2026 NLL Draft - Others to Watch
We’re just a few weeks away from the 2026 NLL Draft, and with the respective summer seasons coming to a close soon, we’re starting to get an idea of how the draft class as a whole is shaking out. Early renunciations are coming through, and the prospects are still pushing to up their stock heading into draft day.
Over the last month, we’ve talked about our favourite forwards, defenders, goaltenders, and American players who could make the jump to the NLL. But there are a lot of names that are going to get called over the six rounds in this year’s draft — 92 to be exact.
So let’s go over some other prospects to keep an eye out for in the draft. These individuals could go in the earlier stages of the draft, or be sleepers in the middle to late portions of the draft. Let’s jump in!
Photo: Ryan McCollough/Brampton Excelsiors
Ryan Andrews, RD, Montevallo & Six Nations (OSL)
Tall, rangy, physical, and athletic. That’s how Andrews’ game could best be described.
His tenacity and relentless motor have already caught the attention of numerous general managers and scouts this summer with the Six Nations Rivermen. The Welland, Ontario product possesses quick feet, blistering speed and an exceptional ability to operate off the ground, allowing him to transition the ball up and out with ease.
Whether he’s pushing the pace to create offence or making a smart play to get the ball to safety, Andrews’ combination of speed, energy and competitiveness makes him a difficult player to overlook.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Dave Fryer/Orangeville Northmen
Colm Barnett, LD, Denver & Owen Sound (MSL)
Colm Barnett is another highly athletic defender from Orangeville who brings plenty of mobility, transitional upside and a strong ability to make an impact off the floor.
While he may not have the biggest frame, Barnett more than makes up for it with outstanding footwork, allowing him to stay in front of his matchup and frustrate opposing forwards. His strong lacrosse IQ and ability to read the game allow him to anticipate plays, close gaps and consistently make smart, timely decisions.
Coming through the Jr. A Northmen system, Barnett has had a hard-hat mentality, competitive fire and will to win ingrained into his character.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Ryan McCollough/Brampton Excelsiors
Connor Blondin, Lincoln Memorial & Oakville (MSL)
There are a number of big bodies on the back end in this draft, and Blondin is one of them. The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder had a very solid junior career as a stay-at-home guy for the Jr Excelsiors before finding himself with St. Catharines ahead of their Minto Cup appearance a year ago.
Blondin is physical, strong, and dependable in his own end. He can play on the penalty kill and is also steady every shift. Appearing in 16 games so far this summer, he’s only taken three penalties against senior opponents.
The Oakville product is a good depth addition for a team looking for back-end help this year.
Arrow Booth, RF, St. Catharines (OJLL)
Booth’s stock could continue to rise with a strong showing at the upcoming Minto Cup with the Ontario champion St. Catharines Athletics.
Hailing from Onondaga Nation, Booth possesses elite creativity and exceptional vision, making him a crafty and dangerous playmaker. The 21-year-old forward is more than capable of finishing chances himself when he’s not setting up his teammates. At 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, Booth is undersized, but his relentless, fearless approach allows him to thrive in the dirty areas and battle through contact. His willingness to put his body on the line and compete for loose balls should ease any concerns about his measurables and make him an intriguing option for general managers.
With 117 points between the regular season and playoffs, Booth has emerged as one of the biggest risers in this year’s class.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Brandon Taylor/Six Nations Arrows
Ray Cortes, LD, D’Youville & Six Nations (OJLL)
Ray Cortes is a big, strong and rangy defender who brings a sandpaper, blue-collar approach to the floor. He’s the kind of player who makes opponents earn every inch, combining his size, athleticism and physicality with a relentless work ethic.
As an early draft entry, Cortes is still developing and may not be a finished product just yet, but the raw tools are impossible to ignore. His combination of strength, mobility and compete level gives him plenty of upside, making him the type of intriguing prospect that GMs around the league will be eager to get into their organization and develop. His uncle is NLL champion and current Rochester Knighthawk Zed Williams, so the competitive fire and lacrosse pedigree are clearly there.
With the right development, Cortes has the potential to turn his impressive physical toolkit into an effective NLL defender.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Greg Horn/Iorì:wase
Marcus Diabo, LT, Kahnawake (OJBLL)
Diabo was an early renunciation last year in the NLL Draft, but he went unselected despite a standout summer with the Kahnawake Hunters en route to capturing the 2025 Founders Cup.
Trusted to log big minutes and take on big matchups for the Hunters the last two years, Diabo also excels in the transition game, where he’s shown good ability to shoot the ball on the run and set up prime scoring chances for teammates.
Diabo will be one of the youngest players in this draft as a 2007-born player. Expect to see him in Junior A next year. He’s a player on the rise and has a solid ceiling as a prospect if given the proper time to develop.
Photo: Calgary Mounties
Jayce Dievert, RD, Calgary (RMJALL)
Dievert has played the majority of his junior career on the back end for the Mounties. However, he has been taking reps up front this summer, filling in wherever he’s asked to help his squad.
Whether it’s being an energy guy on the back end, a physical presence, a transition threat, or a space creator on the offensive side of the ball, the selflessness can’t go unnoticed from the 2005-born defender. Dievert’s NLL future likely lies out the defensive gate. His 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame is solid for a pro defender. He’ll just need to keep improving as he goes. The 2026 Minto Cup will be a great proving ground for him and his Mounties teammates.
Photo: Rebecca Lee/Mimico Mountaineers
Jack Dulong, LD, Mimico (OJLL)/Langley (BCJALL)
All the way from playing in the East Coast Junior B loop with the Sackville Wolves as recently as 2023, Dulong’s junior lacrosse journey has been eventful. He ended up on the other side of the country, playing for Langley, before he jumped to the OJLL with Mimico for parts of the last two summers. The Fall River, Nova Scotia product finished his junior career back in the BCJALL with the Thunder after a deadline trade with the Mountaineers.
Dulong stands at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and isn’t afraid to answer the bell and drop the gloves when needed. But his steady play on the back end made him a staple for multiple organizations, and while the stats aren’t the flashiest, there have been glimpses of upside in transition. You can never have a shortage of toughness on the back end in the NLL. Add in the dependability and Dulong could be a nice addition in the middle of the draft for a team needing back-end help.
Photo: 2023 Minto Cup
Brooks English, RT, Johns Hopkins & Oakville (MSL)
A name that fans have now grown accustomed to in the NLL ranks, Brooks is the younger brother of NLL Finals MVP Sam English and 2025 second-overall pick Ty. During the majority of his junior career, Brooks played as a forward, but the English brothers have all proven that they’re weapons wherever they’re deployed.
Making the jump back to a transition role with Oakville this summer, he’s looked steady in a new role, being positionally sound with good footwork while displaying impressive burst and speed on the clear. English is operating just under a point per game as he heads into the NLL Draft, and with playoffs upcoming, he’s got a chance to show off his talents against the top competition MSL has to offer.
While he might not be as high of a pick as his brothers previously, English should find a home and role with an NLL team this fall.
Photo: Kaylen Lomas/WLA
Ryan Favaro, LF, Colgate & Burnaby (WLA)
Coquitlam’s very own Ryan Favaro brings compete, fearlessness, and high IQ every time he steps on the floor. He played an integral role in the 2024 Minto Cup for the Junior Adanacs, chipping in with timely goals and a boatload of offensive loose balls.
This summer he has found another gear, becoming a very important player for the Burnaby Lakers in the WLA, posting 25 goals, 40 points, and countless (literally, stat not tracked) loose balls.
Favaro was cut from the same cloth as Clark Walter in that he’s an absolute grit bag, willing to die for his team to score and win.
- Aiden Yorke
Photo: Kaylen Lomas/WLA
Matt Firth, RD, Detroit Mercy & New Westminster (WLA)
If you’re looking for size and tenacity on the back end, this is the year for you, and Firth is another big body who is a pain to play against.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, the Calgary product uses his frame to his advantage out of the defensive gate, leaning on opposing players and making life difficult for them. Firth is more of your traditional stay-at-home defender, but he can transition the ball up the floor, and he moves well for a player his size.
Big and mean with two years of WLA experience under his belt heading into the draft, he’ll likely be a mid-round selection with a solid floor.
Photo: Rebecca Lee/Mimico Mountaineers
Wesley Geekie, LF, Ottawa & Mimico (OJLL)/Edmonton (RMJALL)
Geekie is a quintessential hard-hat, blue-collar forward who thrives on creating space for others and burying his chances when the ball finds his stick.
While he made his mark in Mimico as a highly effective off-ball player, his move to the Edmonton Miners, the Cumberland,Ontario native was tasked with more ball-carrying responsibilities. Geekie has proven he is a versatile, coachable asset completely comfortable adapting to whatever role his team needs to win.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo:
Connor Gorman, LF, Utah & Kahnawake (OJBLL)
If you followed the Kahnawake Hunters’ Founders Cup championship run last summer, you already know the name, Connor Gorman.
While his time inside the box remains a relatively small sample size, Gorman has been anything but quiet on the scoresheet, piling up an eye-popping 158 points in 44 OJBLL regular-season games. He backed that up when it mattered most, adding 18 points in just five games at the 2025 Jr. B National Championships.
At 6-foot-4 and built to play a power game, Gorman brings a rare combination of size, strength and creativity, with the ability to absolutely unload on the ball from the outside. Gorman is headed to Utah for his grad year, meaning teams will have to wait until 2027 before getting him into a training camp to see him compete at a higher level. Regardless of when he arrives, Gorman has all the makings of a potential steal in this year’s draft.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Tristan Bates/Poco Saints
Dylan Ilett, LT, Port Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Dylan Illett is a rare player from the Interior of British Columbia who has come down the Lower Mainland and carved out an integral role with a Junior A club.
The 6-foot, 190-pound defender from Prince George was a quiet but steady and consistent player for Travis Cornwall’s PoCo Saints defence over the last four seasons.
- Aiden Yorke
Photo: Kaylen Lomas/WLA
Brodie Kent, LD, Randolph-Macon & Burnaby (WLA)
Over his time with the Junior Adanacs, Brodie Kent was a sort of human eraser for Pat Coyle’s defence — if a team had a righty that was able to take games over or become a problem, Brodie would seemingly make them go away when he stepped on the floor.
Kent is also an absolute dog in looseball battles and was a staple on the face-off team, collecting many contested loose balls in some very big moments for his team. With some time spent marinating in senior ball and further development at the higher levels, Brodie could bring some of that dog to any NLL team that calls his name at the draft.
- Aiden Yorke
Photo: Ryan McCollough/Brampton Excelsiors
Kaden Kublinskas, RT, Laurier & Brampton (OJLL)
How does a player with blistering speed, elite footwork, transitional upside and solid lacrosse IQ not become a lock for an early-round pick in the 2026 NLL Draft?
For London, Ontario native Kaden Kublinskas, it comes down to his other passion. Fresh off his final year of junior lacrosse, Kublinskas is also gearing up for his third season as a wide receiver for the Laurier Golden Hawks. While his commitment to football creates uncertainty around his immediate lacrosse availability, smart NLL General Managers won't let that deter them. Kublinskas is the perfect "draft and stash" candidate for a team that might not need a player to make an immediate impact this season.
The Brampton Excelsior grad can be a premium, high-ceiling athlete you secure now, even if he spends the near future on the gridiron.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: World Lacrosse
Lukas Kucera, LF, LCC Radotin (CZE)
Kucera is one of the most interesting prospects in this year’s draft just due to being from the Czech Republic. Very rarely do we see prospects come from Europe; however, the Czechs are some of the most technically sound lacrosse nations in the world, especially indoors.
If you caught the European Box Championships earlier this summer, you would’ve caught the lefty showing off his talents with his country. But Kucera has played in the National Box Lacrosse League since he was 16 years old. His best season came last year, when he posted 65 goals and 120 points in 17 games. But unlike most European players, he made the jump to Canada and played a year with Cambridge in the OJBLL.
It would be an incredible feat to see Kucera get drafted this year, and it could lead to more players making their way across the pond to try their hand in the NLL.
Photo: Toronto Beaches
Hunter Lubiniecki, RF, Ottawa & Kitchener (OJLL)
One of the first crop of early renunciations in the 2026 class, Lubiniecki missed a chunk of the 2026 OJLL season due to injury, but when the righty returned to the Kodiaks’ lineup, he was a factor.
With 25 points in eight outings, the three points per game were the best clip of his junior career to date, and he added nine points in five playoff outings in the OJLL. While the numbers might not be eye-popping, Lubiniecki plays a pro-ready style that could fit into any offence. His contributions to the offence span past the score sheet. The Ottawa native is a strong pick-setter who is full-go on every possession. He excels at working in the two-man game and has a great motor. He fights for loose balls and can finish on the inside.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder is going to stay home to finish his college career, committing to UOttawa for this year. That allows him to go into the draft and play in CUFLA. Likely to be a mid-round selection, Lubiniecki would be a solid depth add for an NLL team that can develop long-term.
- Austin Owens
Photo: Shelly Fey/Coquitlam Adanacs
Teharonhiorens McComber, LF, Albany & Kahnawake (TNSLL)
McComber enters the 2026 Draft in a year where lefties will be at a premium. While the Kahnawake product has a smaller frame at 5-foot-9, he is quick and agile, while also being very shifty, keeping defenders on their heels. His creativity and IQ with the ball in his stick is one of his biggest assets.
A 2024 Minto Cup champion with the Coquitlam Adanacs, the lefty finished with over three points per game while helping his team to a title. McComber has since returned home to play Senior B with the Kahnawake Hunters. His brother, Teioshontathe, was also drafted and played for the Georgia Swarm a few years back.
The talent and compete that McComber shows out on the floor should see him get drafted in a month’s time.
Photo: Burnaby Lakers
Joel McCormick, RF, Robert Morris & Burnaby (WLA)
McCormick was featured in our coverage a year ago and was one of the top forwards available initially in last year’s class; however, he was ineligible due to not having completed four seasons in the NCAA.
From all indications, McCormick will be declaring this year for the draft, which should put him in a good spot to be selected this time around. Despite only playing in a pair of games in the WLA this summer with Burnaby, he had eight points, matching his total from all of 2025 with the Lakers.
Despite a 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame, McCormick has a good first step, which helps him get underneath his matchup, and he’s fearless and tenacious when driving the cage. He also has a deceptive shot from the outside that he can let loose from different angles with accuracy.
Photo: Ray McAloney/Whitby Warriors
Eric McDonald, RD, High Point & Oakville (MSL)
While McDonald might not be the biggest body on the back end, he’s physical and fearless. Whether it’s laying into an opponent to get them off their game or dropping the gloves, he punches well above his weight — he and Aaron Toguri had a slugfest two years ago in junior.
We hadn’t seen the Sarnia, Ontario native since the 2024 summer when he aged out with the Beaches, but he’s been able to appear for the Oakville Rock this year, where he’s had three points across seven games while only taking a single minor penalty.
While we have seen defenders with smaller frames fall down the board a bit, McDonald is another player who punches above his weight. Another player who will be returning to school for 2027, McDonald could be a strong add in the middle rounds for the future.
- Austin Owens
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Nate McDonald, LD, Western & Mimico (OJLL)/Coquitlam (BCJALL)
Big, mean, strong, and long are four integral characteristics of an NLL defender and at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, Nate McDonald is all of the above and then some.
McDonald made the jump from Mimico in the OJLL to Coquitlam in the BCJALL, and has brought and edge to a Junior Adanacs defence and has unlocked a new element in Pat Coyle’s system and is catching the attention of some NLL scouts during the ‘Nacs run in the playoffs.
- Aiden Yorke
Photo: Toronto Beaches
Zach Miller, RF, Queen’s (NC) & Brooklin (OSL)
Another member of the Quebec crew that is set to make the jump to the NLL ranks, Miller is an energy player for his team, buzzing around the floor and setting picks and showing strong lacrosse IQ when it comes to being a pick-and-roll finisher.
The Rosemere, Quebec product operates more efficiently around the net. He’s put up over three points per game with the Merchants in OSL this summer. As a mid-to-late round selection, Miller is a player whose game lends well to the senior game due to his selflessness when it comes to opening up teammates. That will help him try to crack a roster in the NLL.
- Austin Owens
Photo: Raiders LC
Zach Moen, RD, Ottawa & Raiders LC (RMJALL)
Moen is a dog on a bone when it comes to on-ball defence. Just watching him operate in his own end, his relentlessness paired with his motor makes him a fun player to watch defensively. He’s also strong off the ground and athletic, helping to outlet the ball and create transition opportunities at the other end of the floor.
Another early declaration in the 2025 NLL Draft that went unselected, it’s hard to imagine a world where he doesn’t hear his name called this year. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder is positionally sound and gaining confidence in transition with every year that passes.
A second consecutive trip to the Minto Cup with the Raiders should cement Moen as a pick in the 2026 class.
Photo: 2025 Minto Cup
Owen Orpana, LF, Kitchener (OJLL)
A two-time Minto Cup champion with the Coquitlam Adanacs, Orpana was a perfect complementary player down the stretch for those teams — he also had an incredibly efficient 55 points in the BCJALL regular season in 2025. After returning to Ontario, he had over five points per game in the ALL, and two points per game for the Kitchener Kodiaks this summer.
Orpana is a hard worker who has a good motor for getting his teammates open in space. But he also is a solid ball carrier who possesses strong passing and vision. He’ll likely be a crease finisher in the NLL, but he’s proven that he can produce at both the junior and ALL ranks already. The 2005-born forward could be a later add for a team that pays dividens.
Caden Padelford, LF, Siena & Paper City (NABLL)
Padelford is a unique prospect in this draft class. You don’t see a ton of prospects come through the NABLL during their draft year, but the league leader in goals (50) also has a long history in box.
The Dalton, Massachusetts native spent time in Kahnawake playing minor lacrosse, namely alongside a pair of future NLL draftees in Trey Deere and Teharonhiorens McComber. He also played briefly for the Junior B Kahnawake Hunters.
Padelford has a heavy outside shot that he is comfortable firing from wherever at any angle. He’s also got a lanky 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, which will help him against senior competition. The American could be a project for a team in the NLL that’s willing to be patient. He’s got a solid background indoors, and with the right situation, he could grow into a dependable player down the road.
Photo: David Pickering/Peterborough Lakers
Nathan Pouliot, RD, Newberry & Cobourg (MSL)
Pouliot spent a lot of his time in junior playing alongside his fellow Quebec natives Jeremi Phoenix, Alexis Simard, and Zach Miller. While the tall righty did play up front as a forward in the OJLL, once he made his way to Cobourg, he found a permanent spot out the back gate for the Kodiaks.
The Rosemere, QC product is a safe player on defence. He’s not going to make many mistakes, and he’ll get on the floor, do his job, and get off — exactly what you’re looking for from a player on the back end.
While he’s focused more on his own end the last few years, the experience as a forward will allow him to be comfortable with the ball in transition when he does get on the run. Pouliot has three years of senior ball under his belt going into this draft, which will give teams assurance that he can take on top competition and not be overwhelmed by the matchups.
Tye Scott, LF, Marquette & Brampton (MSL)
After graduating from junior lacrosse in 2024, Scott returned to box this summer with the Sr. Excelsiors, where he posted a productive 13 goals and 22 points across 10 outings. The Mississauga, Ontario product stands at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, and despite not playing as much box as other prospects in this draft, his summer will open some eyes for teams in the draft.
Scott is transferring to Marquette to finish his junior career, but as a draft-and-stash player, he could hear his name called in the mid-to-late stages of the draft.
Photo: Calgary Mounties
Luke Soenen, RD, Simon Fraser & New Westminster (BCJALL)/Calgary (RMJALL)
The tallest player in the NLL Draft, standing at a staggering 6-foot-8, Soenen’s presence literally cannot be missed any time he steps on the floor.
A transfer deadline pickup by Calgary Mounties, Soenen has brought even more size to an already long and large defensive group, and the New Westminster, BC native will be an intriguing prospect to watch at the 2026 Minto Cup.
- Aiden Yorke
Photo: Calgary Mounties
Tommy St. Louis, G, Calgary (RMJALL)
St. Louis is another player who entered the 2025 NLL Draft early and went unselected. But returning to the RMJALL this summer has cemented the Long Sault, Ontario native as a goalie to watch this year.
With a sub-eight goals-against average and an .835 save percentage in his career in Alberta, St. Louis stands 6-foot-3, 170 pounds. The 2005-born goaltender moves well to the ball and plays his angles well. His anticipation is also one of his best qualities.
Similar to Tommy Wood a year ago, St. Louis is going to be heading into this draft on the heels of a Minto Cup appearance. With the increase in attention, he could be a name you hear more of closer to draft day.
Owen Tovell, LD, Elora/Whitby (OJLL)
While the 2026 draft board features flashier defenders, few can match the sheer reliability of Owen Tovell.
Perfectly embodying the adage that a quiet night for a defender is a great night, the Elora, Ontario native uses his elite positioning, high lacrosse IQ, and fierce competitiveness to shut down top-tier weapons, proving that size isn't everything. Add in a heavily battle-tested resume featuring a Founders Cup title with Elora, a Minto Cup finals appearance with Orangeville, and a deep OJLL playoff run with Whitby, and you have a left-handed defender who simply can get the job done in big moments.
- Pat Gregoire
Photo: Kaylen Lomas/WLA
Ben Vanderkley, LD, Mount Olive & Langley (WLA)
Vanderkley had a good amount of championship experience under his belt during his junior career, having been a part of two Edmonton Miners squads that made runs to the Minto Cup.
Following his time in the RMJALL, the defender made the jump to the WLA with Langley, posting seven goals and 14 points in 31 games over the last two summers. Playing for a younger squad has also given him more reps than if he were on a more veteran-heavy summer ball squad. Vanderkley will look to be one of the latest Alberta natives to make the jump to the NLL ranks in this draft.
Photo: Dave Fryer/Orangeville Northmen
Zach Vanderwal, RD, Toronto (OJLL)/Port Coquitlam (BCJALL)
2026 will be Vanderwal’s second go-around in the draft process. He was an early entrant last year after a back-half run with the Beaches in the OJLL last summer. But after going unselected, he returned to Toronto this summer in an increased role, where he was able to showcase himself as a dependable player on the back end.
Standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, the Strathroy, Ontario product is a pain to play against for forwards, as he leans on the opposition while also killing penalties. Vanderwal hasn’t had the splashiest transition numbers in Junior A, but he had two points per game in the OJBLL this summer, as well as 34 assists and 45 points for London a year ago. So there is some upside there.
He’s had some great NLL coaches between Reilly O’Connor, Damon Edwards, Jackson Nishimura, and Luc Magnan with the Beaches, as well as the Cornwall brothers with PoCo. It could take a few years for Vanderwal to hit his stride in the NLL, he’s an intriguing prospect for the future.
- Austin Owens
Photo: Toronto Beaches
Owen Wills, LD, Saint Leo & Brooklin (OSL)
Wills has a solid frame, standing 6-foot-2, and he uses his size to his advantage when it comes to maneuvering the two-man game and using leverage against opposing forwards. But his best asset is his IQ. Wills thinks the defensive side of the game at a high level, and that’ll allow him to make the jump to pro easier than others. He also has legitimate transition upside, having a point per game for Brooklin in the MSL last summer and 16 points in 12 games for the Merchants this summer.
A Founders Cup and Minto Cup champion with Nepean and Burlington, respectively, the Kingston, Ontario native has the right blend to excel in the pro ranks.
- Austin Owens