NLL player poll: 65% unhappy with league direction
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 9, 2026
Player poll findings
The 2026 National Lacrosse League Player Poll showed continued concern about the league’s direction, but it also showed some improvement from prior years. Sixty-five percent of players said they were not happy with where the league is headed, a lower mark than the 83% or higher unhappy rate in each of the previous three years. That drop suggests the mood around the league has eased somewhat, even if dissatisfaction still stands as the dominant view among players.
Relocations and franchise foldings shaped much of that concern. Players pointed to those moves as the main reasons they were uneasy about the league’s direction. The poll also showed that players were split on the league’s future.
League direction concerns
Commissioner Brett Frood drew mixed reviews from players, with most ratings landing between B and D. The range points to a league office that has not won over a large share of its players, even as some opinions remained more favorable than others. The poll did not show a clean approval line. It showed a spectrum of unease.
The departures of the Philadelphia Wings and Ottawa Black Bears also stood out in player responses. Most players blamed Comcast Spectacor for the Wings’ departure and GF Sports & Entertainment for the Black Bears’ exit. Those answers underline how franchise instability has become one of the league’s central issues in the eyes of its players. At the same time, most players said smaller markets and smaller arenas were not the problem.
Players also measured the NLL against other leagues when judging its standing. Many viewed Major League Soccer, the CFL, the PWHL and the WNBA as more popular or more profitable than the NLL. That comparison adds another layer to the league’s challenge. Players are not just reacting to internal change. They are also weighing the NLL against other pro leagues that they see as better positioned in the sports market.
Star players
Jeff Teat and Dhane Smith led the league’s star rankings, giving the poll a clear top tier on the field. Teat went a step further than that. Players named him the top marketable player and the best player heading into the 2026-27 season. That combination of on-field value and commercial appeal put him at the center of the poll’s player evaluations.
The preseason picks also offered a sense of where players think the league’s balance of power could sit. Toronto and Vancouver were the most common top-three choices among respondents. That points to two clubs that players expect to stay near the front of the pack. The poll did not present a unanimous view, but those two teams came up more than any others when players forecast the top of the standings.
Taken together, the poll showed a league with clear star power and clear uncertainty. Players gave Teat and Smith strong recognition. They also showed doubt about the league’s direction, concern over franchise movement and comparisons with other pro sports properties.
