NLL Player Rankings: Statistical Spikes and Data Declines Part II
Andrew Kew and Jack Hannah (Photo: John Matthew Harrison)
After the first several weeks of the 2025-26 National Lacrosse League season are complete, The Lax Mag publishes a weekly NLL Player Ranking, examining the league’s Top 30 players from Week 1 right up until the end of the regular season.
TLM’s Top 30 NLL Player Rankings have nothing to do with reputations, career resumes, success in past seasons, whether we know a player personally, recognizing deserving players who’ve previously been passed over, player popularity, the size of their social media following, whether you slide into their DMs, or who others around the league tell us should get hype.
Our rankings, which only take into consideration only a player’s performance for the current regular season, will be calculated using both our star-rating system after each game, but also a player’s season-long statistical position (based on per-game averages) across the league. Only players who have played two-thirds of their team’s games or more will qualify.
Click here for an even more in-depth breakdown of our scoring system.Earlier this season, we examined which players were seeing the most significant increases and decreases statistically in a variety of offensive and defensive stats versus a season ago.
Andrew Kew (Photo: Rock Elite League and Jaclyn McKee)
Today, Colorado’s Andrew Kew cracks our NLL TOP 30 leaderboard for the first time all season after finally meeting our games-played cutoff. Kew was on the Mammoth’s IR through the entire month or December and half of January, but has since returned, and has been in MVP form.
Kew is also seeing some of the highest statistical spikes across his stat line in comparison to his 2025 regular season with the Georgia Swarm.
When we delved into the data several weeks back, Kew had only played a handful of games and had not come close to seeing the same consistent climb in his full stat line like we’re seeing today. Also, while some who we highlighted in January have sustained their stat spikes, others have not. So…
Below are the midseason’s top stat increases and decreases in what players did all of last year versus so far this season, and as always, we examine data by per-game averages versus full season stats since some teams have played more (right now as many as two) games than others. While the cutoff for inclusion in our weekly NLL TOP 30, which as always can be found at the bottom of this piece, requires players to have played at least two-thirds of their team’s games, we dropped it to half their team’s season for this specific analysis to open things up a bit.
Kew not only leads GOALS +, he leads it by a helluva lot after scoring 2.2 more times per game than what he did with Georgia last year. Mammoth teammate Owen Rahn, who we highlighted earlier this week for his clutch scoring, has also seen a significant spike after being moved from a traditional transitional role to up front full time. Philadelphia’s Eric Fannell led this list during out last look, and is still here, just no right at the very top. Toronto’s Challen Rogers, who has scored four consecutive hat-tricks, jumps way up our GOALS + tracking too.
Andrew Kew, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: Jaclyn McKee)
GOALS +
Andrew Kew +2.2
Owen Rahn +1.4
Tre Leclaire +1.1
Michael Sowers +1.1
Tanner Cook +1.0
Challen Rogers +0.9
Ryan Keenan +0.9
Chris Cloutier +0.9
Eric Fannell +0.9
Mark Matthews +0.9
Brennan O’Neill +0.8
Dylan McIntosh +0.7
Dustyn Birkhof +0.7
Mitch Jones +0.6
Dylan Watson +0.6
Jesse King +0.5
Mike Messenger +0.5
Kyle Killen +0.5
Rob Hellyer +0.5
Tyler Pace +0.5
GOALS –
Wesley Berg -1.3
Josh Dawick -1.2
Jacob Dunbar -1.2
Bryan Cole -1.0
Joe Resetarits -1.0
Mike Robinson -1.0
Dawson Theede -0.8
Josh Byrne -0.8
Ryan Benesch -0.8
Lyle Thompson -0.7
Chris Boushy -0.7
Ryan Smith -0.7
Mathieu Gautier -0.7
We highlighted him last week in our NLL Player Rankings American Edition, but Jack Hannah’s name pops up again due to his huge +2.1 helpers per for the - again - Colorado Mammoth. Yep, Kew is here and high too.
Jack Hannah, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: John Matthew Harrison)
ASSISTS +
Jack Hannah +2.1
Ian MacKay +1.5
Reilly O’Connor +1.5
Jeff Teat +1.3
Chris Cloutier +1.2
Andrew Kew +1.2
Tanner Cook +1.1
Will Malcom +1.0
Tre Leclaire +1.0
Kyle Waters +1.0
Bryan Cole +1.0
Michael Sowers +1.0
Ryan Keenan +0.9
Jonathan Donville +0.9
Keegan Bal +0.9
Haiden Dickson +0.9
Mark Matthews +0.9
Harrison Matsuoka +0.8
Corey Small +0.8
ASSISTS –
Joe Resetarits -1.9
Clarke Petterson -1.7
Jesse King -1.7
Curtis Dickson -1.4
Josh Byrne -1.3
Dhane Smith -1.3
Connor Kearnan -1.3
Brendan Bomberry -1.2
Mike Robinson -1.2
Jacob Dunbar -1.1
Randy Staats -1.1
Ethan Walker -1.1
Connor Robinson -1.1
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but Kew is right at the top of the next list too: POINTS +. Although he played only five games a season ago and has missed three for Philadelphia this year, Michael Sowers is one of only a handful of names to appear on all three O+ stats today. Wings teammate Joe Resetarits tops the minus A list above and the PTS one further down.
Andrew Kew, Colorado Mammoth (Photo: James Bennett)
POINTS +
Andrew Kew +3.4
Tre Leclaire +2.2
Tanner Cook +2.2
Chris Cloutier +2.1
Michael Sowers +2.0
Ryan Keenan +1.9
Mark Matthews +1.7
Reilly O’Connor +1.6
Jack Hannah +1.4
Eric Fannell +1.4
Owen Rahn +1.2
Will Malcom +1.2
Jalen Chaster +1.2
Haiden Dickson +1.1
Challen Rogers +1.1
Jonathan Donville +1.1
Brennan O’Neill +1.0
Harrison Matsuoka +1.0
Tyler Pace +0.9
Jeff Teat +0.9
Ian MacKay +0.9
POINTS –
Joe Resetarits -2.9
Jacob Dunbar -2.3
Josh Byrne -2.1
Mike Robinson -2.1
Brendan Bomberry -1.9
Ryan Benesch -1.8
Ethan Walker -1.7
Clarke Petterson -1.6
Randy Staats -1.5
Curtis Dickson -1.3
Mathieu Gautier -1.3
Dawson Theede -1.2
Jesse King -1.1
Dan Craig -1.1
Chris Boushy -1.1
Zed Williams -1.1
Toronto’s Phil Mazzuca is one of the players we previously mentioned that has been able to sustain his improved statistical production since our early season check. Not only has he maintained his D-specific stats, in loose balls, he’s jumped face-off takers Trevor Baptiste and Justin Inacio, who led this list in January, and has even slightly increased his scooping speed while most have seen a decline. Mazzuca appears on ever D+ list below. During our midseason awards report, Mazzuca was one of our top breakout players this year, and was just outside of our DPOTY discussion too.
Phil Mazzuca, Toronto Rock (Photo: Ryan McCullough)
LOOSE BALLS +
Phil Mazzuca +3.4
Alex Pace +3.3
Jacob Hickey +2.9
Tyrell Hamer-Jackson +2.7
Jackson Nishimura +2.2
Keegan Bal +2.0
Levi Anderson +2.0
Trevor Baptiste +1.9
Callum Jones +1.8
Dalton Young +1.8
Matt Acchione +1.8
Mitchell Armstrong +1.7
Kaleb Benedict +1.6
Bobby Kidd III +1.6
Billy Hostrawser +1.6
Dustyn Birkhof +1.6
Jeff Cornwall +1.6
Clay Scanlan +1.5
Jeff Teat +1.5
Kiel Matisz +1.5
Rob Hellyer +1.3
Adam Poitras +1.2
Riley Isaacs +1.2
LOOSE BALLS –
Scott Dominey -4.1
Ryan Benesch -2.9
Jake Boudreau -2.8
Patrick Kaschalk -2.6
Clarke Petterson -2.6
Mitch de Snoo -2.2
Zach Manns -2.2
Matt Gilray -1.9
Zachary Young -1.8
Matt Beers -1.8
Eli Salama -1.8
Shane Simpson -1.8
Like we mentioned last time, a change in turnovers can be attributed to a positional change, an increased role, or just improved/declining play. Saskatchewan’s Zach Manns, who is seeing about a half goal more per game this year versus last, is giving the ball away a lot less too. Manns is currently one of the NLL’s top goal scorers, and continues to be one of The Lax Mag’s Clutch Kings leaders too.
Zach Manns, Saskatchewan Rush
TURNOVERS –
Jacob Dunbar -2.0
Zach Manns -1.6
Adam Charalambides -1.5
Mitch de Snoo -1.4
Connor Fields -1.3
Cody Jamieson -1.1
Shane Simpson -1.0
Mark Matthews -0.9
Ryan Benesch -0.9
Robert Church -0.8
Dyson Williams -0.8
Connor Kirst -0.8
TURNOVERS +
Clarke Petterson +2.5
Pat Kavanagh +2.4
Ian MacKay +1.6
Rob Hellyer +1.6
Keegan Bal +1.5
Chris Cloutier +1.5
Haiden Dickson +1.3
Jalen Chaster +1.3
Levi Anderson +1.3
Alex Simmons +1.2
Tanner Cook +1.1
Jason Knox +1.0
Challen Rogers +1.0
Callum Jones led our CAUSED TURNOVER + list last month with a +1.2, but has seen a steady decline here, causing just three turnovers over Ottawa’s last four games. Oshawa’s Nick Chaykowsky takes over the top spot with the same +1.2 increase Jones owned last month. Both Jones and Chaykowsky were among our picks for the midseason’s top defensive players, and will actually be up against one another this weekend when the two Ontario clubs clash in Canada’s capital on Saturday night.
Nick Chaykowsky, Oshawa FireWolves (Photo: Christian Bender)
CAUSED TURNOVERS +
Nick Chaykowsky +1.2
Jake Stevens +0.8
Ryan Barnable +0.8
Mitchell Armstrong +0.7
Jeremy Thompson +0.6
Will Johansen +0.6
John LaFontaine +0.6
Owen Down +0.6
Pat Kavanagn +0.6
Phil Mazzuca +0.5
Curtis Romanchych +0.5
Brent Noseworthy +0.5
Jacob Hickey +0.5
Callum Jones +0.4
Tyson Bell +0.4
Wake:Riat BowHunter +0.4
Nonkon Thompson +0.4
Adam Jay +0.4
Trevor Baptiste +0.4
Matt Beers +0.4
Jordan MacIntosh +0.4
Drew Belgrave +0.4
CAUSED TURNOVER –
Scott Dominey -1.2
Mitch de Snoo -1.2
Matt Gilray -1.1
Justin Martin -0.9
Adam Poitras -0.8
Liam Patten -0.7
TJ Comizio -0.7
Mike Messenger -0.6
Kyle Rubisch -0.6
Tony Malcom -0.6
Jack Follows -0.6
Dan Craig -0.6
Colorado captain Robert Hope saw the biggest rise in blocks per game during our early season statistical review, but has completely fallen off that most improved shot-blocking breakdown. Hope, who sits second behind only Paul Dawson for blocks across the NLL right now, has not been credited with a single blocked shot over the Mammoth’s last four games. Although Tony Malcom leads our + list below, his blocking numbers are a bit misleading. He has played in six of nine Las Vegas games this year, only had one block over ten games all of last season, and has seen four of his six blocks this year happen in one game. Impressive, but still somewhat deceptive when fully examining the data and the statistical story it tells. Oshawa’s Colton Watkinson, who is amongst the league leaders in blocked shots and has almost as many blocks this year as his previous four seasons combined, is averaging almost a full block more per game this year in Oshawa.
Colton Watkinson, Oshawa FireWolves (Photo: David Pickering)
BLOCKS +
Tony Malcom +0.9
Colton Watkinson +0.8
Shane Simpson +0.7
Jack Follows +0.7
Nick Chaykowsky +0.7
Reid Bowering +0.6
Connor McClelland +0.6
Ryan Wagner +0.6
Seth Van Schepen +0.6
Phil Mazzuca +0.6
Kyle Rubisch +0.6
Alex Pace +0.5
Mitch de Snoo +0.5
Chris Weier +0.5
Dustyn Birkhof +0.5
Nonkon Thompson +0.5
Conner Cook +0.4
Thomas Whitty +0.4
Mike McCannell +0.4
Robert Hudson +0.4
BLOCKS –
Ethan OConnor -1.0
Jeff Cornwall -0.8
Matt Hossack -0.8
Patrick Kaschalk -0.8
Paul Dawson -0.7
Ian Llord -0.7
Warren Jeffrey -0.6
Dylan Robinson -0.6
Matt Marinier -0.6
Josh Jubenville -0.6
Colton Armstrong -0.6
NLL TOP 30: WEEK 14
TW. (LW) Player, Team (Pos.)
1. (1) Brett Dobson, Georgia (G)
2. (2) Jeff Teat, Ottawa (F)
3. (5) Keegan Ball, Vancouver (F)
4. (NR) Andrew Kew, Colorado (F)
5. (6) Zach Currier, San Diego (D/F)
6. (7) Mike Messenger, Saskatchewan (D)
7. (4) Connor Fields, Rochester (F)
8. (3) Dhane Smith, Buffalo (F)
9. (8) Christian Del Bianco, Vancouver (G)
10. (10) Callum Jones, Ottawa (D)
11. (11) Dillon Ward, Colorado (G)
12. (12) Mitch Jones, Las Vegas (F)
13. (9) Will Malcom, Colorado (F)
14. (14) Ryan Keenan, Saskatchewan (F)
15. (13) Rob Hellyer, Ottawa (F)
16. (16) Jack Hannah, Colorado (F)
17. (15) Ryan Lanchbury, Rochester (F)
18. (18) Jake Boudreau, Saskatchewan (D)
19. (17) Alex Simmons, Oshawa (F)
20. (19) Tanner Cook, Calgary (F)
21. (20) Nick Weiss, Buffalo (D)
22. (21) Jonathan Donville, Las Vegas (F)
23. (25) *CJ Kirst, Toronto (F)
24. (22) Tyler Pace, Calgary (F)
25. (24) Jordan MacIntosh, Georgia (D)
26. (23) Zach Manns, Saskatchewan (F)
27. (30) Jesse King, Vancouver (F)
28. (29) Austin Shanks, Saskatchewan (F)
29. (28) Josh Byrne, Buffalo (F)
30. (NR) Curtis Dickson, Vancouver (F)
*Rookie