The National Lacrosse League announced Friday that Buffalo Bandits forward Josh Byrne has been named the NLL’s Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 season. Byrne was nominated for the honor alongside teammate Dhane Smith and Nick Rose of the Toronto Rock.
Byrne becomes the fourth Bandit in franchise history to win the MVP Award, joining Steve Dietrich (2006), Dhane Smith (2016, 2022) and John Tavares (1994, 2000, 2001). In addition to being named league MVP, Byrne was named the NLL’s Offensive Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
Byrne tallied a league-leading 135 points (53+82) in 18 games played this season, setting new single-season career highs in all three categories. Byrne also set a new single-season career high in loose-ball recoveries (75) and tied his previous career high in games played (18). He ranked second in assists, third in goals and tied for third in power-play assists (22) among all NLL players this season. Byrne finished the season ranking first among all Bandits players in goals and points, and ranked second on the team in assists. In his sixth season with the Bandits, Byrne reached the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career.
The New Westminster, British Columbia native recorded at least four points in every regular-season game for the Bandits in 2023-24 and registered seven or more points in 15 of the team’s 18 games. Byrne scored the game-winning goal for the Bandits on three occasions during the 2023-24 regular-season.
Byrne has registered 487 points (201+286) and 372 loose-ball recoveries in 89 career regular-season games. He ranks fourth in points (487), fourth in assists (286) and fifth in goals (201) all-time in Bandits franchise history in the regular season. In 17 career postseason games, Byrne has totaled 98 points (40+58) and 73 loose-ball recoveries. Entering the NLL Finals, Byrne ranks third in assists (58), fourth in goals (40) and fourth in points (98) all-time in Bandits franchise history in playoff games..
