2021 Premier Lacrosse League season

The 2021 Premier Lacrosse League season will be the third season for the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). 2021 will represent a return to the tour-based format that the league followed in 2019 after playing a bubble tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns.[1] 2021 also represents a return to one unified professional Field Lacrosse format after Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League announced they were merging on December 16, 2020. [2] This monumental merger sees the Cannons Lacrosse Club moving from the MLL to the PLL as an 8th team set by expansion draft. Like last season, this year will begin with the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club competing as defending league champions.

2021 Premier Lacrosse League season
LeaguePremier Lacrosse League
SportField lacrosse
DurationJune 4 – September 19
Number of teams8
3rd Season
Finals championsTBD
  Runners-upTBD

Milestones and events
  • January 12 – The league reveals edits to the former Boston Cannons logo, a team crest, and motto for the upcoming season. [3]

Coaching changes
  • Cannons Lacrosse Club – Following weeks of uncertainty, Sean Quirk was officially named the head coach of Cannons Lacrosse Club on January 19.[4] Quirk served from 2016 through the 2020 season as the head coach of the MLL's Boston Cannons. In 2020, he was named MLL Coach of the Year.[5]

Expansion

The addition of an eighth team, the Cannons Lacrosse Club, allows for schedule flexibility and natural bye weeks to occur for each team throughout the season.[6] While the MLL fielded six teams last season, the PLL chose to expand by only one team to maintain a high level of competition. The Cannons will form their initial PLL roster core through an expansion draft of unprotected players from the other seven clubs. Former MLL players will have a chance to join a roster through a new player draft, to occur later this spring.

Schedule

The 2021 tour schedule will run eleven weeks long, including three playoff weekends and an All-Star game.[7] A total of 43 games will take place in this time frame.


Standings
2020 Premier Lacrosse League Standings
Team W L PCT GB SF SA Diff
Whipsnakes
Archers
Chrome
Redwoods
Chaos
Waterdogs
Atlas
Cannons

Player Movement

The 2021 PLL waiver wire and trading period begin on February 9. On February 28, expansion draft protected rosters are due and the waiver wire closes. On March 11, the Cannons Lacrosse Club will conduct their expansion draft and on March 25, the entire league will participate in an entry draft for former MLL players. The waiver wire with then reopen for the Cannons on March 26 and for the rest pf the teams on March 30. The 2021 collegiate draft will be held on April 6. The conclusion of player movement through trade windows and the waiver wire is set for April 30.

Positions key
A Attack D Defense FOS Faceoff Specialist
G Goaltender LSM Long Stick Midfield M Midfield
SSDM Short Stick Defensive Midfield        

Waiver Wire

The waiver wire opens February 9.

Trades

The trade window opens February 9.

Notable Retirements

The following notable players retired prior to the 2021 season:

  • M Joe Locascio - Two-time PLL champion

Expansion Draft

The Cannons Expansion Draft will take place on Thursday, March 11 to select an initial roster from players left unprotected by their team come March 1.[8]

Expansion Draft Format:

  • 18 Round Draft
  • Max 3 players selected per existing PLL team
  • Existing teams will protect 14 players (1 goalie + 13 field)
  • Teams must protect players selected in the 2020 College Draft

Player Entry Draft

All former MLL players, totaling more than 100 athletes, are currently without teams. Some of these players will be selected to team rosters in a specially formulated three-round draft on March 25. The expansion Cannons will be selecting first in each round and the selection slot of other teams will be determined by lottery draw.

College Draft

Due to NCAA eligibility rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many college seniors returned for a fifth year of eligibility in the spring 2021 season. [9] As a result, this year's draft on April 6 is expected to be among the most talent saturated in years. [10]

References
  1. "The Premier Lacrosse League thrived despite the coronavirus pandemic". axios.com.
  2. "Premier Lacrosse League Merging with Major League Lacrosse to Unify Outdoor Game". sportico.com.
  3. "Premier Lacrosse League Unveils New Logo, Branding for Cannons LC". uslaxmagazine.com.
  4. "SEAN QUIRK NAMED HEAD OF COACH OF PLL'S CANNONS LC". uslaxmagazine.com.
  5. "BOSTON CANNONS SEAN QUIRK NAMED MLL COACH OF THE YEAR". trifectanetworksports.com.
  6. "PLL absorbs MLL in merger, unifying pro outdoor lacrosse leagues". nbcsports.com.
  7. "Premier Lacrosse League Announces 2021 Season With 43 Games Over 11 Weekends". premierlacrosseleague.com.
  8. "PLL announces expansion draft, entry draft and college draft details". lacrosseplayground.com.
  9. "Division I Council extends eligibility for student-athletes impacted by COVID-19". ncaa.org.
  10. "Which DI Seniors are Coming Back in 2021?". lacrossebucket.com.
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