors. With players draped & dragging him down, Dobbie emerged and netted an absurd behind-the-back OT winner to push last year’s West Conference Finals to Game 3. He had similar late-game heroics for Langley at the Mann too. While neither of those series ended with a victory for Dobbie’s side, the Seals have certainly done everything they can to flip their fortunes this year.
Age: 30
Season: 7
Position: Defense
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Oshawa, ON
Last Year: 50 🔥🔥🔥
Everything we said about Mitch de Snoo in the 100 last year (“…a hard-hitting, extremely aggressive, super-athletic defender that regularly registers high-end LB & CTO totals while also pitching in on the press.”), double or triple it, because de Snoo elevated his game to gross levels with the Toronto Rock in 2022. Our #1 rated defender at the end of the season, de Snoo was also honoured by the league as last year’s DPOTY. The complete defensive package that can also connect in transition, expect another crushing season from the Rock’s new defensive leader.
Age: 30
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 62 🔥🔥🔥
The loss of Mitch Jones (IR) last year in Vancouver presented opportunity for others, but honestly, Keegan Bal was already trending towards top-tier status before his teammate was sidelined. While the votes were spread for more than most Qs, Bal was picked by players in our preseason NLL poll as the game’s most underrated. Fair for sure, but based on last year and what he’s likely to do in 2023, that’s the last time Bal’s name will be blurted for that often-asked question. An almost 30-60-90 club member (a season-long stat line that highlights the league’s most multifaceted forwards) last year, Bal did it all for the Warriors up front. Even with Jones back & Shawn Evans added, more of the same should surely be expected from one of the NLL’s fastest-rising forwards.
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: New Westminster, BC
Last Year: 22
Largely overshadowed due to teammate Dhane Smith’s record-breaking performance, Josh Byrne was easily one of 2022’s most impactful players, whatever the position. You name the stat, Byrne set a new personal best last year. He was one of the league’s top special-team scorers, even leading the NLL with four shorties (mainly due to the fact he also logged D minutes while the Bandits were on the PK, ditto for Dhane). Although he wasn’t our end-of-season Clutch King (based on a weighted point system), no player in the league scored more go-ahead, game-tying and game-winning goals than Byrne (17). Plus, he scores plenty of pretty ones too - fire from outside & dozens of dirty dunks.
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Forward
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Newmarket, ON
Last Year: 42 🔥🔥
During his ridiculous regular-season run last year, Ryan Lee produced almost as many points (119) as he did in 37 games over the previous three seasons with the Colorado Mammoth to start his NLL career (130). He finished second only to record-breaker Dhane Smith for points, landing him on the NLL’s All-League Second Team for his season-long success. How impactful will he be this upcoming season? It’s kinda unclear. Injured during last year’s playoffs, the Mammoth have confirmed he’ll return this season, it’s just unsure of exactly when. Sure, Colorado captured a Cup without him, but the Mammoth are a much better team with Ryan Lee regularly in their lineup.
Age: 24
Season: 2
Position: Transition
Team: Vancouver Warriors
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 69 🔥🔥🔥
In virtually any other season over the league’s 35 total, what Reid Bowering did last year would have been a lock for ROTY recognition. Blame Jeff Teat for that. How often can the NLL’s best-rookie runner up also be considered one of the league’s top defensive or transitional players right off the hop? Probably never. Bowering blasted onto the scene and quickly became a ball-scooping (214!) & turnover-forcing (34) machine, his totals in both statistical categories only bettered by a few world-class players. Scoring 13 times in 18 games, the offensive upside with Bowering could be much higher than that. Although he’s been penciled in as a defender in box, Bowering played attack at Drexel, where he scored 147 times.
Age: 34
Season: 12
Position: Forward
Team: San Diego Seals
From: Port Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 17
After seeing a slight decline in per-game production in 2020, then losing his long-time partner Dane Dobbie a season later, some wondered (like we did in last year’s 100) what Dickson would do in 2022. Well, he was awesome, again. Now in San Diego via one of the most shocking NLL free-agent signings ever, Dickson & Dobbie are reunited, plus his former Junior A teammate Kevin Crowley followed them there too. A similar super-team attempt was tried once before when the Boston Blazers sported Dan Dawson, Josh Sanderson, Casey Powell and later Ryan Powell too. Things did not go as planned. With that said, the Seals look to have an even stronger and more complete cast, and Dickson is right at the top of that frightening all-star squad.
Age: 30
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Toronto Rock
From: East Meadow, NY
Last Year: 29 🔥
On pure goal-scoring prowess alone, there might not have been a goal getter better than Tom Schreiber in 2022. While he tied for the league lead with 47 goals, Schreiber did it in two fewer games than Joe Resetarits and a single start less than Lyle Thompson. Like we previously pointed out, it was the first time in NLL history that a Canadian did not finish within those top three goal-scoring spots (Schreiber & Resetarits are American, Thopmson is Indigenous). Injured for part of 2020, Schreiber’s return to the Rock roster helped spark Toronto’s ineffective power-play from a season earlier – Schreiber tied for second in total power-play goals in the NLL (11). After re-upping Schreiber for three more years this past August, Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick shared, “Tom is not only an MVP on our team, but also an MVP candidate in our league.” It certainly seems like the next step.
Age: 33
Season: 10
Position: Forward
Team: Philadelphia Wings
From: Hamburg, NY
Last Year: 54 🔥🔥🔥
A season after impressively replacing the void left by a departed Callum Crawford in Albany (well, New England when Crawford was still there), Joe Resetarits surprised many when he didn’t re-sign with the FIreWolves and inked a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Wings instead. Finishing tied for first in goals (47) and third in points (111), Resetarits kept Albany competitive during a season that never seemed to get going for the once-promising group. In Philly, Resetarits will not only need to replace the production of another league leader (this time Kevin Crowley), he’ll need to help elevate the play of those around him (he’s definitely that type of player) while Philadelphia attempts to fix their underperforming offense.
Age: 40
Season: 17
Position: Goalie
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: St. Catharines, ON
Last Year: 16
Right at the top or near #1 in all major statistical stopper stats, Matt Vinc deservedly captured his unprecedented eighth GOTY award last year, and was even a final-three finalist for 2022’s MVP too. No goalie was required to make more saves per minute last season than Vinc – a nifty new number we used to examine how well goalies do under increased shooting pressure. For a team as strong in the standings as Buffalo, the Bandits gave up a higher-than-average amount of rips a game (52.33, the Saskatchewan Rush gave up almost 8 shots less at 44.72). Again, that’s where Vinc came in to save the day. Back for at least one more season with the Bandits, can the 3x Cup winner, who turned 40 this past summer, help this current Buffalo group to a post-season title? Since 2004, the Bandits are 1-5 in the final, including dropping the last two as heavy favourites.
Age: 34
Season: 12
Position: Defense
Team: Saskatchewan Rush
From: Brampton, ON
Last Year: 6
Kyle Rubisch was one of just seven players that appeared on The Lax Mag’s weekly Top 30 Player Rankings from its opening week to the end of the regular season. While the early part of the Saskatchewan season was filled with irregular, un-Rush-like results, Rubisch was his consistent self - a perfect combination of brains & brawn. Rubisch’s hard-hitting style never swerves into being reckless, the Rush defensive leader still one of if not the most responsible pure defenders in the sport. One of this past summer’s most sought-after UFAs (most sough-after ever?), Rubish returned to the Rush while long-time partner Chris Corbeil signed with his hometown Rock.
Age: 28
Season: 5
Position: Transition
Team: Calgary Roughnecks
From: Peterborough, ON
Last Year: 8
Hell, if he didn’t win his first TPOTY award last year after the spectacular season he had, there wasn’t much else Zach Currier could have done to convince voters he was deserving of the honour. His loose-ball total (237) & caused-turnover count (62) almost looked fake they were so high, but we know some that counted various games to confirm. They were legit. Currier is easily one of the sport’s most complete players, his athleticism, awareness and anticipation making him a threat in virtually any spot on the floor, whether he already has the ball or is about to check one loose.
Age: 28
Season: 6
Position: Forward
Team: Toronto Rock
From: Coquitlam, BC
Last Year: 4
Well, you got what you wanted. Challen Rogers is set to play as a full-time forward for the first time in his NLL career. The Toronto Rock captain was officially listed as a F when the team’s opening-day roster was revealed. With that said, if the Rock are short out the back (a unit that would take a lot to deplete due to their tremendous defensive depth) or they simply need a stop, Rogers’ requirements will be flipped on the floor within seconds surely. And that’s the luxury of having a unique talent like Rogers. Stick him somewhere, anywhere, and he’ll excel. But yes, Rogers up front full time will be fun AF to watch.
Age: 30
Season: 7
Position: Forward
Team: Georgia Swarm
From: Onondaga, NY
Last Year: 2
No player owned the #1 spot in our weekly Top 30 Player Rankings last year more often than Lyle Thompson. The star-rating formula was designed to not only highlight the league’s top-performing players, but also identify which ones were most valuable to their team from Game 1 to 18 during the regular season. With even more changes to the Swarm’s roster this year due to trades, a free agent loss, expansion, an injury and a lot of retirement, Thompson will no doubt be leaned on heavily again as Georgia attempts to find their way back to the playoffs. An offensive talent beyond belief (the players thought so too), Thompson is as creative, clutch and composed a scorer as there is today. Off the floor, his presence is just as powerful. Thompson is most definitely one of lacrosse’s most influential players & people.
Age: 31
Season: 9
Position: Goalie
Team: Colorado Mammoth
From: Orangeville, ON
Last Year: 9
Although Matt Vinc jumped him in our weekly player rankings late last season, Dillon Ward was our #1 ranked goalie for most of 2022. Yes, Ward had one of the worst starts of his career in an early season game vs. Vancouver (yanked after just a few minutes), but both Vinc & Nick Rose (last year’s other two GOTY the year finalists) did too (Vinc gave up a career-worst 17 vs. New York, Rose roughed up against Halifax allowing 6 on 13 shots before being pulled). Plus, in Colorado’s next game, Ward let in just four over 60 minutes to the same Warriors team that chased him weeks earlier. Ward’s regular season was no doubt strong, but what he did in the playoffs was for-the-ages-level exceptional. The 2022 NLL Cup winner & playoff MVP was magic from start to finish, keeping Colorado competitive in a post-season effort most felt wouldn’t even last a single round. His approach is at times unorthodox, but Ward’s ability to brilliantly bait shooters only to crush their goal-scoring dreams on the doorstep is mind F stuff as much as it is skill. We’re obviously talking box, but to watch Ward do it all over again in the PLL months later, further confirms the absurd Cup-clinching level lacrosse’s top tender is operating at right now.
Age: 30
Season: 10
Position: Forward
Team: Buffalo Bandits
From: Kitchener, ON
Last Year: 14 🔥
We kinda wrote the trailer for what Dhane Smith’s coming-soon season was potentially going to look in last year’s 100. The fact we only had him at 14 was a fail for sure. It’s difficult deciding whether his record-setting MVP season of 2016 (heavier on goals & loose balls) was better than this last one (highest single-season helper count ever), but whether it was or wasn’t, Smith was simply superb in 2022. We chopped up every MVP’s resume since 1994, the first year the award was presented (or at least documented), to determine if there was any way Dhane wasn’t last year’s MVP. There wasn’t. One difference between his 2016 most-valuable campaign and last year, is Smith’s ability to lead & inspire his teammates (and even community) not just through his actions, but words now as well. “Dhane’s quiet but he speaks up when he has to and he’s a leader in the change room,” Buffalo Head Coach John Tavares told The Waterloo Region Record last year. “He’s not a fly on the wall here, he’s a guy that speaks up when he needs to and guys listen to him.” Entering his tenth NLL season, which will undoubtedly be his most important & demanding to date, where will Smith take the Bandits this year? Another regular-season title? The NLL Cup, which they came so incredibly closer to securing a season ago? Stay tuned.
Age: 25
Season: 2
Position: Forward
Team: New York Riptide
From: Brampton, ON
Last Year: 11 🔥
Some told us at #11 we had Jeff Teat ranked too high entering his rookie season last year. Others said too low. In our final Top 30 Player Ranking of the season, the first-year phenom finished at #3, not only for his record-smashing success (Teat set new single-season assists & points record for rookies: 71 & 108), but because of how reliant the New York Riptide were of their star rookie already. Also, Teat set those new solo-season standards having missed two games after being placed in COVID protocol. Kind of fitting that Teat was the first NLLer to be moved to the league’s protocol list, huh? Ever so slippery weaving through traffic, even if a defender gets a clean check on him, Teat is either dishing to a teammate or ripping a ridiculous shot with virtually no time or space. Even a split of an already-sliced second is enough time for Teat to create. His on-floor IQ, a term that gets tossed around liberally these days, is already MENSA-level high. By the time you’ve decided you’ll attempt to outthink him, Teat is already two strides by you and about to make your goalie look goofy. He became the first rookie to register 30 goals, 60 assists and 90 loose balls in a season, topping each category with ease (37, 71, 111). Since 1987, only ten other players have hit that trifecta, and they’re all legit GOATS, many already in the NLL’s on-hiatus HOF. With a healthy Riptide offense (one that grew up a lot last year), no protocol placements to steal valuable 60-minute stretches, and all those firsts done & dusted in Year 1, the upcoming 2022-23 NLL season is Teat’s for the taking.