The 2024-2025 NLL rookie class looks to be one to remember.Â
With two first overall selections making their debut (Dyson Williams was drafted a year before Brennan O’Neill), it is a loaded class with a variety of players with different skill sets. The depth of the group demanded some attention across the LCD platform, so stay tuned every Tuesday for the NLL Rookie Report.
Every team in the NLL has had at least one rookie compete this season. But none more than the Saskatchewan Rush, Vancouver Warriors, and Albany Firewovles. All three of those teams have had four rookies compete this season. The Bandits, Swarm, Desert Dogs and Knighthawks have only had one first-year player compete.
So far, 34 rookies have competed across the league, scoring 74 points on 29 goals and 45 assists. Every team has had at least one rookie compete this season.
Those 29 goals have been scored by 14 different players. We took a look at each of their first career goals, which you can find below!
Brennan O’Neill leads all rookies with 9 points in two games, fresh off a 4 goal, 1 assist game against the Desert Dogs. Whitby Warriors alumni Adam Poitras and WIlliams are tied for the lead in assists with 5, while Poitras also leads all rookies in loose balls with 26 in three games.
That is impressive because of the faceoff men that are included in this group. Vancouver’s Alex Stathakis (30/43, 69.8%), Saskatchewan’s Jake Naso (19-44, 43.2%) and Philadelphia’s Nathan Fehr (17/31, 54.8%) have all made good contributions to their new teams at the stripe.
Brock Haley sits just behind Williams and Poitras in the points race with 7, followed by Adam Noakes (5 points), Brian Cameron (4 points) and Mike Robinson (4 points).
Poitras also leads all rookies in Caused Turnovers with 4, while Toronto’s Jake Darlison and Colorado’s Conner Cook have 3 each. Will Johansen and Naso have both caused multiple turnovers as well.
Calgary’s Caelan Mander is the only rookie to have blocked more than one shot this season.
In the cage, Nathan Whittom, Andrew Kidd, Colby Bowman, and Connor O’Toole have all dressed for all their team’s games. Bowman has seen the most action with 17 minutes played, allowing 2 goals on 13 shots.
The full list of rookies can be found below! Make sure to stay tuned every week for the Rookie Report!