2025 NLL Player Rankings: Rookie of the Year
While The Lax Mag’s National Lacrosse League Player Rankings typically orders the league’s Top 30 players from #1 to #30 since soon after the league’s opening weekend and right up to the end of the regular season, now that we’re in playoff mode, we’re shifting focus to our NLL year-end awards.
Specifically, who our rankings system (more on that here) says should win all of the NLL’s most important end-of-season honours (our award-winning history here).
Dyson Williams and Adam Poitras, 2023 NLL Entry Draft (Photo: David Pickering)
Rookie of the Year
Before we get into our Top 5 picks for this year’s best rookies, including our pick for ROTY, we looked at every NLL roster to determine who relied on rookies most in 2025.
For the second straight season, the Albany FireWolves utilized an above average amount of rookies on their game-day roster. While the Las Vegas Desert Dogs had the most rookies appear for them this year (8), the FireWolves easily led the league in rookie games played (82).
Like last year, Albany leaned on key rookie contributors for a lot of heavy lifting. In 2024, (eventual ROTY) Alex Simmons and Tye Kurtz (eventual ROTY finalist) both played a full 18-game season for the squad, while first-year defenders Zachary Young and Nicholas Volkov got into 16 and 13 games respectively. This year Dyson Williams, Will Johansen and Zac Masson all played 18 times for the FireWolves, in most games playing pretty pivotal roles.
Alex Simmons, 2024 NLL Rookie of the Year
Below, see how many rookies, by both total players and combined games played, impacted each team’s season (plus, how much those totals went up or down from a season ago). Note: Ranked by combined rookie games played.
Albany FireWolves
Total Rookies: 7 (+2)
Rookie Games Played: 82 (+14)
Rookies: Dyson Williams, Will Johansen, Zac Masson, Carson Moyer, Jonathan Peshko, Adrew Kidd, Jackson Raposo
Vancouver Warriors
Total Rookies: 5 (-)
Rookie Games Played: 60 (+5)
Rookies: Jonathan Peshko, Payton Cormier, Alex Stathakis, Remo Schenato, Connor O’Toole
Brock Haley, Saskatchewan Rush (Photo: Jonathan Tenca)
Saskatchewan Rush
Total Rookies: 5 (+2)
Rookie Games Played: 52 (+16)
Rookies: Brock Haley, Levi Anderson, Josh Zawada, Matt Acchione, Jake Naso
Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Total Rookies: 8 (+1)
Rookie Games Played: 50 (-20)
Rookies: Adam Poitras, Jackson Webster, Nick Preston, Luke Pilcher, Tyler Carpenter, Tommy Burke, Justin Sykes, Max Wayne
Colorado Mammoth
Total Rookies: 5 (+1)
Rookie Games Played: 50 (+24)
Rookies: Owen Rahn, Conner Cook, Brandon Humphrey, Ethan Robertson, Nathan Whittom
Brayden Mayea, Calgary Roughnecks
Calgary Roughnecks
Total Rookies: 6 (+4)
Rookies Games Played: 45 (+28)
Rookies: Brayden Mayea, Jack Follows, Riley Isaacs, Colby Bowman, Caelan Mander, Austin Ducommun
Halifax Thunderbirds
Total Rookies: 6 (+5)
Rookie Games Played: 44 (+21)
Rookies: Mike Robinson, Cole Kirst, Curtis Romanchych, Christian Watts, Coady Adamson, Austin Blumbergs
San Diego Seals
Total Rookies: 8 (+5)
Rookie Games Played: 39 (+33)
Rookies: Trent DiCicco, Adam Noakes, Pat Kavanagh, Matt Wright, Jacob Power, James Reilly, Justin Sykes, Robbie Turpin
Trent DiCicco, San Diego Seals (Photo: Caroline Sherman)
Ottawa Black Bears
Total Rookies: 3 (-4)
Rookie Games Played: 39 (-19)
Rookies: Jake Stevens, Reed Kurtz, Dustyn Birkhof
Philadelphia Wings
Total Rookies: 5 (-3)
Rookie Games Played: 34 (-35)
Rookies: Brennan O’Neill, Dalton Young, Michael Sowers, Steve DelleMonache, Nathan Fehr
Georgia Swarm
Total Rookies: 5 (+3)
Rookie Games Played: 33 (+25)
Rooke Games Played: Toron Eccleston, Kaleb Benedict, Richie Connell, Jacob Hickey, Liam McGrath
Kaleb Benedict, Georgia Swarm (Photo: Victoria Adkins)
Rochester Knighthawks
Total Rookies: 3 (-2)
Rookie Games Played: 33 (-4)
Rookies: Graydon Hogg, Jake Piseno, Mike Sisselberger
Toronto Rock
Total Rookies: 3 (-1)
Rookie Games Played: 20 (-15)
Rookies: Brian Cameron, Jake Darlison, Luke Robinson
Buffalo Bandits
Total Rookies: 3 (-1)
Rookie Games Played: 17 (-18)
Rookies: Clay Scanlan, Lukas Nielsen, Taylor Dooley
Clay Scanlan, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Christian Bender)
With one less team in the league this year (so, fewer roster spots), more rookies appeared in games in 2025 (70) than they did a year earlier (68). In addition to the previously mentioned Williams, Johansen and Masson in Albany, Brennan O’Neill (Philadelphia), Mike Robinson (Halifax), Trent DiCicco (San Diego), Jake Stevens (Ottawa), Alec Stathakis (Vancouver) and Andrew Kidd (Albany, backup goalie) got into a full 18-game season. The average GP for a rookie in 2025 was nine games.
Who were this year’s Top 5 rookies from that pool of 70 based on The Lax Mag’s NLL Player Rankings rules?
Top 5 Rookies
Brennan O’Neill, Philadelphia Wings
5. Brennan O’Neill
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Team: Philadelphia Wings
Acquired: 2024 NLL Entry Draft (1st overall)
From: Bay Shore, NY
After his first seven games of the seven, O’Neill was the odds-on favourite to win this year’s ROTY – a statistically stunning stretch that included both a four-goal effort and an eight-point game too. With three short-handed goals over those first seven starts, many wondered if he’d soon be setting a new single-season record for shorties. O’Neill would see his 4.14 points-per-game average drop to 2.54 the rest of the way. His SHG count closed at three too. Coincidently, the Wings went from a fantastic 5-2 record with O’Neill excelling, to a 2-9 run and bounced from playoff qualification. In his defense, O’Neill was far from the only Philly forward that struggled from February to April. He may garner some ROTY votes based on name recognition and his season-starting rep, but O’Neill’s full rookie resume is All-Rookie Team at best.
Mike Robinson, Halifax Thunderbirds (Photo: Trevor MacMillan)
4. Mike Robinson
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Team: Halifax Thunderbirds
Acquired: 2023 NLL Entry Draft (28th overall)
From: Peterborough, ON
While Brennan O’Neill (25G, 32A) finished a few points (22G, 32A) ahead of Mike Robinson in the rookie scoring chase, the reason why Halifax’s rugged rook ranks a spot higher here is due to the extra defensive data he dropped during his first year in the league. Robinson’s off-ball and up-front defensive effort saw him almost double O’Neill’s loosie count (96 vs. 47) in addition to adding four forced turnovers too (O’Neill had one all year). Robinson is no doubt a future 30/60/90 Club member, showcasing a versatile offensive skillset that was maybe only bettered by one other rookie this year (see #2 below). Halifax teammate Clarke Petterson called him the steal of the 2023 NLL Entry Draft, Robinson going just 28th overall. Fuckin’ right.
Dyson Williams, Albany FireWolves (Photo: Jonathan Tenca)
3. Dyson Williams
Age: 25
Position: Forward
Team: Albany FireWolves
Acquired: 2023 NLL Entry Draft (1st overall)
From: Oshawa, ON
While Dyson Williams ended this year tops in goals (26), assists (38) and points (64) among rookies, statistically speaking, his first-year totals ranked a lot lower than what we’ve seen from past ROTYs or even All-Rookie Team members playing in a full-time forward role (his year-end points/game has him tied for just 64th all time). With that said, Williams had a strong first season for a FireWolves team that struggled over the first 14 weeks of their season (part of that due to various injuries), playing a pivotal role in a number of big wins (like his OT winner over Buffalo). While we have him ranked third here, there is a good chance Williams still wins this year’s ROTY based solely on the fact that he led rookies in points. Since 1991, the first season the league started awarding a ROTY, a rookie that led the league in goals, assists or both has been voted top rook in all but four seasons.
Adam Poitras, Las Vegas Desert Dogs (Photo: Greg Mason)
2. Adam Poitras
Age: 23
Position: Forward/Transition
Team: Las Vegas Desert Dogs
Acquired: 2023 NLL Entry Draft (2nd overall)
From: Whitby, ON
There was not a more complete rookie this year than Adam Poitras. Below are the top-producing rookies in goals, assists, points, shooting percentage (at least 50 shots), loose balls, caused turnovers and blocks. We’ll stop each category count once we hit Poitras, and remember, 70 rookies played this year (and Adam missed a GP).
Goals
Dyson Williams 26
Brennan O’Neill 25
Adam Poitras 23
Assists
Dyson Williams 38
Brennan O’Neill 32
Mike Robinson 32
Brock Haley 27
Adam Poitras 24
Points
Dyson Williams 64
Brennan O’Neill 57
Mike Robinson 54
Adam Poitras 47
Shooting %
Jackson Webster (16/56) 28.6%
Adam Poitras (23/83) 27.7%
Loose Balls
Will Johansen 146
Alec Stathakis 137
Mike Robinson 96
Trent DiCicco 95
Adam Poitras 89
Caused Turnovers
Adam Poitras 17
Blocks
Will Johansen 7
Zac Masson 6
Jake Stevens 6
Jack Follows 5
Jacob Hickey 5
Curtis Romanchych 5
Remo Schenato 4
Adam Poitras 4
End of why-he’s-second story.
Will Johansen, Albany FireWolves (Photo: Geovanna Soler)
1. Will Johansen
Age: 26
Position: Defense
Team: Albany FireWolves
Acquired: 2022 NLL Entry Draft (7th overall)
From: Victoria, BC
No rookie ranked as high statistically or played as important a role in their first year in the league than Will Johansen. The Albany first-year defender had the seventh highest loose ball total amongst non-full-time faceoff takers in the NLL this year, rookies or otherwise. In fact, Johansen’s 152 LB are the eighth highest rookie total in NLL history. While the FireWolves dealt with a number of significant injuries in their own end, it was often Johansen that stepped up to fill their void. Johansen was as impactful as a shut-down defender (regularly covering high-end talent) as he was pushing the pace on Albany’s athletic offensive press (6G, 6A). He also showcased some elite-level ball ragging ability (a skill that often goes unnoticed in today’s game) when the FireWolves were short or trying to cook the clock.
While he had way above average D data, Johansen has two major things going against him when it comes to being voted ROTY: province and position.
There have been 32 ROTYs prior to this season. A defenseman has been voted ROTY just three times (’04 Taylor Wray, ’06 Brodie Merrill and ’18 Jake Withers). It’s been a decade since a player from British Columbia (Johansen is from Victoria, BC) has been vote the league’s ROTY. After over three decades of the award existing, only seven ROTY winners are from BC. Johansen, who was noted voted the NLL’s Rookie of the Week even once this year (the FireWolves voted him their top rookie though, plus their co-workhorse of the year alongside Mike Byrne), is most definitely deserving of the honour, but seems unlikely to win it based on the simplistic voting approach this award has always had. Hopefully not, but history is not on Johansen’s side.