Buffalo Bandits: 2024-25 Season Preview
11/25/2024 04:13 PM
Buffalo Bandits: 2024-25 Season Preview
The Buffalo Bandits head into the 2024-2025 NLL season as reigning champions, hoping to build off the success that was achieved last year. After a commanding series sweep of 2-0 in the finals, the Bandits emerged as champions over the Albany FireWolves. Consistent play defined their rise: an excellent regular-season record of 11-7 turned into key wins over Toronto in the semifinals. The Buffalo Bandits showed why they remain as one of the league’s most-feared teams.
At the end of the season, Josh Byrne had run away with the league for MVP honors, standing at an incredible 135 points on 53 goals and 82 assists. Dhane Smith was also not so far behind his teammate, with a sum of 134 points to seal Buffalo’s dynamic offense as one of the most feared in the NLL. Their defensive core was spearheaded by Steve Priolo, with Matt Vinc solid between the pipes. Vinc recorded a very respectable 78% save percentage over his 16 games of action. The Bandits brought outstanding balance to both ends of the floor. Their win raised the bar even higher since every other team now is gunning for the champions this year.
Let’s start with some of the notable changes during Buffalo’s offseason:. They added grave depth to one of the most impressive rosters in the league with additions such as Taite Cattoni and Lukas Nielsen. In turn, they moved on from Brandon Robinson and Dalton Sulver, allowing fresh faces to rise to the challenge. “Nothing comes easy,” as head coach John Tavares so importantly stressed. You’ve got to work for anything you get.” That will be the philosophy as the Bandits seek to duplicate their success in an even stronger league.
Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season, top matchups featuring the Buffalo Bandits include: The December 28 opener against the Rochester Knighthawks is their banner-raising night, making this a great starting point to the season. Another cannot-miss marquee clash is the “Battle at the Border” against the Toronto Rock on January 10th-a rematch from the hot semifinal battle last season. The championship rematch against Albany on February 1st and the April 19th showdown with Georgia complete the list of must-see games throughout the schedule that will pit the Bandits against some of the league’s top contenders and are an early indicator of their capabilities in defending the title.
As the season churns along, the Buffalo Bandits will rely on their strengths in order to fend off the competition. Offensively, it remains a juggernaut-many compliments of Byrne and Smith-while Vinc anchors a defense that has been among the league’s best. New talent joins the fold, meaning the Bandits should be deep enough to survive an entire season. But perhaps their biggest test will be complacency. Staying hunger and focused while carrying the target of defending champions will be the key.
The setup for another thrilling season with the Buffalo Bandits is in place, filled with all the talent and leadership that will keep them atop the NLL. Every team will be gunning at them, but certainly, the Bandits have been able to prove that they move under pressure. With a roster filled with huge stars, Buffalo has everything it needs in the pursuit of consecutive titles.
