In Part 2 of this week's overflowing PWHL Mailbag, The Hockey News' Ian Kennedy looks to answer fan's burning questions about teams and players in the league, Brian Burke's departure, broadcasting, expansion, and more.
In Part 2 of this week's overflowing PWHL Mailbag, The Hockey News' Ian Kennedy looks to answer fan's burning questions about teams and players in the league, Brian Burke's departure, broadcasting, expansion, and more.
We had so many questions, the PWHL Mailbag was overflowing. So here's part two. In this section of our PWHL Mailbag, there are more questions on expansion, clarification on Brian Burke moving on from the PWHLPA, broadcasting, and a few New York Sirens questions.
You asked, here's your answers.
Any update on the Minnesota players vs Burke thing?
First, it's important to clarify that Brian Burke was never a permanent fixture and he had no intention of staying in this position. To my understanding, Burke always planned to step aside so a woman could move into this crucial role. He came into this role and gave his time and efforts to help get the union off the ground and will forever be known as an avid supporter of women's hockey and an individual who worked to create more equitable spaces in the game. And when you look at the resume of his replacement, Malaika Underwood, she's a perfect fit. Last season union dues were a flat rate of only $100 per player deducted from a late March pay check. At that rate, whoever does this role has to be doing it largely pro bono unless funding is coming from somewhere else, so the union was lucky to get someone with Underwood's credentials and likely had to jump at this opportunity whenever it came.
Back to the original question, Kendall Coyne Schofield is the PWHLPA's president, and Lee Stecklein is Minnesota's team rep. Last season, as communicated to me back in November from Minnesota staff, the displeasure with Burke was allegedly a regular conversation in their locker room. Minnesota players made no secret among staff or players, nor to league leadership. Knowing, however, that Burke didn't intend to continue indefinitely, and was ready to step aside at any point when it was in the best interest of the players, it's almost certain this wasn't another moment of this team going nuclear as they did with the Natalie Darwitz, but it does speak to the culture that existed in that room, particularly targeted at someone who has given so much to support the game and league.
Underwood looks like an incredible candidate and her availability and willingness to get to work, particularly with expansion on the horizon, is the perfect opportunity to pass the torch. There was a distinct need for someone like Underwood to come in and help advocate for more opportunities for the players financially, and through commercial partnerships. She's the right person to take this forward, and appreciated or not, Burke knew that.
On the list of bad takes, where does 'Ottawa will struggle without Watts' place? Seeing as Toronto is in last place?
I'm not sure too many people truly believed Ottawa would struggle without Daryl Watts. Ottawa also legitimately never had a chance in securing Watts. They offered substantially more for Watts than what she's receiving in Toronto, which is well below the league average. But Watts knew where she wanted to be, and no one should fault her for that. It was the best move for her personally, and that's what matters. Sometimes, however, when a player has no interest in playing for your team, the best move for success is to let them go. As well, Watts' play has nothing to do with Toronto's lack of success. She's been one of their most dangerous and dynamic players night in and night out, and has looked really good in Toronto, just as she did in Ottawa. This is a reality that will become the norm in the PWHL where top players make their own decisions to come or go, just as they have in the NHL for years. It will always spark debate from fans, but the good news is, a player like Daryl Watts is now able to choose where she plays. Speaking with Ottawa's staff in the days following Watts' departure, the team was never worried, and never questioned whether the players they had, and the picks they had coming in would be able to build on year one despite losing Watts. Toronto's tough start with Watts is a simple correlation that is a tiny part of a much larger story. Watts remains one of the most talented players in the league. The real story is how Ottawa adapted after her departure, and how poorly Toronto has been able to utilize their wealth of talent up front to open the year.
Lots of talk about a national US TV deal. Who do you see making the offer? NBC, TNT, Netflix, Prime?
None or the above? All of the above? The league will be looking at every option out there. Tuesday night games on Amazon Prime have been a significant positive for the league, and hopefully in turn for Prime Video. Speaking to members of many broadcasting networks in the United States, one location many feel would be a fit for the league is CBS Sports. CBS Sports has the WNBA, NWSL, and the PVF, along with NCAA women's basketball and other women's sporting competitions. They've shown a commitment and might be the leading candidate for a national deal. Throw in Paramount+ to the conversation as well for another streaming platform. If the league follows the NHL, TNT could be the other leading contender. Fans might be doing more work to find games, but the YouTube model can't last forever, including outside North America as let's be honest, many in Canada are bypassing geo-blocking with VPNs to access league content for free. The presence of YouTube (unless the league makes YouTube a paid subscription as well), will soon be a detriment, not a benefit to the league financially, which in the long run, hurts the players. YouTube in year one was an incredible success that opened the eyes of many to the league. But the PWHL will need to pull the plug on "free" games soon. At some point, all games will need to be on paying linear networks, or on subscription based platforms.
What do the Sirens need to do in order to solidify their place in the playoffs, and who would you want them to face off against in the Walter Cup Finals?
This is a fun question. Looking at New York's roster, the biggest hole I see is in their defensive depth. Micah Zandee-Hart is having an incredible season now that she's fully healthy and had an extra long offseason to get back to where she wanted to be, and of course they have Ella Shelton, Maja Nylen Persson, Jaime Bourbonnais, Ally Simpson and Brooke Hobson. Olivia Knowles is their seventh, but it would not be surprising for New York to look at another player to push for playing time in the 6/7 slot, especially someone who specializes in a shutdown role. I'd like to see New York give Noora Tulus more time up front as well. She can contribute offensively, and for New York to make a deep playoff run, they can't rely on the Carpenter-Fillier-Eldridge line exclusively. Abby Roque has been coming alive of late, but the Sirens still have a lot of capable forwards sputtering along this year. Greg Fargo might even be inclined, if New York can get more securely into a playoff spot, to temporarily break up their top line in hopes of jumpstarting another player. They'll need to find more secondary offense from within to go deep. For the second part of your question, New York seems to match up really well with the Minnesota Frost winning three of four match ups this year. This despite the fact the Frost have been at or near the top of the league standings all season. The good news is, New York can beat anyone on any given night. Stylistically, I like watching them play Ottawa, so that's who I'd enjoy seeing them play, but there is no team that has the Sirens' number yet.
Do you have any insight as to why Abby Roque has fallen out of favor with the USA national team?
Abby Roque is a hard nosed player, but she has tendencies that might not enthuse every coach. She can have defensive lapses, particularly on the back check where at times she looks like she's floating, and Roque also has a penchant for bad penalties. Talent-wise, she's 100% capable of being on Team USA, particularly as a grinding bottom line player who can get under an opponent's skin. Off the ice and on the bench, Roque is a big personality. It's an aspect of her presence that's appreciated by some coaches and teammates, but not all. In reality, this is likely an issue of the discipline and defensive questions, mixed with the fact USA has an abundance of high end NCAA players who can play an in your face style, and do it with a lot of pace. I mean, when you have Abbey Murphy, that's enough pest for an entire tournament let alone a single team. Murphy is so effective at what she does, and plays with such an off the charts level of speed and skill along side her boundary defying edge, that it likely pushed Roque out. Abby Roque is a very good hockey player, but the fact USA is toying with Laila Edwards on the blueline shows the nation's belief in their overflowing forward depth.
Does the PWHL really have the money to handle a West Coast expansion next year? The travel costs alone would be exorbitant, not to mention the time zone differences.
Travel is a non-issue. This has been such a talked about point, but it's a non-factor. It used to be a consideration in leagues like the PHF where attendance couldn't cover costs alone, but the PWHL is different, and there are far more revenue streams. And there will be more revenue streams if the league expands toward the Pacific. If a West Coast presence brings tens of millions in national broadcasting, new markets for merchandise, regional sponsors, and full arenas, an extra two hours on a flight will not dissuade anyone. Every pro league, including lower level leagues like the AHL and ECHL have West Coast presences and no on bats an eye. You cannot have a pro league of this calibre remain regional. The sooner the league expands to the West the better. I still believe, despite the incredible PWHL-ready market that is Quebec City, that a Seattle-Vancouver expansion could be what we see. It turns travel into a two-team trip. But really, if they go with Seattle and Quebec City, or Denver and Quebec City, or Denver and Edmonton, it won't matter. This league needs to go West, and the longer they wait, the harder it will become to form a sustainable and longterm future with national corporate partners. This isn't only about broadcasting, it's about sponsors who want their brand seen nationally, not regionally. Overall, it's about the best market, period. North, West, East, or South, the geographic distance between teams won't be the deciding factor. Attendance, sponsors, broadcasting, and a vibrant minor hockey system will far outweigh the cost of travel, which in the grand scheme is minuscule considering the substantial investments the Mark Walter Group have made in the PWHL to build a sustainable future.
Curious if the arena size in Halifax would impact future expansion? So many Nova Scotia ties to the game...
There are few arenas in North America that would fit the needs of the PWHL better than Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. A capacity of 11,000 and change is ideal. I personally love the idea of looking at markets like Halifax, Nova Scotia or London, Ontario. In the long run, I think these locations could be exactly what the PWHL needs, but I do think the league will ignore some of these mid-sized markets in the name of sponsors and broadcasting. They shouldn't when you look at the success of the Ottawa Charge, or the fact the Northern Super League has selected Halifax, or even how teams in other pro sports leagues in Canada, like the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders have found incredible and lasting support in smaller markets. I also believe in Canadian expansion because let's be honest, the support from fans is there. While the league didn't go to Halifax this season for a Takeover Tour event, it's a likely future location. First order of business before Halifax can even place themselves in the conversation, however, is to sell the last 800-900 tickets that are available for next month's Rivalry Series game. That would be a pretty powerful signal to the league that women's hockey has a passionate and activated fan base in Halifax.