John Tavares, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Dave Fryer)

With the National Lacrosse League recently releasing the pause button on their Hall of Fame after not having inducted a single soul since 2021, The Lax Mag felt inspired to formulate our first-ever NLL All-Time Top 50 list, highlighting the absolute best talent in the league from Year 1 in 1987 to the very last game of the 2025-26 season that saw the Toronto Rock win their seventh title in franchise history.

How did we do it?

Firstly, we had to determine who would qualify for consideration.

We recently asked our Instagram followers if current Ottawa Black Bears phenom forward Jeff Teat should make our 50.

Jeff Teat, Ottawa Black Bears (Photo: Caroline Sherman)

While Teat has only played five seasons in the league, in each of those he’s been voted to the league’s All-NLL Team (PKA All-Pro Team) and after some extensive statistical analysis (made possible by Graeme Perrow’s deep database at NLLStats.com), we were also able to confirm that Teat owns the highest points-per-game average of any NLLer past or present. To counter those assertions: yes, it’s a pretty small sample size…yes, he’s yet to be voted NLL MVP…and yes, he’s hasn’t played in a single playoff game.

So how do we compare Teat’s impressive still-running resume to that of a player that is retired and played, well, in John Tavares’ case, over two decades in the league?

Retired vs. Active Player Analysis

We could have had a games played cut off, but that would likely exclude many early pros that competed in the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League and Major Indoor Lacrosse League (which is now known as today’s NLL, and no, we didn’t include any other past pro box leagues) when seasons were often very short and players weren’t making much more than gas money, so could not commit to a longer career like players do today.

John Tavares and Dhane Smith, 2026 NLL Awards Ceremony (Photo: Graig Abel)

Instead, what we did for Teat and other active players who have strong career stat lines, have a hefty hardware haul, and maybe some records already on their resume, was ask ourselves, “If they were to retire right now, would they make our countdown?”

In Teat’s case, if his career ended this very second, would he make our list, would he be inducted into the NLL’s Hall of Fame, would he go down as one of the best to ever play in the big leagues? Well, no, he probably wouldn’t, not yet at least.

Career + Per-Game Statistical Comparisons

While GPs didn’t really factor into our analysis, stats certainly did, both full career numbers (quantity), and maybe even more importantly, per-game data for players and per-minute statistics (various averages over 60 minutes or four full quarters) for goalies (quality). As we’ve mentioned many times on the site, as does NLLStats.com, the most accurate stats are available 2005 and onward, when the league started using the since-squashed PointStreak platform for their gameday data. Prior to 2005, sites like NLLStats.com do have single season and career stat lines for players, but with no actual game sheets, it does limit things a bit. Some of the league’s very early seasons, well, proper stats aren’t available at all, which we can’t do anything about obviously. In addition to utilizing Perrow’s popular site, we also dug deep inside various internet achieves to confirm other details, statistical or otherwise.

Other Areas of Analysis

Plus, we took into account how many championships a player has won, their role on those Cup-winning teams (including captaincy), their overall leadership no matter how good or bad their team was, how many regular season and playoff awards they received, the degree of difficulty during the era or even eras they were active (yes, we’re talking about JT, again), how well they excelled in their primary position of play but also elsewhere on the floor (Keegan Bell got big bonus points for his backup duty a few seasons ago), as well as their overall impact on the league.

After collecting and analyzing all of that info and including a bit of opinion based on following this league nearly from the start, below are The Lax Mag’s NLL All-Time Top 50 Players. Don’t agree? Follow us @TheLaxMag on Instagram and let us know who should be included and who needs to go.

Legend

NLL HOF: Year inducted
All-Pro Team: First and Second All-Pro/NLL Teams player was voted to
MVP: Most Valuable Player
GOTY: Goalie of the Year
DPOTY: Defensive Player of the Year
TPOTY: Transition Player of the Year
ROTY: Rookie of the Year
Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship Award
Teammate: Teammate of the Year
Cup MVP: Championship Game MVP
🏆 Number of NLL Cups player has won

Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Caroline Sherman)

50. Steve Priolo

Career: 2010-Today
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits
Position: Defense
From: St. Catharines, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 4
🏆🏆🏆

49. Pat McCready

Career: 1996-2012
Team(s): Charlotte Cobras, Rochester Knighthawks, Buffalo Bandits
Position: Defense
From: St. Catharines, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 1
DPOTY: 1
🏆🏆🏆

48. Jeff Shattler

Career: 2006-2022
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Saskatchewan Rush
Position: Transition/Forward
From: Edmonton, Alberta
All-Pro Team: 1
MVP: 1
TPOTY: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

47. Tom Carmean

Career: 1988-1999
Team(s): Boston Blazers, New York Saints, Rochester Knighthawks
Position: Forward
From: Ithaca, New York
All-Pro Team: 5

46. Mark Millon

Career: 1994-2002
Team(s): New York Saints, Baltimore Thunder, Syracuse Smash, Philadelphia Wings
Position: Forward
From: Huntington, New York
All-Pro Team: 4
🏆

Ryan Dilks, Vancouver Warriors (Photo: Christian Bender)

45. Ryan Dilks

Career: 2011-Today
Team(s): Boston Blazers, Edmonton Rush, Saskatchewan Rush, Vancouver Warriors
Position: Defense
From: Hamilton, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 4
DPOTY: 2
🏆🏆🏆

44. Mark Steenhuis

Career: 2002-2018
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits
Position: Transition/Forward
From: St. Catharines, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2026
All-Pro Team: 2
TPOTY: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆

43. Sal LoCascio

Career: 1990-2000
Team(s): New York Saints
Position: Goalie
From: Lindenhurst, New York
NLL HOF: 2008
All-Pro Team: 5

Jordan MacIntosh, Georgia Swarm (Photo: Jeff Crawford)

42. Jordan MacIntosh

Career: 2012-Today
Team(s): Minnesota Swarm, Georgia Swarm
Position: Transition/Forward
From: Oakville, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 3
TPOTY: 2
🏆

41. Jake Bergey

Career: 1998-2008
Team(s): Philadelphia Wings
Position: Forward
From: Covington, Kentucky
NLL HOF: 2026
All-Pro Team: 2
🏆🏆

40. Chris Gill

Career: 1996-2010
Team(s): Baltimore Thunder, Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, Vancouver Ravens, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush
Position: Forward
From: Coquitlam, British Columbia
All-Pro Team: 1
🏆🏆🏆

Curtis Manning, Rhys Duch and Tyson Bell (Photo: Candice Ward)

39. Rhys Duch

Career: 2009-2023
Team(s): San Jose Stealth, Washington Stealth, Vancouver Stealth, Calgary Roughnecks, Halifax Thunderbirds, Colorado Mammoth, Saskatchewan Rush
Position: Forward
From: Victoria, British Columbia
All-Pro Team: 3
ROTY: 1
🏆🏆

38. Rich Kilgour

Career: 1992-2009
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits
Position: Defense/Transition
From: Tuscarora Nation
NLL HOF: 2010
🏆🏆🏆

Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds (Photo: Trevor McMillan)

37. Graeme Hossack

Career: 2016-Today
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Halifax Thunderbirds
Position: Defense
From: Port Perry, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 6
DPOTY: 3

36. Lewis Ratcliff

Career: 2003-2015
Team(s): Calgary Roughnecks, Toronto Rock, Washington Stealth, Vancouver Stealth
Position: Forward
From: Victoria, British Columbia
All-Pro Team: 4
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

35. Dan Stroup

Career: 1995-2009
Team(s): Baltimore Thunder, Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, Vancouver Ravens, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Portland Lumberjax
Position: Forward
From: Burnaby, British Columbia
NLL HOF: 2010
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆🏆🏆

Kevin Finneran, NLL Hall of Fame (Photo: Christian Bender)

34. Kevin Finneran

Career: 1991-2003
Team(s): New England Blazers, Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Toronto Rock
Position: Forward
From: Long Island, New York
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 3
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

33. Gavin Prout

Career: 2002-2013
Team(s): New York Saints, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush
Position: Forward
From: Whitby, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2026
All-Pro Team: 5
Cup MVP: 1
🏆

Callum Crawford, Panther City Lacrosse Club (Photo: Jake Whiting)

32. Callum Crawford

Career: 2006-2025
Team(s): Calgary Roughnecks, San Jose Stealth, Chicago Shamrox, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, Colorado Mammoth, Buffalo Bandits, New England Black Wolves, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club, Philadelphia Wings, Albany FireWolves
Position: Forward
From: Ottawa, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 4

31. Regy Thorpe

Career: 1995-2009
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks
Position: Defense
From: Elbridge, New York
NLL HOF: 2021
🏆🏆

30. Pat O’Toole

Career: 1995-2010
Team(s): New York Saints, Rochester Knighthawks
Position: Goalie
From: Toronto, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2013
All-Pro Team: 2
GOTY: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

Curtis Dickson, Calgary Roughnecks (Photo: Candice Ward)

29. Curtis Dickson

Career: 2011-Today
Team(s): Calgary Roughnecks, San Diego Seals, Vancouver Warriors
Position: Forward
From: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
All-Pro Team: 5
ROTY: 1
🏆

28. Tracey Kelusky

Career: 2001-2014
Team(s): Columbus Landsharks, Montreal Express, Calgary Roughnecks, Buffalo Bandits, Philadelphia Wings
Position: Forward
From: Peterborough, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2016
All-Pro Team: 5
ROTY: 1
Sportsmanship: 1
🏆🏆

Cody Jamieson, Rochester Knighthawks (Photo: Ward Laforme Jr.)

27. Cody Jamieson

Career: 2011-Today
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Halifax Thunderbirds
Position: Forward
From: Six Nations
All-Pro Team: 4
MVP: 1
Cup MVP: 2
🏆🏆🏆

26. John Tucker

Career: 1987-1994
Team(s): Philadelphia Wings
Position: Forward
From: East Baltimore, Maryland
NLL HOF: 2010
All-Pro Team: 8
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

25. Steve Dietrich

Career: 1992
Team(s): Baltimore Thunder, Detroit Turbos, Rochester Knighthawks, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Edmonton Rush, Toronto Rock
Position: Goalie
From: Kitchener, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2012
All-Pro Team: 4
MVP: 1
GOTY: 2
Cup MVP: 1
🏆

Shawn Williams, Rochester Knighthawks and NLL HOF (Photo: Christian Bender)

24. Shawn Williams

Career: 1998-2014
Team(s): Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Knighthawks, Edmonton Rush
Position: Forward
From: Scarborough, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 2
Sportsmanship: 1
🏆🏆

23. Darris Kilgour

Career: 1992-2000
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Knighthawks, Albany Attack
Position: Forward
From: Tuscarora Nation
NLL HOF: 2007
All-Pro Team: 3
🏆🏆🏆

Dane Dobbie, Calgary Roughnecks (Photo: Candice Ward)

22. Dane Dobbie

Career: 2008-2025
Team(s): Calgary Roughnecks, San Diego Seals
Position: Forward
From: Elora, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 2
MVP: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

21. Casey Powell

Career: 1999-2014
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Anaheim Storm, New York Titans, Orland Titans, Boston Blazers, Rochester Knighthawks, Colorado Mammoth
Position: Forward
From: West Carthage, New York
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 4
MVP: 1

Lyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm (Photo: Kyle Hess)

20. Lyle Thompson

Career: 2016-Today
Team(s): Georgia Swarm
Position: Forward
From: Onondaga Nation
All-Pro Team: 3
MVP: 1
Sportsmanship: 6
Cup MVP: 1
🏆

19. Ryan Benesch

Career: 2007-Today
Team(s): Toronto Rock, Edmonton Rush, Minnesota Swarm, Buffalo Bandits, Colorado Mammoth, Rochester Knighthawks, Halifax Thunderbirds, Panther City Lacrosse Club, Albany FireWolves, San Diego Seals, Oshawa FireWovles
Position: Forward
From: Kitchener, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 2
ROTY: 1

Mark Matthews, Saskatchewan Rush (Photo: Josh Schaefer)

18. Mark Matthews

Career: 2013-2026
Team(s): Edmonton Rush, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock
Position: Forward
From: Oshawa, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 4
MVP: 1
ROTY: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆🏆🏆

17. Pat Coyle

Career: 1994-2008
Team(s): Detroit Turbos, Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, Colorado Mammoth
Position: Defense
From: Orangeville, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2014
All-Pro Team: 1
DPOTY: 1
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

16. Brodie Merrill

Career: 2006-2024
Team(s): Portland Lumberjax, Edmonton Rush, Philadelphia Wings, Toronto Rock, San Diego Seals
Position: Defense/Transition
From: Lachine, Quebec
All-Pro Team: 9
TPOTY: 3
DPOTY: 1
ROTY: 1

15. Tom Marechek

Career: 1994-2005
Team(s): Philadelphia Wings
Position: Forward
From: Victoria, British Columbia
NLL HOF: 2007
All-Pro Team: 8
ROTY: 1994
🏆🏆🏆🏆

14. Kyle Rubisch

Career: 2011-Today
Team(s): Boston Blazers, Edmonton Rush, Saskatchewan Rush, San Diego Seals, Oshawa FireWolves
Position: Defense
From: Brampton, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 9
TPOTY: 4
🏆🏆🏆

13. Josh Sanderson

Career: 1998-2016
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Albany Attack, San Jose Stealth, Toronto Rock, Calgary Roughnecks, Boston Blazers
Position: Forward
From: Orangeville, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2016
All-Pro Team: 9
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆

Shawn Evans, Vancouver Warriors (Photo: Jordan Leigh)

12. Shawn Evans

Career: 2006-2023
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Calgary Roughnecks, New England Black Wolves, Buffalo Bandits, Halifax Thunderbirds, Vancouver Warriors
Position: Forward
From: Peterborough, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2026
All-Pro Team: 5
MVP: 2
🏆

11. Bob Watson

Career: 1996-2011
Team(s): Baltimore Thunder, Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock
Position: Goalie
From: Guelph, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2011
All-Pro Team: 6
GOTY: 2
Cup MVP: 2
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

10. Dallas Eliuk

Career: 1991-2008
Team(s): Philadelphia Wings, Portland Lumberjax
Position: Goalie
From: Vancouver, British Columbia
NLL HOF: 2009
All-Pro Team: 9
Cup MVP: 2
🏆🏆🏆🏆

9. Dan Dawson

Career: 2002-2023
Team(s): Columbus Landsharks, Arizona Sting, Portland Lumberjax, Boston Blazers, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Saskatchewan Rush, San Diego Seals, Toronto Rock
Position: Forward
From: Oakville, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2026
All-Pro Team: 7
MVP: 1
Sportsmanship: 1
Teammate: 2
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆🏆

Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Caroline Sherman)

8. Dhane Smith

Career: 2013-Today
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits
Position: Forward
From: Kitchener, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 6
MVP: 2
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆🏆

Paul Gait, NLL Hall of Fame (Photo: Graig Abel)

7. Paul Gait

Career: 1991-2005
Team(s): Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, Syracuse Smash, Pittsburgh Crossfire, Washington Power, Colorado Mammoth
Position: Foward
From: Victoria, British Columbia
NLL HOF: 2006
All-Pro Team: 11
MVP: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆🏆🏆

Colin Doyle, Toronto Rock (Photo: Christian Bender)

6. Colin Doyle

Career: 1998-2016
Team(s): Ontario Raiders, Toronto Rock, San Jose Stealth
Position: Forward
From: Kitchener, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 11
MVP: 1
ROTY: 1
Cup MVP: 3
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Jim Vetlman, Toronto Rock (Photo: Aaron Lynett)

5. Jim Veltman

Career: 1992-2008
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits, Toronto Rock
Position: Transition
From: Brampton, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2009
All-Pro Team: 12
MVP: 1
Sportsmanship: 1
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

John Grant, Rochester Knighthawks (Photo: Micheline Veluvolu)

4. John Grant

Career: 2000-2017
Team(s): Rochester Knighthawks, Colorado Mammoth
Position: Forward
From: Peterborough, Ontario
NLL HOF: 2021
All-Pro Team: 9
MVP: 2
ROTY: 1
Cup MVP: 1
🏆

Matt Vinc, Buffalo Bandits (Photo: Michael Hetzel)

3. Matt Vinc

Career: 2006-2026
Team(s): San Jose Stealth, New York Titans, Orlando Titans, Rochester Knighthawks, Buffalo Bandits
Position: Goalie
From: St. Catharines, Ontario
All-Pro Team: 10
GOTY: 8
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Gary Gait, NLL All-Star Game (Photo: Dirk Fontaine)

2. Gary Gait

Career: 1991-2011
Team(s): Detroit Turbos, Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Pittsburgh Crossfire, Washington Power, Colorado Mammoth, Rochester Knighthawks
Position: Forward
From: Victoria, British Columbia
NLL HOF: 2006
All-Pro Team: 15
MVP: 6
ROTY: 1
Sportsmanship: 2
Cup MVP: 2
🏆🏆🏆

John Tavares, NLL Hall of Fame (Photo: Graig Abel)

1. John Tavares

Career: 1992-2015
Team(s): Buffalo Bandits
Position: Forward
From: Mississauga, Ontario
HOF: 2016
All-Pro Team: 19
MVP: 3
Cup MVP: 2
🏆🏆🏆🏆

All-Time NLL Top 50