PWHL New York is officially out of playoff contention. After a promising start, the season quickly slipped away. Here's a look at what went wrong.
PWHL New York is officially out of playoff contention. After a promising start, the season quickly slipped away. Here's a look at what went wrong.
Looking back to Utica, New York in early December, there was not only significant excitement about the PWHL in their inaugural preseason, but there was significant excitement about PWHL New York. The team showed up to the PWHL preseason with speed, they looked skilled, and they were fun to watch.
For a time, New York carried that into the regular season, winning the league's inaugural game on January 1, 4-0 over Toronto, who now sits first overall in the league. Over the following two weeks, they snuck out wins against Minnesota and Boston, but following that span, things deteriorated quickly.
It looked to be a case of other teams forming their systems, finding line combinations that worked, giving players up and down their lineups opportunities, and building chemistry. New York, remained the same wild and free team from the preseason, but it became less fun to watch, and more painful as opponents easily exposed their lack of structure and preyed on New York's overuse of one line. In the end, it became a situation no team ever wants, where their opponents looked forward to playing them knowing they could gain points in the standings. Yesterday, New York went from the first team to win in PWHL history, to the first team eliminated from PWHL playoff contention. Here's a post mortem of what happened.
Draper Didn't Click With Team
Serving as the head coach of the University of Alberta's women's hockey team from 1997 until 2023, Howie Draper had racked up years of success, winning 14 Canada West titles and eight national championships. In that span, he was named Canada West coach of the year eight times, and U Sports coach of the year as the top coach in Canada four times. Throughout those years, Draper also stepped behind the bench with Canada's senior national team and U-18 national team. This year however, it didn't click. Players past and present said they didn't recognize the coach they'd known before, not his systems, not his demeanour, not the decisions. Draper, one of the most beloved coaches in Canadian women's hockey history and his team were at odds. As it's rumored, at one point a member of New York's captain group went to the league and asked them to remove Draper.
Leadership and culture concerns
General manager Pascal Daoust will have significant work to do this offseason remaking his roster. It won't be a simple tune up, not if PWHL New York wants to challenge for a playoff spot and Walter Cup. Instead, Daoust will need to salvage the roster for parts. The problem is, many of the players on one year deals will be looking elsewhere due to the culture that developed in New York. As reported by players, staff, and opponents, a caste system quickly formed on the New York roster. This included players signed to three-year guaranteed contracts dictating their playing time and linemates, and visible arguments on the bench. In one shortened season, New York's locker room has positioned itself as a place free agents may not look to unless change can occur.
Star Studded Defence Failed To Defend
One item people lauded about New York's roster heading into the season was their blueline. New York went all in on signing and selecting defenders with national team track records acquiring Micah Zandee-Hart, Ella Shelton, and Jaime Bourbonnais to serve as their core. The play of this trio however, didn't translate to success. The primary issue was, the group didn't defend. New York's defensive corps were often caught up ice, jumping ahead of the puck and play, and leaving danger zones undefended. It didn't rest solely on this blueline group however, as New York's forward group didn't cover for their defenders, were often sluggish or invisible on the back check, and regularly missed defensive zone coverage. Abby Roque sits last in +/- in the league, and was one of the main culprits for this, along with undisciplined penalties, and the aforementioned locker room issues. In terms of defensive liabilities, Micah Zandee-Hart tied Roque at -13 at the bottom of the league, followed by Elizabeth Giguere and Jade Downie-Landry who at -10 rounded out the bottom four +/- players in the league. Among the league's worst ten in plus minus, you also need to add New York's Brooke Hobson, Jesse Eldridge, Jaime Bourbonnais, Chloe Aurard, and Ella Shelton. While the players didn't execute, it's hard not to point this issue at New York's lack of structure and coaching.
What went right?
Among starting goalies in the PWHL, Corinne Schroeder has maintained the best save percentage in the league. She's been a consistent presence in New York's net giving them a chance to win each night. The other point New York got right all season was their special teams. They had the second best powerplay (21.7%) and second best penalty kill (88.5%) at the time of their elimination. Players like Alex Carpenter and Ella Shelton were dangerous on special teams as they sat tied for the league lead in powerplay assists with six each. Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge were among league leaders for powerplay goals as well.
What does New York need?
It's a long list, but it's topped by two-way forwards, scoring wingers, defensive defenders, and character. While she may want to stay in New York where she attends school, PWHL New York drafting a player like Claire Thompson would be a mistake as it's another player of a similar style. If they choose first, New York will likely take either Sarah Fillier or Hanna Bilka. They need help on the wing making Bilka a positional fit, but Fillier can shift to the wing as well and has a stronger two-way game. Beyond this group, it will be about finding two-way capable players with strong character to counteract the culture their three-year veterans created this season. Players like Izzy Daniel, Elle Hartje, Klara Hymlarova, Jennifer Gardiner, and Noemi Neubauerova would add the two-way capabilities with offensive upside New York needs. On the blueline, defenders like Daniela Pejsova, Allyson Simpson, and Megan Carter are the style they need.