The 2025-26 National Lacrosse League season is underway. Everyone take a moment and get that sigh of relief out. Getting to this exciting point in the offseason didn’t come without some fireworks, however, as a new CBA had to be worked out and that took some time. Fast forward, here we are, already into Week 2. The signing period this offseason may have been the most bananas in recent history, and boy, are we here for it. One of the biggest names to switch teams was Chris Cloutier. Prior to this season, “Clooch” had been with the Buffalo Bandits for five seasons. Cloutier left Buffalo and signed a three-year contract with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, who don’t play their first game of the season until Week 3, when they visit Vancouver on December 13.
“We have to constantly feel like we’re moving forward,” said Cloutier, as we sat down to chat Tuesday morning. “I feel like [NLLPA leadership] put us in a good spot to do that. Year after year increases, minimums and maximums.”
Cloutier cashed in on the new CBA. He took himself and his prolific goal-scoring ability into free agency and ended up leaving Buffalo to sign a sparkling three-year contract with the Las Vegas Desert Dogs.
“One thing that Chase (Fraser) and I took advantage of is the full-time employment,” he said. “If you’re listed as a full-time employee and go to work for the team, you can get paid not on the cap. It’ll give guys more of a reason to move to market.”
As a teacher, and newly married, Cloutier had a lot of things to take into consideration when making such a life-altering decision.
“Under this new CBA, I have an opportunity that I never thought I would have again; to go and become a full-time lacrosse player. Definitely now is the time to strike for me. If I want to be a full-time lacrosse player, I have these next three years under my contract to go and give it everything I have. I just had an opportunity for myself and my family; have to start thinking about having kids in the future.”
Cloutier was drafted second overall in 2018 by the Philadelphia Wings but was traded to Buffalo in his rookie season, where he spent the last five seasons and won three championships. Ranking in the top five in goals with the Bandits on a yearly basis, it would be a no-brainer for him to re-sign in Buffalo and seek out the never-before-seen four-peat in NLL history, right? Unfortunately, no. But that certainly doesn’t mean that Cloutier isn’t appreciative of his time in the 716.
“I have essentially spent my entire career in Buffalo. I may get emotional talking about it, but I never, ever thought I’d leave Buffalo,” Cloutier stated. “Buffalo has done so much for me, from Scott Loffler to Kirk, and everyone in between. I’ll never be able to thank Buffalo enough. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life, and even after [I made it], I kept going back and forth in my head. You never know when this is going to stop, you gotta kind of strike when the iron is hot.”
Strike when the iron is hot was exactly what he did. So, lacrosse fans really only had one other question: why Las Vegas, a team that went 4-14 last year, well out of the playoffs?
“I just felt this was a great opportunity for… myself, and even Chase. We’ve been [part of] a storied program where we have all the stars in the game. What every team should model themselves after. We did play our roles in that, but there is something to be said [about going] to a team that hasn’t had as much success and see if we can do something to help out there and build something.”
Cloutier added, “being around the guys in Vegas, you can tell how bad they want it and how tired they are of getting the short end of the stick. I have always been a strong believer that what made Buffalo so successful was their bond off the floor. You get to Vegas, and you start to see that they have that going on there. I’m really excited for the opportunity that’s ahead, and it’s just a different journey than what I’ve experienced before.”
As Cloutier alluded to, he goes to Las Vegas alongside with Fraser, one of his best friends and teammates. Fraser was a massive factor in Cloutier’s decision and will make the adjustment much easier being a familiar face.
“Chase is one of my best friends,” he expressed. “We’ve been roommates our entire career together. Having him go through this process with me was definitely helpful. It came down to ‘if you’re doing this, I’m doing this with you.’ That first weekend we got to Vegas, we got to the hotel room and looked over the Strip and had a moment – ‘if there was anyone to do this with, glad it’s with you.’”
Clear your calendars, get your popcorn, cancel all your plans, because arguably one of the games of the year is January 3rd, 2026, as the Desert Dogs visit the Bandits.
“It was circled the day I signed,” Cloutier smiled. “I’m looking forward to it. The nerves are definitely there. I don’t have regrets; I had a great career in Buffalo, three championships, and I have no animosity towards Buffalo at all. When January 3rd comes, I’m a Las Vegas Desert Dog and it comes down to business, and we’ll be there to win a game. One thing I will say is whatever the fans do, it’s okay. The support from the fans in Buffalo has been amazing.”
Another connection for Cloutier between Buffalo and Las Vegas is playing under Shawn Williams, who also has ties to the Bandits.
“I’ve played for a lot of different coaches, and not one has the same style. Willy has a different style than I’ve experienced before, and I absolutely love it. He’s a big culture guy, he’s a legend of the game, and the one thing he always preaches is family and culture. You just see the passion every single time he talks. There’s never a wasted word; he’s always got the fire in his eyes.”
Cloutier is an avid golfer when he’s not lighting up NLL goaltenders, and that’s one of the things he’s looking forward to with a move to Las Vegas as well as the change of climate. Maybe not so much the world-renowned casinos in Sin City.
“I’m going to try and stay away from those (casinos) to be honest. I’ve had my run-in with casinos, and I don’t think I’ve ever walked out up,” he laughed. “I’ll golf three times a day if I can. Most days if I have the time, I’ll golf 36 holes in a day. I think that’s more the vice I’ll be getting into.”
Las Vegas opens their campaign on December 13th at Vancouver. It’s going to be a sight to see as Cloutier and the rest of the new Desert Dogs run onto the floor. Cloutier has been a stud on the offensive side of the ball for many years, and with a new look Las Vegas team, we all can expect an uptick in team scoring, and maybe even a run at the NLL Cup. It may not be with the same team, but he might get that four-peat after all.
