Analyzing Ottawa's PWHL Free Agent Signings

Ottawa signed Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Emerance Maschmeyer in PWHL free agency. Here's what they got and what they didn't get.

Ottawa followed the playbook as the first team out of the gate with official free agent signings to be announced. Ottawa announced the signing of Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Emerance Maschmeyer to begin building their rosters for the new PWHL. Each was signed to a three-year contract bringing a core to begin building around.

Jenner and Clark will provide the core of Ottawa's offensive attack. Jenner has played a central role for Canada playing on their top line at almost all recent international competitions, often lining up alongside Marie-Philip Poulin. The 32-year-old is a proven scorer at the NCAA, CWHL, and international levels, and is the reigning Olympic MVP. 

Jenner proved this season in the PWHPA she can drive offense herself leading last place Team Sonnet in scoring with 19 points in 20 games. 

Clark, who has played more of a depth role with Canada, often killing penalties and providing energy, had a breakout season professionally in the PWHPA last year finishing second in league scoring behind Poulin with 23 points in 20 games with the Secret Cup champion Team Harvey's.

The duo will form two third of Ottawa's top line...to start.

It was obvious Emerance Maschmeyer was going to begin the season as a starter for one of the PWHL's franchises, with the odds leaning toward Ottawa or Toronto with Ann-Renee Desbiens likely destined for Montreal.

The 28-year-old is well within her prime meaning Ottawa just secured three years of steady goaltending. It will be interesting to see if Ottawa attempts to bring in Geneviève Lacasse to back up Maschmeyer, as the duo were married this offseason.

Any future goaltending moves however, will need to come for Ottawa in the draft, or at camp, and with one goaltender already secured, Ottawa isn't likely to spend a pick early in the draft on another.

Maschmeyer has consistently been Canada's second goaltender at international competitions, but at times has stepped in and outperformed Desbiens. She'll look to prove herself as the heir to the throne when the puck drops in Ottawa.

Many thought Ottawa could target hometown hero Jamie Lee Rattray in free agency, but now, if she's available, Rattray could become Ottawa's prime target at 5th overall in the draft. They select again at 8th overall giving the team a chance to grab two top tier players rapidly.

Going with two forwards and a goaltender definitely has its rewards, but in a shallow defensive market, Ottawa will have work to do at the draft to secure their blueline.

Picking at 5th overall, it will depend on the availability of national team blueliners who haven't already signed, but Ottawa could conceivable target a Canadian national team member like Jamie Bourbonnais, Micah Zandee-Hart, or Ella Shelton, or a young prospect like Sophie Jaques with the pick. 

Taking a goaltender in free agency had risk and reward considering the depth of similarly talented players in net, but Ottawa obviously believes Maschmeyer is a difference maker, and that there is enough talent on the blueline available.