It has been a crazy start to the 2024-2025 NLL season. We typically have a good idea going into every year of which teams are going to be dominant and which teams are going to fall below the pack. As we enter 2025, the script has been flipped on its head in just a few weeks. I’ve been able to watch a good amount of games so far this year, and 2025 is ramping up to be one of the most exhilarating box lacrosse seasons in quite some time, just due to the parity across the league along with new powerhouses taking the place of ones that have fallen. Let’s take a look at some of the main takeaways from the NLL season so far as we head into the new year.
Buffalo Bandits Dominance
The Buffalo Bandits are doing Bandit things, starting the year 3-0 with a plus-26 goal differential. Despite winning back-to-back championships last year, the start of the regular season was a little rough for this crew, as they finished the regular season 11-7. The Bandits have come out and just steamrolled everyone in front of them, including a 15-7 win over the Rochester Nighthawks, an 18-7 win over the Ottawa Black Bears, and a 13-6 win over the Rochester Nighthawks again. Granted, these aren’t the toughest opponents in the world, but the Bandits are looking like a team that can certainly repeat titles in 2025.
Toronto Rock Downward Slope
What a rocky start to the year it has been for the Toronto Rock. They were certainly a team that had high hopes, as they do every year, as one of the perennial forces in box lacrosse. They finished last year with a 15-3 record and have already surpassed their loss total from last year, standing at 0-4. Looking at this past week’s injury report, it’s clear to see why. With guys like Tom Schreiber, Challen Rogers, Latrell Harris, TD Ierlan, and Mark Matthews all making an appearance on the injury report, it directly translates to an 0-4 record. The team has looked pretty dysfunctional in the games they have played, and it will be interesting to see if they can find a path to success this season.
The Swarm, Wings, and Rush?!
Outside of the Buffalo Bandits, the Georgia Swarm, Philadelphia Wings, and Saskatchewan Rush all fall within the top four. These teams have looked very dominant to start the year, especially considering where they were last year. The Georgia Swarm finished the best out of the group last year with a 10-8 record. The Rush were next with a flipped 8-10 record, with the Wings falling far behind the pack at 6-12. These teams currently combine for a 10-2 record, which is a stark contrast to how they played last year. All of these teams were fine last year, but none of them looked like they could really compete for a title. With a small sample size of five weeks under our belt, it is a treat to see some newer faces toward the top of the leaderboard as we head into 2025.
FireWolves Haven’t Taken a Step
After an incredible run to the finals last year, where they met with an invincible Buffalo Bandits squad, the Albany FireWolves have started the year 1-3. The team was extremely young last year, and I’m sure the front office was really hoping these guys would take a step forward in the offseason, building off the momentum they had. Sadly, the team still looks very young and has struggled to find their groove this year. They have a plus-five goal differential and one of the best goals-against margins in the league, so defense appears to be doing its job. The offense just needs to find some rhythm with the young growing stars and hopefully turn the season around in 2025. This team should be a force in the NLL for years to come, but they are already starting on a downward slope with three losses to their one win.
Jeff Teat Needs Help
With the New York Riptide relocating to Ottawa as the Black Bears, many hoped for a new era of lacrosse for Jeff Teat in the NLL. The reigning PLL MVP had a remarkable NLL season last year but did not necessarily accumulate the wins the team had hoped for. The team currently has a 2-1 record, with their only loss coming against the Buffalo Bandits. It will be interesting to see how this team continues moving forward because they are only averaging 10 goals a game. Teat is doing everything he can, but he needs more help from the supporting cast if this team wants to win at a high level this year.