Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens were inked to deals with Montreal in the PWHL. What does the team still need? What do these signings mean for the roster?
Montreal signed Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renee Desbiens, and Laura Stacey. It's a formidable trio that rivals the signings of any franchise. Here's a look at what Montreal got, and what there focus will be moving forward.
Best Player In The World
It was never a doubt that Marie-Philip Poulin would sign in Montreal, and with that, the franchise acquired the best player in the world. Poulin is a future Hockey Hall of Famer, and has captained Canada's national team to gold, earning the nickname Captain Clutch along the way, several times. Alongside Poulin, Laura Stacey adds another dimension, but the duo will play fast and physical and serve as a valuable pair of mentors moving forward.
No Rush In Net With Desbiens Secured
Daniele Sauvageau can take a pause on goaltenders, perhaps until following the draft after securing Ann-Renee Desbiens. Even if Montreal waits until post draft, there will be a wealth of professional netminders and NCAA grads available. It's almost impossible at this point to predict who will be on the market, but any number of PHF starters and experienced PWHPA goalies will be free to sign with Montreal post-draft. With Desbiens secure, there's no need to rush, particularly with the wave of elite NCAA and USports goalies set to graduate next year, not to mention international goalies on expiring contracts.
Drafting A Top Pair Blueliner Is A Must
It almost goes without saying, but with Montreal choosing 6th and 7th, they'll need to use at least one of those picks on a top pairing blueliner. Should they choose two defenders at this point in the draft, Montreal could conceivably walk away with a pairing from Canada's national team on the point as well. Assuming teams ahead of them reach for the likes of Taylor Heise, Alina Muller, and perhaps Natalie Spooner or Erin Ambrose, it means Montreal will two of Savannah Harmon, Ella Shelton, Claire Thompson, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Jaime Bourbonnais to choose from, not to mention young stars like Ashton Bell and Sophie Jaques. It could give Montreal one of the top pairings in the league, which with Desbiens in net could make Montreal a very difficult team to score on.
Young Talent and Including Hidden Gems Available
There's a plethora of young talent tied to Montreal, or that make logical sense to select to build out a roster. Gabrielle David would be an excellent fit for today, and the future of this team, as would Chloe Aurard, who as a member of France's national team would be a hit with local media and the community. Theresa Schafzahl is a player who had signed a two-year deal with Montreal in the PHF, and would likely be interested in staying in the city. Players like Audrey-Anne Veillette and Rosalie Begin-Cyr could be two of the best kept secrets in the league if both of the USports standouts declare for the draft. Veillette in particular will develop into a good middle six scorer in this league. Looking at local ties from the PHF, Jade Downie-Landry led the Montreal Force in scoring last season as a rookie and plays a complete game, while Elizabeth Giguere had signed with the Montreal Force. Two players to not overlook are veterans Ann-Sophie Bettez and Melodie Daoust, two of the better scorers to play for Team Canada in the last decade. Both have gas in the tank, and in terms of building an immediate contender, both can play top six scoring roles.