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2026 Rochester Knighthawks vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs

10 NLL Rookies Who Could Steal The Spotlight In 2026-27

10 NLL Rookies Who Could Steal The Spotlight In 2026-27

Meet 10 NLL rookies and prospects to watch in 2026-27, including Finn Thomson, Joey Spallina and Dante Bowen. Follow the season on FloLacrosse.

Nov 11, 2026 by Joe Harrington
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Behind The Scenes: NLL And FLoLacrosse Press Conference0:49

Finn Thomson, Joey Spallina and Dante Bowen are among the NLL rookies and prospects to watch in 2026-27, with opportunities ranging from helping a rebuilding team to competing for a role with a playoff contender.

Last season showed how much a newcomer can matter. Sam English earned Finals MVP honors during the Toronto Rock’s championship run, while teammate CJ Kirst was named NLL Rookie of the Year.

Here are 10 names to follow as the season approaches. The list includes signed newcomers, camp participants and draft picks whose availability and roster status still need to be settled.

UPCOMING

2026 Rochester Knighthawks vs Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Sat, Dec 19 · 3:30 AM UTC

WATCH

1. Finn Thomson, Rochester Knighthawks

Rochester Knighthawks made Thomson the first overall selection in the 2026 NLL Draft, giving the Knighthawks a prominent offensive prospect as they try to improve on a 6-12 season.

The Syracuse forward recorded 111 goals and 48 assists for 159 points in 65 games during his career with the Orange. That production makes his transition to the professional box game worth following.

New coach Troy Cordingley’s team has several changes to sort through, but developing the No. 1 pick figures to be one of Rochester’s most compelling stories.

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2. Silas Richmond, Toronto Rock

The defending champions added another young name to follow when they selected Richmond second overall.

Toronto knows what rookie contributions can mean after English and Kirst helped the Rock win their seventh championship. Richmond now enters an organization with that recent example of newcomers making an impact.

Kirst is expected to miss the beginning of the season with a lower-body injury. That adds interest to Toronto’s depth, although Richmond’s contract status and availability need to be established before projecting him into the lineup.

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3. Michael White, Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Las Vegas selected White fourth overall and signed the defenseman to a three-year contract, making him one of the young additions to follow as the Desert Dogs pursue a playoff berth.

An 8-10 record left Las Vegas outside the postseason last season. The club responded with moves that included adding goaltender Nick Damude and investing an early pick in White.

White’s opportunity is to earn a place in coach Shawn Williams’ defensive plans and help turn those additions into results.

4. Joey Spallina, Calgary Roughnecks

Calgary’s interest in Spallina came with a significant price. The Roughnecks traded the No. 10 selection and a 2027 first-round pick to move up and take him fifth overall.

That investment makes the offensive prospect one of the club’s most interesting young players to follow.

Calgary finished 6-12 last season despite strong individual scoring seasons from Tanner Cook and Tyler Pace. Spallina offers another potential piece for the attack, with his availability and roster status the first questions to resolve.

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5. Dante Bowen, Buffalo Bandits

Bowen brings defensive and transition potential to a Buffalo team looking to respond after its bid for a fourth consecutive championship ended in the quarterfinals.

The Bandits selected him sixth overall and announced a three-year contract in October. At Syracuse in 2026, he collected 16 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers in 19 games.

Those are college field lacrosse numbers, but they provide a starting point for following his adjustment to the NLL. Buffalo’s camp also includes experienced defenders Steve Priolo and Cam Wyers.

6. Chad Palumbo, Calgary Roughnecks

Spallina was only part of Calgary’s investment in young offensive talent. Two picks later, the Roughnecks selected Palumbo at No. 7.

That gives Calgary two early selections to develop around an attack that already features Cook, who led the NLL with 49 goals last season, and Pace, who also topped 100 points.

Palumbo’s signing and availability remain details to watch. Once those are settled, the question becomes how coach Josh Sanderson can fit another young offensive option into his plans.

7. Aaron Toguri, Saskatchewan Rush

The eighth overall pick is part of a substantial group of young challengers in Saskatchewan. Toguri was included on the Rush’s announced 30-player camp roster, which features 19 returnees and five 2026 draft selections.

He is trying to find a role with a team that went 12-6 last season before losing to eventual champion Toronto in the quarterfinals.

That makes his progress especially interesting: How much room can a young player earn on a team with an established returning group?

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8. Aidan Maguire, San Diego Seals

The Seals selected Maguire 10th overall and signed him to a three-year contract. The Duke product enters the NLL as a left-handed defenseman.

San Diego reached the semifinals last season and retained several established contributors, including reigning NLL Transition Player of the Year Zach Currier.

Maguire’s development adds another reason to watch the Seals. His first task is to establish where he fits in coach Patrick Merrill’s defensive plans as San Diego looks to build on that playoff run.

9. Zach Moen, Calgary Roughnecks

Calgary’s draft story extends beyond its two offensive selections. The Roughnecks also took defender Moen at No. 14.

He joins the organization during an offseason that included signing defensive additions Ben Kromer, Nicholas Volkov and Cole Begley to two-year agreements.

That gives Moen a different storyline from Spallina and Palumbo: Can a young defender work his way into a group with several newcomers? His progress is another part of Calgary’s effort to move beyond last season’s six-win finish.

10. Cole Teeple, Colorado Mammoth

Teeple is one of Colorado’s 2026 draft selections included in its announced 40-player training camp, along with Ryan Stines and Zach Constantopolous.

The Mammoth finished second in the regular season at 12-6 before a 12-11 overtime quarterfinal loss to San Diego. They also retained leading offensive contributors Will Malcom and Andrew Kew.

For Teeple, the immediate challenge is earning a place around that returning core. A crowded camp makes him a prospect to follow through roster decisions and the competition for depth roles.

How To Watch The NLL In 2026-27

Fans can watch the 2026-27 NLL regular season and playoffs on FloLacrosse and the FloSports app. The season begins Nov. 27, when the Saskatchewan Rush visit the Oshawa FireWolves.

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FloLacrosse Archived Footage

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloLacrosse subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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