Top 5: The biggest winners at the 2023 NLL Entry Draft
Adam Poitras, Dyson Williams and Callum Jones (Photo: David Pickering)
Prior to the 2023 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft, The Lax Mag looked at how well teams had drafted over the past decade in order to get an idea of what they might do this past Saturday at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
Now we’ll take a deeper dive into what all 15 NLL teams came away with, both picks and veteran players obtained through trade, to determine who had the most successful 2023 draft day.
We’ve also ranked the Top 5 biggest winners at this year’s draft, starting with…
Nicholas Volkov, Albany FireWolves (Photo: Reuben Plansky)
Albany FireWolves
Picks (6): Dyson Williams (1/1), Nicholas Volkov (1/14), Zachary Young (1/17), Carson Moyer (2/32), Andrew Kidd (4/69), Grant Ammann (1/83)
The FireWolves come away with at least three full-time regulars in Williams, Volkov and Young, while even Moyer has already shown he can hang at the MSL level while playing for Cobourg. They had a similar haul last year with the likes of soon-to-be pros Alex Simmons, Will Johansen and Tye Kurtz already in their system. It’s a young roster, but the roster rebuild plan is focussed and in full effect.
Top 5 Pick: #1
We’re giving Albany the day’s top spot for making smart picks, not going off the grid like this franchise (and others) has done in the past, and sticking to a roster rebuild that is relying heavily on who they’ve selected last year and again last week.
Buffalo Bandits
Picks (4): Evan Constantopoulos (2/38), Jake Rosa (3/53), Kellen Pulera (4/68), Duncan Carte (5/82)
In: 2024 1st round pick from Rochester, 2027 6th round pick from Las Vegas
Out: 2023 15th overall pick to Rochester, 2023 97th overall pick to Las Vegas
Making the champs roster right now, even for a multi-year vet, is not an easy ask, so it’s pretty unlikely anyone from this year’s class will crack the opening day active roster in Banditland. Taking Constantopoulos, a hulking shot stopper that has had recent success in both the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League with Oakville and the Rock Elite League, shows how much potential they see in the gargantuan goalie. With Steve Dietrich, Anthony Cosmo and Matt Vinc all in Buffalo, grading goalies should probably be one of their stronger suits, right?
Thomas Hoggarth (Photo: Kyle Hess)
Calgary Roughnecks
Picks (6): Bennett Smith (1,/11), Evan Soucy (2,/37), Conner Cook (3,/49), Jack Posey (4,/64), Chris Jordan (5/78), Riley Isaacs (6/93)
In: Thomas Hoggarth from Rochester, Thomas Vela from Rochester
Out: 2023 16th overall pick to Rochester, 2023 35th overall pick to Rochester, Kyle Waters to Rochester
As dialed as Calgary’s defense was last year, expect Smith to challenge for a starting spot right outta the gate. Ditto for Justin Inacio, taken in almost the exact same spot two years ago, who missed what would have been his rookie run last year after sustaining a season-ending injury in the fall. Getting Hoggarth & Vela via trade are big gets too. When healthy, Hoggarth is a strong, high-producing goal scorer (had 30 last year), while Vela was again one of the best Junior A players across the country, and showed pro promise in a few NLL stars last year. Plus, based on their decade-long drafting track record (50% of the players they’ve drafted since 2013 are still in the league), don’t count out Soucy, Cook, or heck, even Isaacs at 93rd overall.
Top 5 Pick: #4
We ranked Calgary #4 for some strong picks higher in the draft, plus getting a pro-proven Hoggarth and high-potential Vela via trade. Including Smith, that’s at least three new names that should make their opening-day roster this year.
Colorado Mammoth
Picks (5): Ben McDonald (2/34), Sean Kriwokon (3/43), Matt Brandau (4/67), AJ Mercurio (5, 81), Declan Fitzpatrick (6/96)
Without a pick until #34, based on what past drafts have provided for teams across the league that late or later, it’s unlikely this year’s draft is a high impact one for the club. Or maybe it will be. In 2015, with only three picks on the day, Colorado called for Bryce Sweeting at 32nd overall and Jordan Gilles at 52. Recent sixth rounders Noah Lebar (still with the team) and Sam LeClair (traded to Philadelphia) combined for 26 games last year. The team obtained a lot of Alberta-based or Alberta-associated talent, but their most intriguing picked prospect might be Nevada-native Mercurio - a big (6’3”, 230 lbs.), strong defender that has box experience playing for the Dragons in USBOXLA’s California Collegiate Box Lacrosse League, in addition to being a difference maker at DU. He’s a year away from being eligible to play pro ball.
Kaleb Benedict, Georgia Swarm (Photo: David Pickering)
Georgia Swarm
Picks (8): Toron Eccleston (1,/6), Jacob Hickey (1/8), Kaleb Benedict (1/19), Liam McGrath (2/26), Jake Taylor (2/31), Nicholas Rowlett (3/41), Richie Connell (4/66), Piper Bond (6/88)
In: 2025 5th round pick from New York
Out: 2023 73rd pick to New York
Like they have for most of the past decade, the Swarm picked a lot during the draft, and easily came away with one of the better prospect pools last weekend. Eccleston & Hickey are pretty much full-time roster locks, while Benedict, who had an outstanding summer with Orangeville this year, obviously has legit pro potential. Georgia staff clearly pays attention to USBOXLA’s National Collegiate Box Series, getting both Taylor & Connell later than either likely deserved to be drafted. Both Americans have been playing box since a younger age through Matt Brown’s & the Tierney’s LXTC, and then looked pretty damn good playing in the Colorado Collegiate Box Lacrosse League too. While others who selected field-only Americans have to hope they transition indoors, the Swarm got two that are good to go.
Top 5 Pick: #3
The Swarm sit #3 in our Top 5 after filling up in the first round, and then also making some savvy selections later on too.
Halifax Thunderbirds
Picks (6): Mike Robinson (2/28), Caelan Mander (2/36), Andrew Vradenburg (3/48), Beau Pederson (4/63), Briley Maxwell (5/77), Camden Smith (6/92)
In: 2025 1st round pick from New York
Out: 10th overall pick to New York
With just over 30 Junior A GPs and half a season of MSL to his name, some were uncertain about Robinson’s draft stock. Halifax wasn’t. Averaging nearly a hatty per game at Delaware (still has one more year at the school), and showing flashes of legit pro potential with the Junior & Senior Peterborough Lakers, the Thunderbirds obviously feel like Robinson has not come close to hitting his box-specific ceiling. Is Pederson the team’s next Ryan Terefenko? Maybe. They got a couple hard-working, reliable defenders in Mander & Vradenburg too, both players impressing at recent Mintos.
Adam Poitras, Las Vegas Desert Dogs (Photo: David Pickering)
Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Picks (8): Adam Poitras (1/2), Luke Pilcher (2/24), Mustang Sally (3/42), Luke Robinson (3/51), Joey Szabo (4/57), Tyler Carpenter (5/70), Kenny Brower (6/86), Nick Murphy (6/97)
In: 2023 97th overall pick from Buffalo
Out: 2027 6th round pick to Buffalo
If you’re talking all-around game, you could argue Poitras as this year’s #1 no doubt. Vegas will get him for the 2024-25 season, the 2022 Minto Cup winner/hero finishing up at Loyola this year. You’d have to think Pilcher will challenge for an opening-day spot, but after that, we’ll have to wait and see. Sally is one of a growing number of Americans that has spent time playing in the National Collegiate Box Series (USBOXLA’s response to Junior lacrosse south of the border) and looked impressive competing in Colorado’s college-aged league.
New York Riptide
Picks (7): Callum Jones (1/3), Jake Stevens (1/10), Reed Kurtz (2/33), Gavin Adler (4/54), Mason Woodward (4/56), Robert Morgan (5/71), Coby Auslander (5/73)
In: 2023 10th overall pick from Halifax, 2023 73rd overall pick from Georgia
Out: 2025 1st round pick to Halifax, 2025 5th round pick to Georgia
Stop of us if you’ve heard this one before, but the Riptide’s offseason improvements could get them in the playoffs for the first time. The social media chants aren’t as loud as last year after the team stumbled to a five-win season, but they’ve made some solid moves, including adding Jones in the draft. Both Jones and last year’s first rounder, Zack Deaken, will be Riptide rookies this winter and should give their defense (no NLL East Conference team gave up more goals than New York did in 2022) an immediate boost. They’ll eventually get a similar defensive (plus two-way) spike from Stevens, who still has a year at Princeton to go.
Bob Hamley, Tracey Kelusky and Steve Toll (Photo: David Pickering)
Panther City Lacrosse Club
Picks (7): Ryan Sheridan (1/5), Justin Sykes (2/21), Elijah Gash (3/46), Michael Sisselberger (3/52), Colin Sharkey (4/61), Justin Morgan (6/85), Tim Manning (6//90)
In: 2023 52nd overall pick from Rochester, 2023 85th overall pick from Philadelphia
Out: 2026 3rd round pick to Rochester, 2024 6th round pick to Philadelphia
Sheridan is a dynamic offensive force that is for sure a future Top 5 forward on the PCLC roster (or most others) in the very near future. That’s a lockdown statement all day. Sykes too obviously has the potential to be an everyday player for Panther City. Their most intriguing and upside-forward pick is likely Gash though. Gash was drafted last year by Georgia, but that pick was later voided due to the player’s collegiate eligibility. Over the past year, two non NLLers have produced a ton of google search traffic for The Lax Mag. One is Paul Rabil after we addressed in-depth the NLL vs. PLL debate. The other? Gash, who on Great Danes’ game days stood out so much, field fans were flocking to a box-specific site for more details on the dynamite defender, who seemingly has all the tools to transition to the indoor version of the sport.
Philadelphia Wings
Picks (8): Mitchell Armstrong (2/22), Dalton Young (3/45), Stone Jacobs (4/59), Noah Millsap (4/60), Brandon Hund (5/74), Russell Maher (5/75), Jackson Ganton (6/89), Hayden Fox (6/91)
In: 2023 22nd overall pick from Vancouver, 2024 2nd round pick from Vancouver, 2024 6th round pick from Panther City
Out: 2023 18th overall pick to Vancouver, 2023 85th overall pick to Panther City
As we reviewed a week earlier, the Wings have not had the best luck at the draft since returning to the league, nor do they retain many players that do end up becoming pros. While they tied for the most picks on the day, all of those selections are all pretty clear question marks right now. What was most impressive was the trade the Wings made, flipping nearly the same pick position (they went from 18 to 22 and likely still got who they wanted anyways), plus getting an additional 2024 second-round selection from Vancouver in the same swap.
Ben MacDonnell, Rochester Knighthawks (Photo: David Pickering)
Rochester Knighthawks
Picks (5): Graydon Hogg (1/15), Ben MacDonnell (1/16), Jake Doolittle (2/30), Jacob Piseno (2/35), Jack Boyden (3/47)
In: 2023 15th overall pick from Buffalo, Kyle Waters from Calgary, 2023 16th overall pick from Calgary, 2023 35th overall pick from Calgary, 2026 3rd round pick from Panther City
Out: 2024 1st round pick to Buffalo, Thomas Hoggarth to Calgary, Thomas Vela to Calgary, 2023 52nd overall pick to Panther City
The Knighthawks went from having the least to do on draft day to being maybe the most active after making moves with Buffalo, Calgary and Panther City, most of which landed them selections on Saturday. Hogg was obviously high on the Knighthawks’ want list, and switching next year’s first with Buffalo was a pretty even deal to make getting him happen. Losing a 30-goal getter in Hoggarth hurts obviously, especially after the gains the group made last year, but Rochester’s prospect cupboards are now most definitely more plentiful than they were a week earlier.
San Diego Seals
Picks (8): Matthew Wright (1/13), Ben Stewart (2/23), Noah Armitage (2/27), Matthew Abbott (3/44), Xander Dickson (4/62), Marcus Hudgins (5/76), JJ Sillstrop (5/80), Oscar Hertz (6/95)
Their first four picks are all quality additions that you would think are future full-time players in this league, even Abbot in the third round, who may end up being a steal at that spot. But with a roster as stacked as what San Diego has, and no farm or feeder system in place, finding places for high-end prospects like Wright, Stewart and others becomes a bit of a juggling act. Former first-round pick Jacob Dunbar (recent WLA ROTY) has played just five games over two years for the Seals, but could easily play a full season for many in the NLL today. For a lineup as loaded as the Seals, their coming-soon talent is certainly strong.
Top 5 Pick: #5
Top teams don’t often have big drafts due to where they typically find themselves in the order based on their previous season’s finish. Thanks to some timely trades, the Seals, who owned a league co-leading 14-4 record during the regular season last year, still had a very strong draft this past Saturday.
Thomas Kiazyk, Saskatchewan Rush (Photo: Sam Hossack, Ontario Lacrosse Association)
Saskatchewan Rush
Picks (7): Levi Anderson (1/12), Thomas Kiazyk (2/20), Jake Bowen (2/25), Joshua Zawada (2/29), Chris Bukta (4/58), Sam Marshall (5/72), Scott Reed (6/87)
The Rush went heavy on RMLL talent, and in 2023, that’s probably a good route to go based on the individual & team success we’ve seen from many through the Alberta loops. Anderson saw his stock sore after a solid summer of Senior B ball, and although more mainstream viewers only saw Kiazyk playing backup to Deacon Knott at the Minto this year, his netminding in Nepean already had him on most team’s radar. As usual, a solid draft for the Rush.
Toronto Rock
Picks (5): Zack Kearney (3/39), Chase Schiavon (3/50), John Wheller (4/65), Brett Handsor (5/79), Luke Dawick (6/94)
We mentioned the Rock’s willingness to part with picks for proven players in our pre-draft team analysis, which is why they selected later than any other club on Saturday. Another Toronto trend popped up during this year’s draft too: picking players they already know really well. Kearney & Handsor both played for the Senior B Oakville Rock, who are owned & managed by Rock Owner, President and GM, Jamie Dawick. The team’s NLL Rock bench boss, Matt Sawyer, also coached the B’s this summer. Toronto Assistant Coach Rusty Kruger, who coaches the Orangeville Northmen, saw plenty of Schiavon. And obviously Dawick knows Dawick, who played for the TRAC-based Oakville Buzz. A few days after the draft, the team’s acquisition of Chris Boushy, which cost them - you guessed it - a first round pick, was considered a win by most (The Lax Mag’s IG story poll sided with the Rock, who took 75% of our follower’s vote).
Curt Malawsky & Brock Haley, Vancouver Warriors (Photo: Reuben Polansky)
Vancouver Warriors
Picks (7): Payton Cormier (1/4), Brock Haley (1/7), Brayden Laity (1/9), Connor O’Toole (1/18), Alec Stathakis (3/40), Sam Handley (4/55), Drew Andre (6/84)
In: 2023 18th overall pick from Philadelphia,
Out: 2023 22nd overall pick to Philadelphia, 2024 2nd round pick to Philadelphia
When you draft four times in the first round, it’s hard not to have a good day. With three picks inside the Top 10, and then adding another later in the first via trade, the Warriors have to be happy with their 2023 draft-day haul. Likely only Laity will impact the team this winter, with Cormier & Haley going back to class and O’Toole still needing some seasoning before becoming an option between the pipes. With Owen Grant incoming and Laity a likely roster addition, it was interesting to see the team release Owen Barker earlier this week, a regular defender under both Chris Gill & Troy Cordingley. Going through the NLL’s photos from Saturday at the TRAC, not sure the last time Head Coach Curt Malawsky has smiled so much. Actually, it was probably Saturday, May 25, 2019. How long until he’s grinning that significantly again?
Top 5 Pick: #2
We’ve got Vancouver just behind Albany when it comes to Saturday’s most successful scores, the tie breaker being that the FireWolves got the best player on the day. Vancouver likely took the top player they felt was available at each pick, but from those four first rounders alone, they improved up front, in their own end, and between the pipes.