PLL Fan's Guide to picking an NLL Team, 2025-26 edition

The indoor season is nearly here. While a contentious negotiation for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement looked like it might result in some cancelled games, reports now indicate that camp will be underway in November and the season is expected to start on time. 

I still consider myself a newbie to the indoor game. I have progressively watched more and more over the last few years, and I’ve grown to really enjoy box lacrosse. Last season I ramped it up and made a trip to Buffalo, and wrote about it for USA Lacrosse Magazine. This season I hope to return, or at least make a trip to another arena I’ve never visited before. The closest team to where I live in Connecticut is now the Philadelphia Wings, so if I’m going to have to travel, let’s make it a worthwhile trip.

If you’re a field lacrosse fan, but aren’t yet a box lacrosse fan and feel like you want to give it a shot, this is for you. The overlap of players who compete both in the PLL and NLL is quite large. At a minimum, you can get into a who holds whose rights conversation and all that. To be as thorough as possible, I have listed everyone who is on a roster in both leagues, along with their relevant roster designation (shout out to Ty Merrow and tymerlax.com for the outstanding NLL roster work). 

What do these mean? Simple:

PLL Holdout List - A player who fails to report to his club, has not been medically cleared, or fails to submit paperwork will be placed on the holdout list. In layman terms, players who have, at least for now, decided against playing PLL lacrosse. 

PLL PUP List - Player is physically unable to perform due to an injury that occurred outside of a PLL game.

PLL Injured Reserve - Unable to play due to a lacrosse related injury that occurred during the season in the course of PLL play. 

NLL Draft List - A player who was drafted, but never signed their pro contract. Players can stay on this list for two years, measured from the end of their NCAA eligibility or draft date, whichever one was later. If a player on the Draft list doesn’t sign after those two years, they become a free agent.

NLL Holdout List - Essentially the same as the PLL Holdout List. 

NLL PUP List - Just like PLL, a player who was hurt but not in the course of NLL play. 

NLL Injured List - Just like PLL, a player who was hurt in the course of NLL play. 

Practice Player - The NLL allows teams to sign up to four players for practice only. They can be elevated to the gameday roster in the event of scratches, injuries, etc.

Any of those designations means that, if there were a game in that league today, that player almost certainly isn’t playing. For example, don’t expect to see Latrell Harris on a PLL field any time soon, but you can watch him play for the Rock. Another note, the way I maintain rosters is I shift players when moves are officially announced by the PLL. So when a player on a team hits Holdout or any other list, I note that, but I don’t drop the player unless the team officially announces they have released him. As a result, there are some players rostered here that are almost funny at this point. Curtis Dickson hasn’t played in the PLL since 2020, but that’s when he hit Holdout and there was never an announcement of his release, so in my records he’s still on the Chaos. 

In the case of the NLL, free agency is ongoing, and barring a complete collapse and 11th hour breakdown of CBA talks, training camp will be starting in November. Rosters will take a more clear shape. So a lot of these designations will go away, particularly Draft List as the rookies get ready to make their debuts. 

Here are the overlapping players, sorted by PLL roster so you know how to watch your favorite outdoor players take it inside. 

UTAH ARCHERS

Brett Dobson - Georgia Swarm

Mitchell Dunham - Rochester Knighthawks (NLL Draft List)

Connor Fields - Rochester Knighthawks

Latrell Harris - Toronto Rock (PLL Holdout List)

Graeme Hossack - Halifax Thunderbirds

Warren Jeffrey - Colorado Mammoth

Tre Leclaire - San Diego Seals

Jake Naso - Saskatchewan Rush

Mac O’Keefe - San Diego Seals (NLL Restricted Free Agent)

Challen Rogers - Toronto Rock (PLL IR)

Tom Schreiber - Toronto Rock (NLL and PLL IR)

Patrick Shoemay - San Diego Seals (PLL Holdout List, NLL PUP List)

Mike Sisselberger - Rochester Knighthawks (PLL IR)

Dyson Williams - Oshawa Firewolves

Mason Woodward - Ottawa Black Bears (NLL Holdout List)

Cam Wyers - Buffalo Bandits

That’s a lot of indoor talent, and pretty well spread out too. There used to be a much heavier Toronto Rock connection, but Latrell Harris and Challen Rogers haven’t played PLL lacrosse in a long time, leaving just Schreiber. Captain America, unfortunately, is a safe bet to miss some time following a knee surgery for an injury at the end of the PLL season. The Knighthawks also have three players on the Archers after they added Mike Sisselberger last year and drafted Mitchell Dunham. The third is of course the reigning NLL MVP Connor Fields. Fields is every bit the wizard indoors as he is outdoors, putting up a rare combination of gaudy point and loose ball totals. Archers fan looking for a fun intro to the NLL should catch a Knighthawks game or two and enjoy the Fields show. The rest of the offense is stacked as well. 

NEW YORK ATLAS

Gavin Adler - Ottawa Black Bears (NLL Draft List)

Trevor Baptiste - San Diego Seals

Reid Bowering - Vancouver Warriors

Tyler Carpenter - Las Vegas Desert Dogs (Practice Player)

Christopher Davis - Colorado Mammoth (NLL Draft List)

Michael Grace - Georgia Swarm (NLL Draft List)

Kyle Jackson - Oshawa Firewolves

Hugh Kelleher - Toronto Rock (NLL Draft List)

Danny Logan - San Diego Seals

Brett Makar - Toronto Rock (NLL Draft List)

Connor Shellenberger - Toronto Rock (NLL Draft List)

Koby Smith - Philadelphia Wings (NLL Holdout)

Jake Stevens - Ottawa Black Bears

Jeff Teat - Ottawa Black Bears

Holy Draft List. There are 14 Atlas players in the NLL, and almost half of them are on the Draft List. That will assuredly change before the season. In some cases, the two year period will expire and they’ll be released. Gavin Adler, Brett Makar, and Connor Shellenberger have yet to play indoors. Mike Grace would be a fun watch in Georgia. For Atlas fans, it might be time to get bi-coastal. Trevor Baptiste and Danny Logan are, as you’d expect, two of the very best at what they do indoors as well. The Seals are a team that loves to make splashes with roster moves, bring in star power, and are always a fun squad to watch. Stay up late and catch a Seals game or two to watch your All World stars. 

BOSTON CANNONS

Owen Grant - Vancouver Warriors

Graydon Hogg - Rochester Knighthawks

Mic Kelly - Vancouver Warriors (NLL Draft List)

Connor Kirst - Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Coulter Mackesy - San Diego Seals (NLL Draft List)

Asher Nolting - Colorado Mammoth (NLL Holdout)

Ben Ramsey - San Diego Seals (NLL Draft List)

Mike Robinson - Halifax Thunderbirds (PLL Holdout List)

Lyle Thompson - Georgia Swarm (PLL Holdout List)

The Cannons indoor presence is really pretty small. Robinson and Thompon’s outdoor days are almost certainly numbered but technically Boston owns their rights. If you enjoy watching Owen Grant dominate the middle of the field outdoors, then you’ll want to catch some Warrior games. Grant, despite the fact that his career is only just getting started, is already one of the best defenders and transition threats in the NLL. Connor Kirst does it all in Vegas, including taking some faceoffs and is another possible fit for Cannons fans. Former Cannon Jon Donville is another bright young star of the indoor game.

CALIFORNIA REDWOODS

Wes Berg - San Diego Seals (PLL PUP List)

Jared Conners - Rochester Knighthawks (NLL Draft List)

Sam English - Toronto Rock (PLL IR, NLL Draft List)

Sam Handley - Vancouver Warriors (NLL Draft List)

TD Ierlan - Toronto Rock (NLL IR)

Cole Kastner - Vancouver Warriors (NLL Draft List)

Chris Kavanagh - San Diego Seals (NLL Draft List)

Cole Kirst - Halifax Thunderbirds

Ryan Lee - Colorado Mammoth (PLL PUP List)

Andrew McAdorey - Saskatchewan Rush (NLL Draft List)

Clarke Petterson - Halifax Thunderbirds (PLL Holdout List)

Ryland Rees - Rochester Knighthawks (NLL IR)

Alex Simmons - Oshawa Firewolves (PLL Holdout List)

Marquez White - San Diego Seals (NLL Draft List)

Some of these Draft List names may become free agents soon. Jared Conners, Sam Handley, Cole Kastner, none of them have played indoor yet. A fun pick for the Woods fan is Toronto. TD Ierlan is, as you’d expect, an elite faceoff man indoors. One of your top draft picks last year, Sam English, is a major part of the youth movement in Toronto, joining other recent high draft picks like CJ Kirst and Owen Hiltz. It’s a fun time to get on the Toronto bandwagon. Otherwise, consider staying in the state of California and pulling for the Seals. Wes Berg is a bucket, and don’t be surprised if Chris Kavanagh makes his way to the floor this winter, potentially alongside his brother Pat. 

CAROLINA CHAOS

Josh Byrne - Buffalo Bandits (PLL Holdout List)

Adam Charalambides - Vancouver Warriors

Chris Cloutier - Buffalo Bandits (PLL Holdout List)

Curtis Dickson - Calgary Roughnecks (PLL Holdout List)

Owen Hiltz - Toronto Rock (NLL Draft List)

Justin Inacio - Calgary Roughnecks

Shane Knobloch - Philadelphia Wings (NLL Draft List)

Ian MacKay - Buffalo Bandits (PLL Holdout List)

Blaze Riorden - Philadelphia Wings

Nick Rowlett - Philadelphia Wings

Dhane Smith - Buffalo Bandits (PLL Holdout List)

Ryan Smith - Rochester Knighthawks (PLL Holdout List)

Levi Verch - Saskatchewan Rush (NLL Draft List)

Josh Zawada - Saskatchewan Rush (Practice Player)

Most of these names might be gone, but the Chaos/Bandits connection remains strong. If you’re a Carolina fan yearning for days of old, enjoy watching Dhane Smith, Josh Byrne, Ian MacKay, and Chris Cloutier take the floor in Buffalo. It’s the best fanbase in lacrosse, the games are electric, and the team is looking for it’s fourth straight title. Don’t worry about being called a front runner, just have a good time. If you do want to avoid the fairweather fan accusations, Ryan Smith is a goal machine in Rochester, and Adam Charalambides is part of a young and exciting team in Vancouver. Or you can join your rookie sensation Owen Hiltz and the youth movement in Toronto. 

DENVER OUTLAWS

Jonathan Donville - Las Vegas Desert Dogs

JT Giles-Harris - Ottawa Black Bears (NLL Holdout)

Pat Kavanagh - San Diego Seals

Mike Manley - Georgia Swarm

Mike Messenger - Saskatchewan Rush (PLL Holdout List)

Brennan O’Neill - Philadelphia Wings

Jake Piseno - Rochester Knighthawks

Ryan Terefenko - Halifax Thunderbirds

Jack VanOverbeke - Las Vegas Desert Dogs (NLL Holdout)

Dalton Young - Philadelphia Wings (Practice Player)

Outlaws fans, you’ve got a lot of choices. The Outlaws have a good amount of indoor overlap, and with active players. Funny enough, there are no Colorado Mammoth players on the Outlaws, so the geographic connection is out. There are however still plenty of good choices. Philadelphia is obvious; Brennan O’Neill was on the All Rookie team and a contender for Rookie of the Year, scoring some of the most ridiculous goals of the year indoors. His dominance outdoors very much translates to indoors. Jake Piseno just was one of the Haudenosaunee’s leading scorers at the Super Sixes event in Canada, which tells you a lot about his prowess with a shorty. Piseno is still getting his feet wet in the NLL game; he was in and out of the Rochester lineup last winter, but he has all the tools to be an impact transition player. Finally, the Seals. Pat Kavanagh seems more than eager to bring his game indoors. He didn’t crack the Seals lineup last winter, but he might this season. 

PHILADELPHIA WATERDOGS

Liam Byrnes - Georgia Swarm (PLL PUP List)

Zach Currier - San Diego Seals

Jimmy Freehill - Buffalo Bandits (NLL Draft List)

Eli Gobrecht - San Diego Seals

Jack Hannah - Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Dylan Hess - Colorado Mammoth (NLL Draft List)

Connor Kelly - Colorado Mammoth

CJ Kirst - Toronto Rock (NLL Draft List)

Charlie Kitchen - Oshawa Firewolves (PLL PUP List)

Thomas McConvey - Rochester Knighthawks

Tyler Pace - San Diego Seals (PLL Holdout List)

Michael Sowers - Philadelphia Wings (NLL IR)

Alec Stathakis - Vancouver Warriors

Jake Taylor - Georgia Swarm (NLL Draft List)

Ethan Walker - Oshawa Firewolves (PLL Holdout List)

Dillon Ward - Colorado Mammoth

Zed Williams - Rochester Knighthawks (PLL PUP List, NLL IR)

Jake Withers - Halifax Thunderbirds (PLL Holdout List)

The first and obvious place to go for Philly fans is the Wings. Michael Sowers made his indoor debut last winter, if he plays again, he’s a fun player to watch indoors. He has the shake in tight quarters too, and the lacrosse Iverson moniker actually looks much more appropriate when he’s on the NLL floor given the space, playstyle, and numbers. The next most obvious place is Toronto. CJ Kirst was the first overall pick in the draft in the PLL and NLL. There isn’t a faster rising star in the sport. As already noted with some other squads, Toronto is in a bit of rebuild mode, they’re getting younger. They had the first three picks in the last NLL draft. It’s a fun time to jump aboard that train. Finally, Jack Hannah scores some of the most ridiculous indoor goals you’ll see this season. Even if you decide you aren’t a Desert Dogs fan, you should watch a few games and enjoy the Hannah show. 

MARYLAND WHIPSNAKES

Levi Anderson - Saskatchewan Rush

James Barclay - Las Vegas Desert Dogs (PLL Holdout List)

Matt Brandau - Colorado Mammoth (NLL Draft List)

Tucker Dordevic - Toronto Rock (PLL IR, NLL Draft List)

Joe Nardella - Oshawa Firewolves

Matt Paolatto - Colorado Mammoth (NLL Draft List)

Adam Poitras - Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Matt Rambo - Philadelphia Wings (NLL Holdout)

Ajax Zappitello - Halifax Thunderbirds (NLL Draft List)

Realistically you can only expect three of these players to be on the floor this winter. Levi Anderson for Saskatchewan, Joe Nardella in Oshawa, and Adam Poitras in Las Vegas. Nardella was the league’s best faceoff specialist a year ago, and it’ll be familiar for Whips fans to watch him win a draw and push forward to be involved on the offensive end. Adam Poitras is part of that exciting young core in Vegas; he was their 4th leading scorer as a rookie last year. The Rush were in the NLL Finals a year ago and took the Bandits to three games. Anderson could see a larger role on the team this winter, depending on what the rest of the offense looks like. All three of those teams are a fun watch, although if you have particularly photosensitive eyes, that Saskatchewan Rush turf can be a lot to see on a big screen. It’s as green as green gets.