PWHL New York has allowed more than 100 shots more than four other PWHL teams, they're relying heavily on a small group, and the mood toward coach Howie Draper has soured. It's time for a change in New York amidst their six game losing streak.
PWHL New York has allowed more than 100 shots more than four other PWHL teams, they're relying heavily on a small group, and the mood toward coach Howie Draper has soured. It's time for a change in New York amidst their six game losing streak.
PWHL New York is on a six game losing streak. It's not a streak any team would like to go through, but how New York has been losing, and the fact they've made no changes to their approach in that period is what is cause for more concern. It's time for change in PWHL New York, but the ability to change has passed with the PWHL Trade Deadline and Roster Freeze Deadline here.
New York Leaning Too Heavily On Small Group
Coach Howie Draper is not utilizing his forward group. The team has relied almost exclusively on three players to score - Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and Jessie Eldridge. When looking at the top forwards in the league for time on ice, New York is the only team to have two forwards appear at the top of the leaderboard with Alex Carpenter leading the league in TOI by a forward with an average of 22:12 per game, followed by Roque who is third among all PWHL forwards with 21:21. The numbers have eased slightly in the last week, but perhaps more telling is the number of forwards New York has at the bottom of the ice time board.
Defensive Struggles Despite Star Power
On paper, the top four of Ella Shelton, Jaime Bourbonnais, Micah Zandee Hart and Brooke Hobson looked like one of the best in the league. In terms of skills, they still are. In terms of execution, the group is one-note, jumping into the play, pushing the puck up ice, but losing battles in their own zone, missing coverage, and getting caught up ice. Despite the strong goaltending of Corinne Schroeder, she's being exposed to high danger scoring chances, and constant pressure. In their 5-1 loss to Minnesota, New York was outshot 40-21. In their loss to Boston? 46-23. Corinne Schroeder has been their saving grace as New York has faced 584 shots against. Ottawa, Boston, and Minnesota are all more than 100 shots behind at 471, 469, and 463 respectively, while Toronto trails them by 200 shots at 384. Only Montreal is in the same stratosphere with 510, which at 74 shots behind is still more than two games worth of shots against more than any other team.
More On Shots
New York just can't get pucks to the net. Watching their team, they look confused through the neutral zone and on their zone entries, often crossing themselves up with linemates. The other aspect is their defensive corps trying to lead the rush or jump into the play at ill-advised times, forcing their forward group to retreat into a defensive posture. Through 17 games this season, New York has outshot their opponent only once, a two shot advantage in a loss to Montreal back on January 14. Since then, lopsided shot totals have become the norm. New York's defenders in some ways are stifling their forwards, but also, given the lack of ice time distribution, the forwards being expected to carry the play are sometimes out of gas. Abby Roque sits last on New York's roster with only 3.97 shots per 60 minutes played. New York's top six forwards for shots per 60 are Eldridge, Carpenter, Elizabeth Giguere, Jade Downie-Landry, Madison Packer, and Paeytn Levis.
Dissent In The Ranks Could Spell The End For Howie Draper
He entered as a beloved USports coach, but the mood in New York has soured toward coach Howie Draper. At one point this year, there was a visible disagreement between Draper and assistant Colton Orr on the bench in the dying seconds of a game. Key players have voiced their displeasure with members of the league, and it's believed the lack of structure, and roster deployment have grown tiring in New York. The locker room is unhappy, and losing is only one part of it. Draper is on a leave of absence from the University of Alberta, and may choose to return following this season if the mood doesn't change in New York. The culture, including that set by some players, has grated on the lineup as a whole, and it's obvious that something has to give.