With the 2022 National Lacrosse League Draft now behind us, it’s time to look forward to when the Rochester Knighthawks hit the floor for their 2022-23 campaign.
However, before we can even look forward to the Knighthawks getting back in action at Segar & Sciortino Field on Dec. 10 against the Toronto Rock, we have to take a look at the players that could potentially make up the roster going into next year. Over the offseason, Knighthawks general manager Dan Carey has been busy making moves during free agency making sure that his team is ready to come back better than in seasons prior.
From new faces thanks to free agency pick-ups to veteran Knighthawks re-signing contracts to stay in the Flower City, the possibilities of who we’ll see on the final active roster prior to the first face-off is exciting.
Here’s a closer look at every player who’s still under contract, re-signed or new to the Rochester squad heading into the 2022-23 campaign.
STILL UNDER CONTRACT FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON
FORWARDS
Ryan Smith – two-year contract signed on June 2, 2021; contract will be up going into 2023-24
TRANSITION
Tyler Halls – two-year contract signed on Aug. 10, 2021; contract will be up going into 2023-24
DEFENSEMEN
Tyler Biles – two-year contract signed on July 15, 2021; contract will be up going into 2023-24
Dan Coates – two-year contract signed on Aug. 6, 2021; contract will be up going into 2023-24
RE-SIGNED NEW CONTRACTS GOING INTO THE 2022-23 SEASON
ONE-YEAR DEALS
FORWARDS
Mike Burke – one-year contract signed on Aug. 18, 2022; contract will be up going into 2023-24
DEFENSEMEN
Paul Dawson – one-year deal signed on Sept. 9, 2022; contract will be up going into 2023-24
TWO-YEAR DEALS
FORWARDS
Thomas Hoggarth – two-year deal signed on Sept. 9, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Turner Evans – two-year deal signed on Sept. 9, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Curtis Knight – two-year deal signed on Aug. 11, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
TRANSITION
Ryland Rees – two-year deal signed on Sept. 1, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Cory Highfield – two-year deal signed on Sept. 14, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Bennett – two-year deal signed on Aug. 30, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
GOALTENDERS
Lucas Nagy – two-year deal signed on Aug. 30, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
THREE-YEAR DEALS
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Gilray – three-year contract signed on Aug. 29, 2022; contract will be up going into 2025-26
FREE AGENTS NEW TO THE SQUAD
FORWARDS
Connor Fields – three-year contract signed on Aug. 11, 2022; contract will be up going into 2025-26 (acquired via trade with Las Vegas Desert Dogs for several draft picks on July 7, 2022)
Jake McNabb – two-year contract signed on Aug. 17, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
TRANSITION
Logan Swanton – two-year contract signed on Aug. 31, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Ryan McCrory – two-year contract signed on Aug. 17, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Curtis Romanchych – two-year contract signed on Sept. 13, 2022; contract will be up going into 2023-24
DEFENSEMEN
Brad Gillies – three-year contract signed on Aug. 17, 2022; contract will be up going into 2025-26
Ethan Schott – two-year contract signed on Aug. 31, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
GOALTENDERS
Riley Hutchcraft – one-year contract signed on Aug. 2, 2022; contract will be up going into 2023-24 (acquired via trade with Las Vegas Desert Dogs for several draft picks on July 7, 2022)
DRAFTEES SIGNED TO THEIR FIRST NLL CONTRACTS
FORWARDS
Thomas Vela (2022 NLL Draft, 25th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 23, 2022; contract will be up going 2024-25
Parker Pipher (2022 NLL Draft, 45th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 23, 2022; contract will be up going 2024-25
Carter Schott (2022 NLL Draft, 65th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 23, 2022; contract will be up going 2024-25
Austin Hasen (2022 NLL Draft, 18th overall) – one-year contract signed on Sept. 23, 2022; contract will be up going 2023-24
Riley Curtis (2021 NLL Draft, 35th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 8, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Pent Eistrat (2021 NLL Draft, 50th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 8, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
Corson Kealey (2021 NLL Draft, 19th overall) – two-year contract signed on Sept. 8, 2022; contract will be up going into 2024-25
A reminder that this list of players is no indication as to who will definitively make the Knighthawks roster going into the 2022-23 campaign. Training Camp will get underway later this month, at which time Carey and the coaching staff will determine who will be released, sent to the practice squad or assigned to the active roster ahead of Rochester’s third season in the NLL.