2019 NLL season


The 2019 National Lacrosse League season, formally known as the 2018–2019 season, is the 33rd in the history of the NLL. It was originally scheduled to begin on December 1, 2018 and ending with the NLL final in late spring of 2019. This season is the inaugural season for the expansion teams San Diego Seals and Philadelphia Wings. This is also the final season for the [Rochester Rochester Knighthawks|Knighthawks (1995-2019)|Rochester Knighthawks] under owner Curt Styres, as the team's operations are being relocated to Halifax for the 2019–20 season while Pegula Sports and Entertainment takes over the Knighthawks moniker with a new expansion team.
The Professional Lacrosse Players Association, who represents the NLL players, opted out of their seven-year collective bargaining agreement after the fifth season seeking a new deal. On November 15, 2018 the league announced that a counter-proposal submitted by the Professional Lacrosse Players Association was rejected. This came after the league suspended their Wednesday November 14 deadline to review the counter-proposal after the PLPA rejected the league's offer; the PLPA advised its members not to attend training camp and thus effectively went on strike. Subsequent to this the league announced that all games to be played in the first two weeks of the season were cancelled. On November 24 the NLL and the PLPA came to an agreement on the CBA for 5 years, ending the labor dispute.

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; LB = Loose Balls
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIMLB
Dane DobbieCalgary Roughnecks1847681151269
Callum CrawfordNew England Black Wolves1648611093378
Mark MatthewsSaskatchewan Rush184164105870
Lyle ThompsonGeorgia Swarm184362105694
Dhane SmithBuffalo Bandits163270102872
Randy StaatsGeorgia Swarm173759961245
Shawn EvansBuffalo Bandits172866941769
Tom SchreiberToronto Rock18296594261
Stephan LeblancNew England Black Wolves182766931358
Dan DawsonSan Diego Seals18295988849

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: GA = Goals Allowed; SV% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals against average
PlayerTeamGPMinsWLGASV%GAA
Matt VincBuffalo Bandits1810361421730.80210.02
Adam ShuteSaskatchewan Rush1848353830.77210.30
Dillon WardColorado Mammoth189635111740.77510.84
Mike PoulinGeorgia Swarm178991141640.79110.94
Christian Del BiancoCalgary Roughnecks1810741082000.78111.17

Playoffs

*''Overtime''

NLL Final (best of three)

(E1) Buffalo Bandits vs. (W3) Calgary Roughnecks

Roughnecks win series 2–0.

Awards

Annual awards

References: Nominees and Winners
AwardWinnerOther Finalists
Most Valuable PlayerDane Dobbie, Calgary RoughnecksLyle Thompson, Georgia Swarm
Matt Vinc, Buffalo Bandits
Goaltender of the YearMatt Vinc, Buffalo BanditsChristian Del Bianco, Calgary Roughnecks
Dillon Ward, Colorado Mammoth
Defensive Player of the YearGraeme Hossack, Rochester KnighthawksSteve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
Transition Player of the YearChallen Rogers, Toronto RockZach Currier, Calgary Roughnecks
Kiel Matisz, Philadelphia Wings
Rookie of the YearAustin Staats, San Diego SealsIan MacKay, Buffalo Bandits
Matt Rambo, Philadelphia Wings
Sportsmanship AwardLyle Thompson, Georgia SwarmDan Dawson, San Diego Seals
Tom Schreiber, Toronto Rock
GM of the YearSteve Dietrich, Buffalo BanditsMike Board, Calgary Roughnecks
Patrick Merrill, San Diego Seals
Les Bartley AwardJohn Tavares/Rich Kilgour, Buffalo BanditsCurt Malawsky, Calgary Roughnecks
Matt Sawyer, Toronto Rock
Executive of the Year AwardTerri Giberson, Toronto RockLindsey Masciangelo, Philadelphia Wings
Dave Zygaj, Buffalo Bandits
Teammate of the Year AwardJohn Ranagan, Georgia SwarmKyle Buchanan, San Diego Seals
Chad Cummings, Calgary Roughnecks
Tom Borrelli AwardTyson Geick, Lacrosse FlashBob Chavez, IL Indoor
Barstool Jordie, Barstool Sports

Stadiums and locations

Buffalo BanditsGeorgia SwarmNew England Black WolvesPhiladelphia WingsRochester KnighthawksToronto Rock
KeyBank CenterInfinite Energy ArenaMohegan Sun ArenaWells Fargo CenterBlue Cross ArenaScotiabank Arena
Capacity: 19,070Capacity: 11,355Capacity: 7,700Capacity: 19,543Capacity: 11,200Capacity: 18,819

Calgary RoughnecksColorado MammothSan Diego SealsSaskatchewan RushVancouver Warriors
Scotiabank SaddledomePepsi CenterValley View Casino CenterSaskTel CentreRogers Arena
Capacity: 19,289 Capacity: 18,007Capacity: 12,920Capacity: 15,190Capacity: 18,910