2025 NLL Playoff Bubble Teams
Vancouver projects to be better on both offense and defense, but they still have a big question mark at goaltender. Aden Walsh showed improvement as last season progressed, but the uncertainty surrounding him and the current playoff and title odds make the Warriors a pass for me.
While head coach Curt Malawsky will keep this team competitive as they continue to build on last season, the missing piece will continue to be former Calgary starting goaltender and 2023 NLL MVP Christian Del Bianco. Del Bianco announced he won’t play for the Roughnecks this season. despite them franchise tagging him, and will continue to hold out until he’s traded to Vancouver so he can play closer to home. While that still could happen at some point this season, it’s likelier we’ll have to wait until next season at the earliest to see Del Bianco suit up for the Warriors.
Philadelphia could surprise some teams this year and their healthy mix of veterans and young talent will make them a tough out. I also like how they’ve managed to address their areas of need this offseason.
Losing Ben McIntosh to San Diego was a significant departure, but they managed to sign veteran righty Callum Crawford to fill the void. Phil Caputo is an underrated acquisition as well and the 2024 first overall draft pick Brennan O’Neill looked comfortable enough in training camp to make an immediate impact.
One of the issues that plauged them the past few seasons has been defense, particularly in transition. Yet, the Wings added a handful of former Panther City defenders and transition players (Liam Patten, Connor Sellars, Tyler Burton and Tony Malcolm), which should give new goaltender Nick Damude a familiar defensive presence that he had in Fort Worth. With former Panther City head coach Tracey Kelusky also joining this Philly coaching staff as the associate head coach, it’s clear that new head coach Ian Rubel is looking to build on what the now-defunct Panther City squad did so well these past couple seasons.
With all that said, I’m passing on their playoff and championship futures right now and will instead look to bet them as big underdogs in certain spots.
Halifax is a team I could see taking a step back this season. After three straight first round playoff exits, the Thunderbirds had a notably quiet offseason. Two of their top-three leading scorers Austin Shanks and Ryan Benesch moved on to Saskatchewan and San Diego respectively. Expectations will be high for replacements Thomas Hoggarth and rookie Mike Robinson and Halifax will need veterans Randy Staats and Cody Jamieson to both stay healthy and shoulder more of the weight on offense.
Despite some big names on defense, I’m also not convinced that Warren Hill and Co. will be able to give the offense the support it needs against the high-powered offenses it will face. The Thunderbirds could find themselves on the outside looking in come playoffs and +164 on FanDuel is enough for me to bet a half unit on them to miss the postseason this year.
Another team that I’m betting to miss the postseason is the Ottawa Black Bears. Jeff Teat’s 2024—both indoor and outdoor—was one for the ages, but the team formerly know as the New York Riptide is still not without its flaws, particularly on defense.
Ottawa upgraded at goaltender by acquiring Zach Higgins, but Higgins goes from one inconsistent defense in Philly to another now in Ottawa. Rookie Jake Stevens and veteran Luc Magnan should help a young unit that had stretches of solid play, but I’m still not convinced this is the year Ottawa makes a playoff run. Their schedule doesn’t do them many favors either and makes me recommend betting them to miss the playoffs at +136 on FanDuel.
