This image of the National Lacrosse League logo is licensed under the public domain.

MATT VOLZ

Editor in Chief

Last spring brought a significant changing of the guard to the National Lacrosse League.

After three straight championship runs and five consecutive trips to the NLL Finals, the Buffalo Bandits were emphatically knocked out of the postseason by the Georgia Swarm.

Goaltending was a major storyline in Buffalo’s playoff exit, as goalie Matt Vinc looked as though Father Time had finally caught up to him.

The 44-year-old is unquestionably the best and most accomplished goalie in league history, but his play against Georgia and at times during the season showed that he had lost a step.

At this point in the offseason, Vinc hasn’t said if he’ll be back for 2026-27.

That’s a major concern for a team looking to bounce back from their first postseason disappointment in several years.

Realistically, the Bandits cannot risk putting their eggs in the 44-year-old basket of Vinc.

It’s hard to accept that, as Vinc has had such a legendary run, but it’s probably time for him to hang up the pads.

During the Bandits’ three-peat from 2023 to 2025, Vinc played a massive role in ensuring the team’s victory.

This past spring, though, he was a main factor in defeat.

If Vinc chooses to retire, where do the Bandits turn for goaltending?

Evan Constantopoulos

One possible option is Vinc’s backup, Evan Constantopoulos.

Constantopoulos played sparingly in his rookie campaign last year. 

In 12 games, the youngster faced 31 shots and allowed nine goals.

That totals out to a 14.83 goals against average (GAA) and a 71% save percentage, which aren’t ideal numbers for a starting goalie.

Still, the Bandits invested significant assets in Constantopoulos, selecting him in the second round of the 2023 NLL Draft.

Constantopoulos is extremely young, as he doesn’t turn 22 until September.

His size and stature are ideal for a goalie, too. He stands at 6’6” and 230 pounds, a full five inches taller than Vinc.

With that height, Constantopoulos doesn’t need elite quickness and top-flight reflexes right off the bat, although that would help.

He’s also had a full season to sit behind Vinc and learn from him, and that kind of education from an all-time great is highly valuable.

Another benefit of the Bandits sticking with Constantopoulos is familiarity. 

He has more experience as a goalie in Buffalo’s system than other options would, which is always a plus.

At the very least, I’d imagine Tavares wants to see what he has in his young backup goalie, so I’d expect him to get more playing time than he got last year even if the team picks up another netminder.

The Bandits don’t need a goalie to be Superman with their elite defense, which takes a great deal of pressure off of Constantopoulos.

However, Vinc’s shoes are massive ones to fill, and the jury is still out on whether Constantopoulos can do the job.

Saka Thompson

The best external option for finding a goalie is likely through the draft, and Saka Thompson would be the top target.

Bandits fans may recognize his last name, as he is the son of team royalty.

His father, Mike Thompson, played six seasons in Buffalo from 2007 to 2012.

In 2008, the senior Thompson backstopped the Bandits to their fourth championship, etching his name into franchise lore.

The younger Thompson is coming off a stellar senior year at SUNY Potsdam, where he was one of the top goalies in the conference.

Thompson stopped 59% of shots he faced all season, earning him the best save percentage in the conference.

He was one of only two starting goalies to allow less than nine goals per game, and he earned a SUNYAC Athlete of the Week nod in March.

Physically, he’s a bit undersized for a goalie, standing at just 5’10”.

But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill, as his quickness and reflexes allow him to move well from side to side.

The Bandits hold the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft, one of two first-round picks the team has, according to Swarm It Up.

Buffalo also holds the 20th overall selection, which they received as a compensatory draft pick.

They also had the 18th pick as a compensation slot, but that draft choice was traded to Philadelphia last November in a deal for defenseman Mitch de Snoo.

It wouldn’t be surprising if General Manager Steve Dietrich, a former Bandits goalie himself, chose Thompson when the Bandits are on the clock at pick number eight.

The 2026 NLL Draft will take place on Thursday, Sept. 10. The Philadelphia Wings hold the first overall selection.

---

Stats for this story were provided by nllstats.com, a league-wide database run by NLL writer Graeme Perrow.

Check out his commentary on nllchatter.com as well as his updates on X (@GraemePerrow).