The 2025-26 National Lacrosse League season is almost here! To prepare you for the season, I unveil my preseason power rankings, provide my projected odds for each team to make the playoffs, and share some playoff bets I’d make ahead of Week 1. Let’s take a look at my power rankings and playoff projections.
Note: Power rankings are NOT standings and each team’s rating is based on a variety of criteria. Each team’s 2024-25 offensive and defensive efficiency ratings are used as a baseline and manual adjustments are made for offseason roster moves, including starting goaltender changes. Teams’ schedules and win probability for each game are used to project their playoff probability.
1. Buffalo Bandits
2024-25 Regular Season Record: 13-5
2024-25 Season Result: Won NLL Finals
2025-26 Power Rating: 0.1800
2025-26 Playoff Odds: 87% chance to make playoffs
2. Vancouver Warriors
2024-25 Regular Season Record: 11-7
2024-25 Season Result: Lost to Buffalo in NLL Semifinals
2025-26 Power Rating: 0.1753
2025-26 Playoff Odds: 86% chance to make playoffs
3. Saskatchewan Rush
2024-25 Regular Season Record: 13-5
2024-25 Season Result: Lost NLL Finals
2025-26 Power Rating: 0.0681
2025-26 Playoff Odds: 73% chance to make playoffs
4. Rochester KnightHawks
2024-25 Regular Season Record: 10-8
2024-25 Season Result: Lost to Vancouver in NLL Quarterfinals
2025-26 Power Rating: 0.0618
2025-26 Playoff Odds: 74% chance to make playoffs
My top four power-rated teams are the defending champion Buffalo Bandits, Vancouver Warriors, Saskatchewan Rush and Rochester Knighthawks. I think a four-peat for Buffalo is still a high possibility. However, given their current championship odds, I already explained why I think Vancouver’s title odds at +900 (DraftKings) are the best on the board. I also think Saskatchewan and Rochester are true contenders that don’t have any glaring weaknesses and are just behind Buffalo and Vancouver in terms of most complete rosters in the NLL.
As for a bet from this group of teams, I think Vancouver’s odds to make the playoffs are still too short. My simulations had them making the playoffs in 85.57% of scenarios, which equates to -592 odds and is almost 15% higher than the 71.43% implied probability of bet365 and FanDuel’s -250 odds. Bet the Vancouver Warriors to make the playoffs at -250.
Pick: Vancouver Warriors to Make the Playoffs
