2022 Premier Lacrosse League season preview: Team-by-team PLL guide

Updated: 14:12 PM ET June 01, 2022

After another long-awaited trip around the sun, the 2022 Premier Lacrosse League season is officially upon us. Coming into its fourth year since installation, the PLL has taken major strides to establish itself as the primary destination for professional outdoor lacrosse. They have added two expansion teams, inked a new broadcast deal with ESPN, and most importantly for us have even more betting markets available at sportsbooks.

If you’re new to the PLL you may not know who is who, which teams are better or worse, how points are scored according to sportsbooks, etc. Luckily, I did all the work so you don’t have to. In this article, I am going to briefly preview each team’s outlook for the 2022 season. Let’s jump right into it.

*All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

2022 Premier Lacrosse League team-by-team guide

Archers LC

2021 Record: 5-4
2022 Championship Odds: (+500)
Key Losses: Jackson Place (D), Drew Adams (G)
Rookie Additions: Matt Moore (A, Virginia), Brett Dobson (G, Saint Bonaventure), Justin Inacio (FO, Ohio State)
Shortest MVP Odds: Grant Ament (+700)

Championship X-Factor: If the faceoff unit can improve from their 44% winning percentage last year, then this team can cause some real problems. If you give the most efficient offense in the league over 50% of the possessions, they become a serious threat to run the table.

Atlas LC

2021 Record: 5-4
2022 Championship Odds: (+450 co-favorites)
Key Losses: None
Rookie Additions: Chris Gray (A, North Carolina), Koby Smith (LSM, Towson), Brendan Curry (M, Syracuse)
Shortest MVP Odds: Jeff Teat (+400)

Championship X-Factor: If the goaltending unit of Jack Concannon and J.D. Colarusso can take a step up in efficiency from last year (5th in goals allowed, 6th in save percentage) then this team has the offensive firepower to carry them to a championship.

Cannons LC

2021 Record: 3-6
2022 Championship Odds: (+1000)
Key Losses: Paul Rabil (M), Connor Buczek (M)
Rookie Additions: Asher Nolting (A, High Point), Bubba Fairman (SSDM, Maryland), Colin Kirst (G, Rutgers)
Shortest MVP Odds: Lyle Thompson (+450)

Championship X-Factor: The Cannons had the worst faceoff unit in the league last season, only combining for a 36% win percentage. That number won’t get it done at any level of lacrosse, especially not against the best players in the world. If they can miraculously get up to around 50% this season, an offense led by Lyle Thompson can beat anyone. However, there’s a reason why they sit bottom of the board with +1000 title odds.

Chaos LC

2021 Record: 4-5 (2021 PLL Champions)
2022 Championship Odds: (+450 co-favorites)
Key Losses: None
Rookie Additions: Brett Kennedy (D, Syracuse), Zach Geddes (SSDM, Georgetown), Jonathan Donville (A, Maryland)
Shortest MVP Odds: Blaze Riorden (+800)

Championship X-Factor: Goalie Blaze Riorden is the reigning MVP of the league for a reason. His playoff performance was the driving force behind the Chaos’ championship season last year. For a team that is around league average in most major categories, Blaze is the ultimate game-changer in net. He led the PLL in saves and save percentage by a wide margin in 2021. If that pace is maintained, the Chaos could very well go back-to-back.

Chrome LC

2021 Record: 2-7
2022 Championship Odds: (+1000)
Key Losses: Ned Crotty (A), Jordan Wolf (A), John Galloway (G), Joel White (LSM)
Rookie Additions: Logan Wisnauskas (A, Maryland), Brendan Nichtern (A, Army), Owen McElroy (G, Georgetown)
Shortest MVP Odds: Logan Wisnauskas (+3000)

Championship X-Factor: In an offseason full of notable retirements, no team was hit harder than the Chrome. Arguably their four best players from the last couple of years all hung up the cleats at once. This puts a lot of pressure on young bucks like Logan Wisnauskas, Jackson Morrill and JT-Giles Harris to perform like veterans this year. We saw an infusion of youth work brilliantly for the Atlas last season, and it can certainly have the same effect for the Chrome this year.

Redwoods LC

2021 Record: 5-4
2022 Championship Odds: (+550)
Key Losses: Kyle Harrison (M), Joe Walters (M), Kevin Unterstein (SSDM)
Rookie Additions: Arden Cohen (D, Notre Dame), Nakeie Montgomery (M, Duke), Mitch Bartolo (A, Rutgers)
Shortest MVP Odds: Myles Jones (+800)

Championship X-Factor: The Redwoods offense is as multifaceted as they come, led by a dynamic midfield unit of Myles Jones, Sergio Perkovic and Jules Heningburg. However, the offense had some growing pains last season, which led them to finishing 4th in scores per game. With how good they are on paper, that number needs to go up this year if they want to win their first championship.

Waterdogs LC

2021 Record: 6-3
2022 Championship Odds: (+600)
Key Losses: Drew Snider (M)
Rookie Additions: Jack Hannah (M, Denver), Jake Higgins (SSDM, Maryland), Jason Reynolds (LSM, Notre Dame)
Shortest MVP Odds: Zach Currier (+1500)

Championship X-Factor: The Waterdogs enjoyed a fantastic end of the regular season in 2021 after a rocky start. The team showcased that they are good enough to hang with anyone in the league. I’m looking for the 2021 second overall pick Michael Sowers, who missed the entire season after sustaining an injury in their opening game, to take control of this offense. If he plays the way he is capable of, the Waterdogs can take the next step in competing for a championship.

Whipsnakes LC

2021 Record: 5-4
2022 Championship Odds: (+500)
Key Losses: John Haus (M)
Rookie Additions: Roman Puglise (SSDM, Maryland), Keegan Khan (A, Maryland), Wheaton Jackoboice (M, Notre Dame)
Shortest MVP Odds: Zed Williams (+1000)

Championship X-Factor: 2021 was the first season of goalie Kyle Bernlohr’s career where he finished with a save percentage below 50% (a steep drop-off from his 2020 save percentage of 63%). The Whipsnakes have won two out of three PLL Championships since the league’s installation, and Bernlohr has been a key cog in that machine. If he can get back to playing how he usually does, this team has the depth and experience at all levels of the field to win their third championship this season.

Don’t miss our PLL Championship and MVP best bets (includes one at +800 odds!)

PLL Position Key

(M) – Midfield
(A) – Attackman
(G) – Goalie
(D) – Defense
(LSM) – Long-Stick Midfield
(FO) – Face-Off Specialist
(SSDM) – Short Stick Defensive Midfield