It’s nearly time for the 2025-26 NLL season to get underway, and now that teams are fully in the midst of training camp, we wanted to take the chance to talk about what’s on everyone’s minds in the lacrosse world; Next year’s NLL Draft.

We’ve got nearly a full year until the 2026 NLL Draft, but its never too early to look ahead to prospects who could be making waves in the NLL around this time next year.

In honour of the 26 class, we’ve selected our favourite 26 players from across all positions to keep on your radar heading through the season and into next year.

Let’s jump in!

FORWARDS

David Anderson, RF, Yale & Cobourg (MSL)

Anderson is going to be a hot commodity in this draft, simply because he’s going to have a wealth of experience in senior lacrosse unlike possibly any other prospect to come out of the draft. He’ll also likely be the oldest prospect in this draft. Because of COVID, Anderson didn’t make his way to Yale until the 2023 season — the college season after he graduated junior.

But that 2022 run with the Beaches, Anderson was an absolute mutant, showing off his elite shooting and strength when going downhill. This absurd goal against Peterborough is just one of the highlights he had while averaging over two goals and nearly four points a game in the postseason.

When he moved to Major Series Lacrosse, he was named the Rookie of the Year in 2023 after posting 46 points in 14 games. Anderson has played three summers with the Kodiaks, but he ended this summer with the Six Nations Rivermen, where he had 29 points in six Presidents Cup games.

The grandson of one of the greatest lacrosse players ever in Gaylord Powless, Anderson just makes lacrosse look easy when he’s locked in. He rips the pill and has a great blend of speed and strength to go along with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame.

Matt Collison, LF, Johns Hopkins & Snake Island (TNSLL)

Collison is going to be a problem in the pro game for years to come once he graduates from Johns Hopkins.

The lefty is a house, standing at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. What Collison is best known for is his incredible shot. He can absolutely hammer the ball from the outside, but if defenders over-commit on that, he can tuck and go, and his finishing in tight is among the best in this class. The athleticism is also there, even for a player of his frame. The one thing Collison could do more, ironically, is use his size more. He loves beating defenders with his speed and skill, but there’s an odd time when he just puts his shoulder down and sends a defender flying. If he leans on that size more along with the rest of the package, he’ll be nightmare fuel for opposing defenders

Another member of the Snake Island Muskies this summer, Collison spent the summer in the US, but he could pop back up in the TNSLL next summer or play MSL for Oakville, who have his rights after drafting him back in January. He’s also slotted to be a top pick in the PLL. Regardless of whether he chooses to do that next summer, he’ll be a top name in this draft. Another strong summer will have him in the conversation for the first overall pick.

Lucas Dudemaine, LF, Georgetown & Brampton (MSL)

With a star-studded lineup in Mimico last summer, Dudemaine stood out as an energy guy for the Mountaineers, both offensively and on the bench. When he scored, he’d give the whole team a shot in the arm with his excitement.

Playing opposite Finn Thomson in junior, Dudemaine had 36 goals and 89 points last year in the OJLL. He only played one game for Brampton this summer, but at the World Lacrosse Box Championships with Italy a year ago, he had a ridiculous 60 points in eight games.

Dudemaine is uber athletic, with the ability to beat defenders underneath or over the top, with his hands and shot making him a dangerous scoring threat everytime he has the ball. He’s also got the clutch gene that few individuals possess. He found the back of the net at key times last summer for Mimico on their run to the Ontario finals, including an OT winner to send them to the finals and a winner in the finals at the Bunny Barn.

Dudemaine will likely have to put in a full summer of senior to cement himself in this class, but he should be a lock first-round pick in 2026.

Xander Derkatz, RF, Siena & Owen Sound (MSL)

Derkatz split his junior career between his hometown Windsor Clippers and the Oakville Buzz in the OJLL. While his numbers with the Buzz weren’t crazy, he was also sharing touches with Eddie Qu and Will Sheehan — more on them later.

Once he was moved to Burlington in his final year, he had 20 points in six regular-season contests. In his first season in MSL this summer, he had 35 assists and 47 points in 20 combined games between regular season and playoffs.

A strong feeder who doesn’t take his looks on net for granted, Derkatz has a strong shot and is shifty when maneuvering in the offensive zone. He’s also extremely creative with his shots, whether it’s a sneaky behind-the-back effort, a between-the-legs shot, or a jump shot on the run. With another year of MSL next summer, he’ll continue to build on what is already a solid resume heading into the 2026 NLL Draft.

Photo: Brandon Taylor/Six Nations Arrows

Thunder Hill, LF, Onondaga & Six Nations (OSL)

Hill has a proven track record as a point producer at every level he’s played at. He was a 50-point player for a majority of his junior career, and he topped out at 81 points in his graduate season split between Six Nations and St. Catharines. He’s played parts of three seasons of ALL ball, throwing up over four points game in every season, and he had 41 goals and 75 points for the Six Nations Rivermen this summer in the OSL.

A Six Nations resident, Hill stands at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds. He’ll have to bulk up if he wants to be among the top players in this draft. But the skill is there in droves. He’s a strong playmaker who can free his hands up and rip the ball with great accuracy when he gets a look on goal. His hands are elite, and Hill is a gamer. We’ve seen players on the smaller side slip down the board to teams later on, willing to take a flier. That could happen with Hill, but the team that gets him could be landing one of the best pure offensive talents available in the ‘26 draft.

Bowie Horsman, RF, Cornell & Brampton (MSL)

Because of the firepower in this draft, Horsman may go as a name that doesn’t get as much attention among the top forwards in this draft, but the righty has always been a proven contributor in the box game.

The top options for the Jr Excelsiors for a few seasons, Horsman joined Orangeville at last summer’s deadline and posted 25 points in eight games before going off for 47 points in the playoffs while the Northmen advanced to the Minto Cup.

Horsman had no trouble producing in MSL this summer either, as he came up just short of two points per game against pro competition with Brampton. With a strong outside shot, smarts, and a knack for setting up teammates for chances, Horsman will be a nice addition for an NLL team.

He’s proven that he can be a center point for an offence and also play a supporting role when needed. He’ll plug and play for a team in a year’s time.

Brian Jackman, LF, UMass & Oakville (MSL)

Jackman might not have put up the big numbers that some of the other players on this list have, but what makes him stand out is that he does everything at 100 miles an hour and all out. His drive and effort level are a massive part of his game. He goes hard into battles, sets great picks, and tracks back extremely well to pressure defenders to force turnovers.

That’s not to say that Jackman isn’t also a skilled playmaker when the ball is in his stick. He’s a steady finisher in tight and can fire the ball when he comes over the top, but when we saw him with Orangeville last summer, he was used as a great complimentary player to some of their star players.

With a big and sturdy frame, Jackman doesn’t get pushed around very often, and that pro-ready size is going to help him be a solid contributor in an NLL lineup.

Photo: Reuben Polansky-Shapiro/World Lacrosse

Koleton Marquis, RF, Albany & Peterborough (MSL)

Despite putting up nearly 70 assists and 112 points in the regular season and 48 points in the playoffs for Orangeville in 2023, it felt like Marquis was a little underrated around the other big names on that roster.

The righty is lightning in a bottle, without a weakness in his offensive game. He’s a very intelligent player who has an outstanding shot from the outside and elite vision and distributing abilities. In a year and a half with Peterborough, he’s put up strong numbers in the MSL. But he finished this summer at home, playing for the Kahnawake Mohawks before playing in the Presidents Cup with the Allegany Arrows.

Marquis was an alternate for the Haudenosaunee Nationals at last year’s World Box Championships, and in the lone game he appeared in, he went off for six goals against Israel, where he just sliced and diced through the defence.

Quick, twitchy, and creative, Marquis is going to be a special player in the National Lacrosse League. He’s going to land with a franchise and become a fan favourite with his electric style and fearlessness on the floor.

Greg Palmer, RF, Saint Leo & Owen Sound (MSL)

A mainstay with the Beaches during previous summers, Palmer wasn’t able to appear in his first year of MSL this summer due to a torn ACL suffered at the NCBS Championships last year.

The righty posted his first 100-point season in 2024, coming off the heels of an 86-point year in 2023. Palmer has a small frame at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, but if you watch him, he plays like he’s 6-feet plus. His motor and effort are big parts of his game, and he goes into battles on the walls or in traffic with zero fear. The knock will be his size, but there’s more than enough talent for a team to give Palmer a look.

He’ll return for his senior year at Saint Leo this spring, and he’ll get a full summer of ball with Owen Sound in MSL to make up for lost time.

Silas Richmond, RF, Albany & Burnaby (WLA)

Richmond is one of the most dynamic forwards in this class. He can do it all on the offensive end. He’s got tremendous athleticism for a player that stands at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, his IQ is among the best in this group, he can navigate the two-man game well as either a facilitator or a pick-and-roll option. His shot is heavy, and he places it very well. He can feed teammates for prime scoring opportunities and he can also score some absolute beauties with his hands and physicality in tight.

We saw what Richmond could do offensively when he joined the POCO Saints last year on their run to the Minto Cup, putting up 33 points in seven postseason contests and four points a game in the Canadian Championships. But how would he do once he made the jump to the WLA?

Richmond went on to lead Burnaby in goals with 30 this summer and was second in team scoring with 54 points as a rookie. The Delta, BC product is NLL-ready now, and another year of senior ahead of the 2026 NLL Draft will only solidify his status as one of the top weapons available. He’ll be a lock for the top 10, if not higher come draft day next fall.

Will Sheehan, RF, Yale & Toronto (OJLL)

Sheehan was a consistent 70-80 point guy in the OJLL with an Oakville team that relied on him to be their top scorer. When he was traded to Toronto to end his junior career, he joined a stacked offensive unit featuring a few names in this draft class. He wound up posting 22 goals and 37 points in just eight games, showing off his elite scoring ability.

While Sheehan stands at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, he’s lanky for that frame and has room to grow as he gets towards jumping into the NLL. What we do know about him is that he’s an elite goal scorer. He surpassed the 40-goal mark in his final three years of junior. An elite shot with great placement is also aided by Sheehan being able to fire the ball from a number of angles.

Sheehan has proven himself previously against senior competition as well. He played one call-up game in the MSL bubble in 2021 and had four goals and an assist. He also played a year of ALL in 2022, and averaged five points per game in 11 outings. If he does play MSL with Oakville next year, Sheehan should cement himself as a top option in this class.

Joey Spallina, RF, Syracuse & Snake Island (TNSLL)

Could it be three straight years that we see an American selected first overall in the National Lacrosse League?

Spallina certainly has a case to be the first name off the board next year. Unlike Brennan O’Neill and even CJ Kirst, Spallina has spent three years up North, playing summer ball, and he’s dominated every step of the way. In his two summers in the OJLL with Orangeville, he posted back-to-back 70-assist years, including a 40-goal campaign in 2024. He also had 40 goals and 86 points in the playoffs while helping the Northmen to the Minto Cup last year.

The Mount Sinai, New York native is elite across the board. His vision and feeding ability are top-notch, and if defences don’t respect him as a shooter, he’ll hammer shots home from distance. But what might be the most impressive thing about watching Spallina firsthand is his motor. He tracks back to try to cause turnovers and always plays physically — not shying away from anyone.

A top recruit out of school, Spallina has been highly anticipated in the pro game for at least half a decade. His dominant summer in Snake Island ended with a Presidents Cup, and he’ll continue to help an NLL team with that winning pedigree when he enters the league next season.

Finn Thomson, RF, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)

Speaking of candidates for the top pick in the draft…

The youngest of the Thomson brothers, Finn has been putting up cartoonish numbers for years now. A strong showing in the 2021 bubble was followed by three consecutive years passing the 100-point mark.

After 124- and 130-point campaigns, Thomson had 105 in the regular season with Mimico last summer but exploded for 68 points in 14 playoff outings.

He’s an elite talent who can do it all on the offensive end. While he’s always posted more assist totals in junior, Thomson hit 40-plus goals in every full season in the OJLL. He’s got a knack for the net, whether it’s setting up teammates for grade-A scoring opportunities or burying the ball with his heavy shot or deft ability in tight.

With 18 goals and 40 points in just nine games with Brampton in the MSL this year, he proved that he can do it against the next level of opponents. Another year of senior will have Thomson ready to rip up the NLL in 2026 and beyond.

DEFENDERS

Dante Bowen, RT, Syracuse & Brampton (MSL)

Bowen jumped off the screen well before he made his way to Orangeville in 2024, but it was that 2024 season where the defender really came into his own as a matchup nightmare who really caused trouble for opposing forwards.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is a pure athlete who has strength to boot. He’s got a great mind for the defensive side of the floor and comes with a mean streak and some swagger on the back end. He’ll shut you down and then let you hear about it all the way to the bench.

Bowen did put up some numbers in junior, but there always seemed to be more for him to unlock in transition. He focused on the defensive side mostly once he got to the Northmen, helping to shore up their back end on a team that went to the Minto final.

Playing for his hometown Sr. Excelsiors this summer, Bowen got a taste of senior opposition. He will finish his career with Syracuse after transferring for his redshirt senior year, but he should be the top defender in the 2026 class.

Ben Coghill, RT, Albany & Coquitlam (BCJALL)

A massive cog in the Coquitlam Adanacs’ back-to-back Minto Cup wins — pun absolutely intended — the Maple Ridge, BC native has logged regular minutes in big games for Pat Coyle and Co.

While he’s not the biggest body, standing just 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Coghill is steady while navigating his own end. He’s calm, smart, and doesn’t over-extend, while not ceding ground to opposing forwards. He has chipped in modest numbers during his junior days, but he focuses more on his own end. Coghill also took draws for the Adanacs, giving him that versatility that coaches will covet.

Nick Crowley, LD, Princeton & Peterborough (MSL)

Crowley was named a finalist for the OJLL’s Defensive Player of the Year for a reason: He’s a stingy force on the back end who displays strong IQ, ability to get out and produce in transition, and a mean streak going up against opposing forwards.

He’s a problem on the back end, serving as one of the pillars for the Jr Lakers’ defence for the majority of his junior career. He also put up a point per game in 2022 and 11 points in 20 games in 2024 while playing more of a shutdown role for a Peterborough defence that was one of the best in the OJLL.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder is going to be a special talent with a strong ceiling for the future. While he didn’t play box this summer, the Princeton product will likely feature for the Sr. Lakers next summer before the draft, where he should be among the top defenders to hear their names called.

Photo: Ryan McCollough/Brampton Excelsiors

Kaden Kublinskas, RD, Laurier & Brampton (OJLL)

This one is a bit of a projection of someone who could turn a strong summer into a higher draft slot in the 2026 class. Kublinskas might be the fastest player in the OJLL. His breakaway speed is something to watch, and while he does have some filling out to do physically, he has shown the two-way traits to be an intriguing prospect when it comes to the NLL.

The question with the London, Ontario product is his what his future plans are when it comes to lacrosse. He currently plays football at Wilfrid Laurier, which is one of the best collegiate teams North of the border.

If Kublinskas wants to stick with lacrosse, he could have a high ceiling. He was a captain for Brampton last summer, and while his numbers weren’t off the charts last summer in Junior A, he had 25 goals and 35 points in the OJBLL with the London Blue Devils. He’ll be a kid to keep tabs on in the coming summer.

Justin Lee, RT, Albany & Brooklin (MSL)

Lee was another staple of the Mimico core that nearly made the Minto a few years back. Playing as a forward during junior, he has switched to the back gate this summer with Brooklin, and done a good job at it. It’s not a surprise given that the 6-foot-5, 200-pounder plays as a long-stick midfielder for Albany in college.

Tall, rangy, and athletic is a great mix for a player on defence, and Lee also doesn’t shy away from the physical stuff. With a second summer of ball with Brooklin next summer, he’ll be poised to step into an NLL roster and cement his place. With that frame and ability to get out and produce on the other end, he’ll be a sought-after player next year.

Eoin MacKay, RD, Binghampton & Oakville (MSL)

The younger brother of Bandits standout Ian MacKay, Eoin was a trusted defender for the Toronto Beaches in junior before jumping up to play with Oakville in MSL and Owen Sound in the OSL this summer.

While he doesn’t have the same transition prowess as his brother, MacKay is a strong defender who is able to excel in the two-man game and be sound while playing in his own end. He’s also able to take penalty kill duties. He’s got some ability to get out and produce in transition, but his bread and butter is being a rock for his team defensively.

MacKay is one of those players who plays a quiet game. He gets on the floor, does his job, and gets off — exactly what you’re looking for as a defensive coach. The added potential for transition is just the cherry on top.

Nate Ruff, LT, Robert Morris & Brampton (MSL)

Ruff was one of the most relied on defenders on Orangeville during his junior days. Despite standing at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he’s able to body up matchups and stand his ground while also having a strong stick and a knack for causing turnovers.

A former Transition Player of the Year nominee, he can also make things happen on the offensive side of things, as he had two double-digit-point seasons in junior. He also had a strong first showing in MSL, putting up five goals and seven points with Brampton this past summer. Ruff will be a player to watch as we near the draft next year. He’ll likely have a large role for the Sr. Excelsiors again next year. That should set him up well to head into an NLL camp.

Alexis Simard, LD, Canisius & Brooklin (MSL)

After Terrebonne, Quebec native Jeremi Phoenix-Lefebvre heard his name called in the first round of the 2025 NLL Draft, three more Quebec products have a chance to be drafted in 2026. Simard should be the first one of the trio off the board.

The defender was and is a thorn in the sides of every forward he goes up against. He never backs down from a battle, stays in your face, and is a pest for an entire 60 minutes. Add to that his IQ, footwork, and positioning on the defensive side of the ball, and you have a great defender who can be plugged into an NLL lineup and thrive.

While he’s shown during his Junior A career that he’s able to be a transition threat, he’s focused more on his own end in Senior. But at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Simard has the opportunity to grow into a big part of a defensive unit wherever he lands in the draft next year.

Owen Tasse, LD, St. Bonaventure & Toronto (OJLL)

The younger brother of 2025 draft pick Payton Tasse, Owen is a dynamic two-way threat who is on the rise.

Missing the 2024 season after a torn ACL suffered at school, Tasse was a part of both the Nepean Knights’ 2022 Founders Cup Championship squad and the Burlington Chiefs’ 2023 Minto Cup team. He finished up his junior career with the Beaches, being relied on as one of their top matchup defenders and penalty killers.

Tasse is a massive body, standing at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, and while he’s a dynamite defender, it’s his freakish blend of strength, aggressiveness, and speed that makes him special. The Ottawa, Ontario native has breakaway speed, a great shot, and good hands on the run. Pair that with a high IQ and you’ve got a defender who will be a first-rounder in the 2026 NLL Draft.

He’s going to make an MSL team very happy next summer, and it won’t be too much longer until we see him playing every weekend in the NLL.

Aaron Toguri, LD, Jacksonville & Orangeville (OJLL)

It felt weird to see Toguri in anything other than Double Blue, but that’s exactly what happened to end this summer. The lifelong Mimico Mountaineer was shipped to the rival Orangeville Northmen as they made a run to the Minto Cup Final.

The reigning OJLL Defender of the Year was a menace out of the back door, serving as a thorn in the side to opposing forwards on a nightly basis. While he wasn’t the biggest transition threat during his junior career, he did start the 2025 OJLL season with 10 points in 12 games for Mimico before being traded. He went back to his usual shutdown role.

A contender to be the top defensive name off the board, Toguri is a steady presence on the back end who will have a long NLL career.

Michael White, RD, Queen’s (NC) & Brooklin (MSL)

A member of the 2022 Whitby Warriors Minto Cup squad, White has proved himself to be one of the best true defenders in the 2026 draft. After helping the Warriors capture a championship, he featured for Brooklin in MSL in 2023, along with his regular duty in the OJLL.

In his first full summer of senior this year, White was a physical force on the back end for a BLC squad that pushed a strong Peterborough squad to the brink in the MSL semi-finals.

At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, White is a handful for forwards to deal with. Despite his big frame, he moves well and has good footwork that helps him stick with his matchup. He has also shown some ability to produce offensively, but he’s more than likely to be a stay-at-home guy at the NLL level than a two-way threat.

With his defensive prowess, White is going to be in the conversation to be the top defensive player off the board. He’s going to have a long NLL career.

Photo: Michelle Malvaso/K-W Lacrosse Club

Owen Wills, LT, Saint Leo & Brooklin (MSL)

Wills is yet another member of that Nepean crew that took home the Founders Cup in 2022 before helping Burlington to a Minto Cup a year later in 2023. He’s also come into his own as a defender in field, as he was named an All-American last year with Saint Leo while setting the program’s single-season caused turnover record (34).

Positionally sound, athletic, and smart, Wills is a workhorse on the back end. He can either play as a matchup defender or pester opposing forwards. He’s very hard to shake, and his speed allows him to produce at both ends. Brooklin opted to use him as a forward this summer in MSL, and while he can take shifts up front, his value at the next level likely comes as a transition threat.

Another summer of senior will benefit the Kingston, Ontario product, who has a strong ceiling after an impressive junior career.

GOALIES

Saka Thompson, SUNY Potsdam & Six Nations (OJLL)

Thompson first got on the radar as a goaltender of the future when he helped lead Akwesasne to the Founders Cup in 2023. After that summer, he moved up to the OJLL and he has been the backbone for the Six Nations Arrows for the past two seasons.

Posting a goals-against average under 10 and a save percentage over .850 for two consecutive years, Thompson was a runner-up in both years. But he dropped the award to Saskatchewan’s Thomas Kiazyk last year, and Kiigs Shognosh — a 2025 NLL first-rounder — this summer.

Thompson was picked up by the Six Nations Chiefs ahead of the 2025 Mann Cup, which has been a position that an NLL keeper has held in previous years. He stands at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, and despite the smaller frame, he fills out the net well and is very athletic in the crease. He tracks the play and moves to the ball very well, and he’s got great anticipation.

Barring another tender entering the draft early, Thompson will be the top goalie in the class. It’ll be interesting to see where he plays next summer. The Chiefs are sorted in the crease, so could Thompson find his way to Senior B in the OSL or TNSLL?

26 Players to Watch in the 2026 NLL Draft