2026 NLL Draft - The Big Board 2.0
We’re just days out from the 2026 NLL Draft, and after a long off-season, we’re at the marquee event of the NLL off-season, and the last step before we jump into training camps and the start of the regular season.
Since our initial Big Board back at the midway point of the 2025-26 NLL season, a lot has changed in the landscape of the league. Namely, the teams that were initially slated to pick first and second in the draft, respectively, have both folded, moving everyone up two spots in the order. It also vastly changes the way some teams were going to approach this draft.
If this is your first time seeing the OTC Big Board, our final edition ahead of the draft is the most extensive of the year. We’ll highlight our top 10 players at each respective position — top five for goaltenders — and our top 50 prospects for this year’s draft class.
Let’s hop into the Big Board and look at our prospect rankings for the 2026 NLL Draft
One Quick Note…
There are a number of players who are not going to be available for this year’s draft due to not completing four years of NCAA eligibility. If you have played between one and three years, you would have to declare for the draft and renounce your remaining eligibility.
Here are some players we’ve gotten questions about and their respective draft statuses:
Ryan Colsey - One of the most talented Americans to come out of junior lacrosse, Colsey has only completed three seasons with Virginia, so he’ll be in next year’s draft
Ben Coghill - Another projected top pick this year, Coghill has completed just three seasons with Albany and will return to the Great Danes in 2027.
Xander Derkatz - A solid righty who would have been on this list, Derkatz only has two seasons completed at Siena and would have to declare to be available
Eric McDonald - Has only completed two seasons at Johns Hopkins and will play his third as a graduate at High Point this upcoming NCAA season. He isn’t eligible for the 2026 Draft.
Tye Scott - Has only completed two seasons at Denver and will play his third as a graduate at Marquette this upcoming NCAA season. He isn’t eligible for the 2026 Draft.
Aiden Long/Anselmo Rego - A quick revision from the editor… This pair of transition players are actively playing hockey in the NCAA — Long with Cornell and Rego with Lindenwood. However, because their birth years are 2005, they are both eligible to be selected and stashed in this draft.
Obrigh Tallchief - Tallchief originally declared for the draft and then, a few weeks ago, decided to return to school, transferring to Pfeiffer. However, players cannot “Un-Declare” from the draft once they’ve done the paperwork. So Tallchief will be available in this draft. He is going into his senior season, so a team can select him; He’ll be able to sign once his school is done in the spring. Similar to what happened with Alex Marinier last year.
Photo: Burnaby Lakers
Forwards
1) Silas Richmond, RF, Albany & Burnaby (WLA)
2) Finn Thomson, RF, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)
3) Joey Spallina, RF, Syracuse & Snake Island (TNSLL)
4) Matt Collison, LF, Johns Hopkins & Snake Island (TNSLL)
5) David Anderson, RF, Yale & Six Nations (MSL/OSL)
6) Andrew Bowman, LF, Marquette & Nanaimo (WLA)
7) Koleton Marquis, RF, Albany & Kahnawake (TNSLL)
8) Justin Lee, RF, Albany & Oakville (MSL)
9) Will Sheehan, RF, Yale & Oakville (MSL)
10) Lucas Dudemaine, LF, Georgetown & Brampton (MSL)
HM) Jeremy Wudrick, Brian Jackman, Finn Halladay, Cal Brennan, Matt Boas
Photo: Dave Fryer/Orangeville Northmen
Defenders
1) Dante Bowen, RT, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)
2) Michael White, RD, Queen’s (NC) & Brooklin (MSL)
3) Aaron Toguri, LD, Jacksonville & Cobourg (MSL)
4) Alexis Simard, LD, Canisius & Brampton (MSL)
5) Owen Tasse, LD, Penn State & Cobourg (MSL)
6) Nick Crowley, LD, Rutgers & Peterborough (MSL)
7) Aidan Maguire, LD, Duke
8) Cole Teeple, RT, RIT & Kahnawake (TNSLL)
9) Nate Ruff, LT, Robert Morris & Brampton (MSL)
10) Owen Wills, LD, Ottawa & Brooklin (MSL/OSL)
HM) Joel Mullen, David Peterkin, Kaden Kublinskas, Obrigh Tallchief, Eoin MacKay, Rory Graham
Photo: Shelly Fey/Coquitlam Adanacs
Goalies
1) Marcus Khan, Langley/Coquitlam (BCJALL)
2) Saka Thompson, Akwesasne (TNSLL)
3) Xavier Delormier, Akwesasne (OJBLL)
4) Greyson Beggs, Victoria (BCJALL)
5) Zach Constantopoulos, Western & Oakville (OJLL)
Photo: David Pickering/NLL
The Big Board
Photo: Dave Fryer/Orangeville Northmen
1) Silas Richmond, RF, Albany & Burnaby (WLA)
2) Finn Thomson, RF, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)
3) Joey Spallina, RF, Syracuse & Snake Island (TNSLL)
4) Dante Bowen, RT, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)
5) Matt Collison, LF, Johns Hopkins & Snake Island (TNSLL)
6) Michael White, RD, Queen’s (NC) & Brooklin (MSL)
7) Aaron Toguri, LD, Jacksonville & Cobourg (MSL)
8) David Anderson, RF, Yale & Six Nations (MSL/OSL)
9) Andrew Bowman, LF, Marquette & Nanaimo (WLA)
10) Alexis Simard, LD, Canisius & Brampton (MSL)
We’ve flipped-flopped on the top three for months in this class. Do you go with Richmond, who has a freak blend of size with a superstar skill set? Do you go with Finn Thomson, who’s been a first-overall pick in the making since he first stepped into junior lacrosse with his high IQ and all-around playmaking acumen? Or do you go with Spallina, who is a deadly outside shooter who’s going to be the next big-name American to take the NLL by storm?
In this case, Richmond wins out heading into the draft. His summer with Burnaby in 2025 was simply spectacular, and he’s really been on an upward trajectory since the Minto Cup in 2024 with Port Coquitlam. But that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to go first on Thursday. It’ll really come down to which individual Rochester feels gives the franchise the best chance to win.
Outside of the top three, you have a true two-way athletic menace in Bowen and an absolute freak of nature in Collison, who are going to be fascinating to keep an eye on at the top of the board.
But could Michael White be the top defender off the board this year? There’s an obvious connection between Shawn Williams, who coached White in junior.
Towards the back end of the top 10, you have the 2025 OJLL Defender of the Year and 2026 MSL Rookie of the Year in Toguri, who’s going to be a very dependable defender for his entire NLL career. David Anderson is effortlessly talented, possessing elite scoring ability as well as a pro-ready frame. He also proved that he can be a very good off-ball player during his time with the Six Nations Chiefs this summer.
Bowman had an incredibly efficient summer with Nanaimo, which helped vault him into the top 10 of the Big Board, and Simard has been a lock to go in the first round for over a year. His steady play and ability to get under his opponents’ skin will make him a fan favorite wherever he lands.
In this top group, there’s no real going wrong. Teams are going to get their pick of elite talent that can make an impact right away.
Photo: World Lacrosse
11) Koleton Marquis, RF, Albany & Kahnawake (TNSLL)
12) Justin Lee, RF/T, Albany & Oakville (MSL)
13) Owen Tasse, LD, Penn State & Cobourg (MSL)
14) Will Sheehan, RF, Yale & Oakville (MSL)
15) Lucas Dudemaine, LF, Georgetown & Brampton (MSL)
16) Nick Crowley, LD, Rutgers & Peterborough (MSL)
17) Marcus Khan, G, Langley/Coquitlam (BCJALL)
18) Aidan Maguire, LD, Duke
19) Jeremy Wudrick, RF, Lander & Nanaimo (WLA)
20) Cole Teeple, RT, RIT & Kahnawake (TNSLL)
Falling just outside the top 10 is Koleton Marquis, who has one of the best all-around skill sets in this entire class. Dazzling stick skills matched with elite IQ and playmaking abilities, he’s going to be a force in the NLL in the near future.
There are some interesting individuals in this grouping. Owen Tasse and Nick Crowley are both going back to school for graduate seasons. Both are extremely smart and talented defenders who will have long careers in the pro ranks. Then, there’s Sheehan, who is one of the best do-it-all forwards in this class, but he hasn’t suited up indoors since graduating junior back in 2024. Depending on how some teams view him, he could go top 10 or slide into the comp picks in the first round.
It’ll be interesting to see what team take the first swipe at a goaltender. It’ll most likely come at the tail end of the first, and we’ll definitely see at least one goalie off the board in the second round at the latest. Like his brother last year, Marcus Khan comes in as a long-term play with massive upside. A 2008-born goaltender with three years of junior eligibility left, he has the chance to be an elite goalie down the road. A team looking for a goalie of the future could be landing a special talent in Khan.
Maguire might be the biggest surprise on this board. After all, he’s never played box before. While American players making the leap to try the NLL is always a question heading into drafts, if a team gets Maguire and he commits, this could be one of the steals of the draft. The Duke product became the first short-stick defensive midfielder to ever be taken first overall in the PLL earlier this year, and Maguire is a freak of nature one on one, with strength, size, and footwork to make him a perfect add in a box defense. Every team in the league is looking for the next Ryan Terefenko or Danny Logan. Maguire is built in that same mould.
Photo: Brady Smith
21) Chad Palumbo, LF, Princeton
22) Saka Thompson, G, Akwesasne (TNSLL)
23) Nate Ruff, LT, Robert Morris & Brampton (MSL)
24) Finn Halladay, RF, Drexel & Burnaby (WLA)
25) Cal Brennan, RF, Robert Morris & Owen Sound (MSL)
26) Owen Wills, LD, Ottawa & Brooklin (MSL/OSL)
27) David Peterkin, RF/T, Six Nations (MSL/OSL)
28) Xavier Delormier, G, Akwesasne (OJBLL)
29) Aiden Long, LT, Cornell & Orangeville (OJLL)
30) Obrigh Tallchief, RD, Pfeiffer & Six Nations (OJLL)
We’ve got another pair of goalies headlining this group. If not for Khan, Saka Thompson would be the top shot-stopper available this year. But he’ll manage to find a home in the early rounds of the draft. His showing this summer cemented him as a goaltender who should be in the NLL. Then, early renunciation Xavier Delormier is in the 2026 NLL Draft after taking home a Founders Cup with the Akwesasne Thunder this summer. The 6-foot, 200-pounder has another year of junior eligibility left and has put together consecutive strong summers in the OJBLL.
Finn Halladay was one of the featured players who upped their stock with strong showings this summer. The righty was a driving force for Burnaby this year, finishing second in scoring for the Lakers.
We’ve talked about Peterkin in previous pieces. A transition player his entire junior career, the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario product played out the front door for both the Chiefs and Rivermen this summer and looked right at home. He’s an extremely gifted athlete while also being able to play both ways, making him one of the most versatile players in the class.
Palumbo is another dart throw for NLL teams. But he’s a player who has previous box experience and is going to be a problem for defenses if he commits to giving it a go indoors. Think of Jack Hannah-like upside for the lefty.
With his availability to be selected this year, Aiden Long could be one of the long-term steals of this draft if he does come back to lacrosse. The last time he suited up was in 2024 for Orangeville, where he had 13 goals and 17 points in 11 games as a transition player. He’s never had a junior season where he’s had less than a point per game, which is truly ridiculous for a defender. The question is if he wants to continue to pursue hockey following college. Then, we run into a Zac Masson situation where he’d be sitting on a list for years. But he’s a demon in transition and is currently listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds on the Cornell site. He’s a do-it-all player who would fit seamlessly into the NLL. If not for the hockey, he’d be a first-rounder.
Tallchief is now officially available to be selected, and might be one of the better value picks in the draft. The long, rangy defender was an OJLL Transition Player of the Year finalist, and will be ready to make the jump to pro next year once he’s gotten a full summer of senior ball under him.
Photo: Kaylen Lomas/WLA
31) Joel Mullen, LD, Utah & Nanaimo (WLA)
32) Kaden Kublinskas, RT, Laurier & Brampton (OJLL)
33) Eoin MacKay, RD, Binghamton & Owen Sound (MSL)
34) Brodie Kent, LD, Randolph-Macon & Burnaby (WLA)
35) Greyson Beggs, G, Victoria (BCJALL)
36) Anselmo Rego, RD, Lindenwood & Mimico/Kitchener (OJLL)
37) Rory Graham, LD, Denver & Brampton (MSL)
38) Matt Boas, LF, Montevallo & Nanaimo (WLA)
39) Brian Jackman, LF, UMass & Oakville (MSL)
40) Bowie Horsman, RF, Cornell & Brampton (MSL)
For the most part, this is where the run on depth defenders could happen in the draft. There is a good heap of them that can be good NLL players, but have fallen down the board due to the depth of this class.
Kublinskas is another lightning-quick transition player, and his jaw-dropping athleticism stems from playing wide receiver at Laurier for one of the top programs in the country. His defensive ability and breakaway speed is going to make him a coveted player.
Names like Eoin MacKay, Brodie Kent, and Frank Coyle could go higher than we have them pegged. Each of them is looked at as a steady player in their own end, and while they aren’t necessarily your typical transition players, they have put up decent offensive numbers in their own right. MacKay is the younger brother of Ian MacKay, and while he’s not the same guy looking for offence anytime he pushes the ball, he’s a very dependable player who will log important shifts out the back and not make many mistakes when outletting the ball.
Coyle had a productive summer splitting time between Peterborough and Ennismore, showing off some transition upside alongside the usual grit and toughness you come to expect from a defender hailing from Peterborough.
Boas is another riser following a strong showing this summer with Nanaimo, while Jackman and Horsman are both highly touted forwards who were great in junior but have fallen down the board because of their inactivity this summer. Neither played in MSL, which helped other players jump them in the rankings.
The most intriguing name in this section, however, is Beggs, who shot up draft boards with his outstanding play in the BCJALL this summer. He led all goaltenders with a save percentage over .850 between Delta and Victoria, and he helped the Shamrocks get back to the Minto Cup.
While he’s not the top goaltender on our board, he has the chance to prove us very wrong and become a goaltender of the future for whichever team takes him. Given the right situation, Beggs could blossom into a starter. But it takes time for goalies to develop, so we’ll have to monitor him over the coming years to see what his true potential is.
Photo: Brandon Taylor/Six Nations Arrows
41) Frank Coyle, RD, Hamilton & Peterborough (MSL)
42) Brinley Wilson, RF, Elora/Raiders LC (OJLL/RMJALL)
43) Brenden Boyle, LD, Marquette & Peterborough (MSL)
44) Alex Lemieux, RD, Queen’s (NC) & Langley (WLA)
45) Owen Tovell, LD, Elora/Whitby (OJLL)
46) Ryan Andrews, RD, Montevallo & Six Nations (OSL)
47) Ray Cortes, LD, D’Youville & Six Nations (OJLL)
48) Nathan Pouliot, RT, Newberry & Cobourg (MSL)
49) Ben Vanderkley, LD, Mount Olive & Langley (WLA)
50) Zach Moen, RD, Ottawa & Raiders LC (RMJALL)
Brinley Wilson is one of the newest entrants to this list, having just declared after winning a Minto with the Raiders in August. The righty was just over three points per game with Elora this summer, and then was shipped out to the RMJALL to rejoin the squad he was with full-time in 2025. The Righty can do a little bit of everything well, and his motor and compete are top-tier. Wilson has another year of junior ball left, so he’s a player to draft and develop for the future in the mid rounds.
Owen Tovell feels like a similar prospect to his former Orangeville teammate, Carter Coffey, who was selected last year. You don’t notice him a ton on the floor — which is a compliment for a defender. He gets on and gets off without getting beat or making any major mistakes. He’s just solid all around. With good footwork and tools for his 6-foot frame, he can be a reliable option for an NLL team that is patient with the recent junior grad.
Brenden Boyle is going to be the biggest bruiser on this list, however. He’s someone who’s going to lean on opposing forwards and make them think twice about going through the middle.
Cortes might be one of the biggest bodies in the draft, coming in at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. He packs a punch and is a very talented defensive player. The nephew of Zed Williams, he’s long, rangy, and is able to make forwards earn everything when he’s on them.
Pouliot is another Quebec native who has played a lot of MSL lacrosse over the last three summers with Cobourg. That’ll help him transition quickly to an NLL training camp, where he’ll be fighting for a spot. A former forward in junior who has size, he takes care of his own end but possesses the ability to push the ball.
Moen is a riser after a great summer which ended in him helping the Raiders capture their first-ever Minto Cup. The 21-year-old graduating junior player is a dog on a bone. He’s relentless on the ball, which is going to play well with the NLL franchises. But at the next level, he’s going to have to find that line between being aggressive on forwards without over-pursuing. He’s another draft-and-develop player who continues to impress every year.