Terry Foy

Friday December 6th, 2019

(Photo By Wesley Bundelll/Pretty Instant)

Attackman Rob Pannell, the 2018 MLL MVP and four-time All-Pro, says his future professional status remains uncertain at this point and that he and his supporting team are considering all options, including whether to return to MLL or join the Premier Lacrosse League for the summer of 2020.

To this point, however, no decision can be made. While his contract with the New York Lizards has expired, his MLL player contract runs through March 1. He says that his team is still in talks with the Lizards but "exploring all options."

When asked about what it was like to play in MLL last summer and his thought process regarding his future, Pannell said, “I have a lot of good friends in the PLL that I miss playing, with and I miss being around. Guys are always asked, ‘What’s your favorite part of pro lacrosse?’ and they always say, ‘the locker room.’”

“The PLL would obviously love to have Rob, but we cannot enter into a contract with him until March 2020, so we won't know his final status until then,” a PLL spokesman told IL on Thursday.

Pannell, who agreed to a multi-year deal that extended through the 2019 season prior to the formation and announcement of the PLL, led New York in scoring with 63 points, though his team finished 5-11 and missed the postseason.

The PLL will host an Entry Draft in March 2020 that will comprise veteran professional lacrosse players who did not play in the PLL last season. All seven lacrosse clubs will participate in the Entry Draft and that selection order will be determined by a random lottery drawing (weighted by 2019 finish). The PLL, which announced its plans to expand from six teams to seven shortly after the conclusion of its inaugural season, announced details for its Expansion Draft this week. The draft is set for Feb. 12.

Clarification on Pannell’s status comes in the wake of a tweet last week sent by former Inside Lacrosse MCLA contributor Dave Franklin stating: "A source close to the Pannell family confirms that Rob is leaving @MLL_Lacrosse for @PremierLacrosse and will be a member of the new PLL expansion team."

A source close to the Pannell family confirms that Rob is leaving @MLL_Lacrosse for @PremierLacrosse and will be a member of the new PLL expansion team. — Dave Franklin (@DaveFranklin97) November 30, 2019