Biggest Offseason Needs For Each PHF Team

PHF free agency is well underway, but most teams in the PHF still have significant work to be done, including the recruitment of new talent to the league.

With PHF free agency underway, teams are already beginning to form their rosters for the 2023-2024 PHF season. With that in mind, teams will be looking to address shortcomings and areas of need from last year.

The Boston Pride and Montreal Force have made significant changes already, and the Connecticut Whale kicked off the offseason with the blockbuster signing of Kacey Bellamy, but signing season is just getting started.

Here's a look at the biggest offseason needs for each PHF team.

Boston Pride

Watching Boston in the regular season, you'd think they would be unstoppable en route to the Isobel Cup final. Things didn't pan out however, as the Pride were eliminated in round one by the Minnesota Whitecaps. The biggest order of business for the Boston Pride will be replacing the departure of reigning PHF goaltender of the year Corrine Schroeder. There's a plethora of available goaltenders this offseason, but NCAA graduates, national team netminders, and veteran pros. Perhaps the only thing Boston could do to bolster a strong returning lineup, which will also see top NCAA prospects like Alina Muller joining the roster, is to add some sandpaper that will aid in those hard fought playoff games. A player like Kelly Babstock would make this team harder to play against when the going gets tough.

Buffalo Beauts

Buffalo had a dismal season finishing last with a 5-16-3 record and a -45 goal differential. If anyone is seeking a big name acquisition up front and can benefit from targeting an upgrade in net, it's the Beauts. Mikyla Grant-Mentis was her regular self, but without enough of a supporting cast, she could only carry so much load. Geographically, Buffalo should be able to target graduating NCAA players and PWHPA players with ties to New York state, or from across the border in Ontario. In net, the options are endless. Whether it's one of the recent NCAA graduates like Sandra Abstreiter, Emma Soderberg, or Andrea Braendli, or a European experienced netminder like Lindsey Post, there are many available goalies. To climb out of the basement, Buffalo will likely need to look at double-digit replacements in players, meaning we could see the most turn over anywhere in the league with the Beauts.

Connecticut Whale

Gone are Shannon Turner and Emma Keenan on the blueline, leaving a pair of holes. The Whale immediately addressed the veteran loss by signing Olympic gold medalist and eight time World Champion Kacey Bellamy. Bellamy, 36, hasn't played a full season since 2019, and won't push the Whale over the edge herself. Connecticut should be targeting another puck moving blueliner, as generating offense from the backend was an issue last year. Their top blueline goal scorer was Keenan with three, and she's off to Montreal. Up front, Connecticut returns Kennedy Marchment and Taylor Girard, a pair of highly skilled forwards. What Connecticut had in first line firepower, however, they lacked in scoring depth. Adding another high end offensive talent would be a game changer for the Whale. 

Metropolitan Riveters

Metropolitan's net this season attempted to goal tend by committee, but with mixed results. A stable starter that is going to play 70% of the games would be a target with instant benefits. The team allowed the second most goals against last season, and that needs to change. Unlike the league's cream of the crop last year, Boston and Toronto, Metropolitan lacked some of the puck possession skill possessed by others. Madison Packer, Kelly Babstock, and Sarah Bujold were three of the toughest competitors to face in the league, but balancing that tenacity with a player like Loren Gabel or Brittany Howard would be huge. The Riveters have plenty of players willing to do the heavy lifting, but could benefit from a game changing scorer. Metropolitan will be active this offseason looking to close the gap, and get back to the playoffs.

Minnesota Whitecaps

The current focus in Minnesota is re-signing their core from a team that surprised everyone in the playoffs sweeping the Boston Pride and then giving Toronto a run for their money in the Isobel Cup final. Minnesota had excellent depth last season, and could improve from the edges if they secure their core. Those additions will likely come from the wealth of NCAA free agents in Minnesota. That said, since Allie Thunstrom left for Boston last season, the team did not have a point per game player. Finding a top line talent to ride shotgun with Jonna Albers would be a boon for Minnesota. It could be a waiting game for the Whitecaps to secure that elite talent as NCAA graduates figure out their next steps. 

Montreal Force

A lot has already been done to bolster Montreal's lineup. Corinne Schroeder is taking over in net, Elizabeth Giguere and Theresa Schafzahl are joining the mix up front, and Emily Keenan is on board to help the back end. It would be a surprise if Kevin Raphael and the staff in Montreal stopped there. They have every intent on keeping the Isobel Cup north of the border this year...and not in Toronto. Talk amongst PWHPA players is there is significant interest in elite French Canadians playing with the Montreal Force. The Force had success in bringing over PWHPA players last year, but this year could see bigger names making the move. Leading scorer Jade Downie-Landry has already re-signed as well. Another upgrade on the back end could help, particularly an offensive defender.

Toronto Six

When you're the reigning champion, first order of business is to re-sign as many players as possible, and add later. After handing Daryl Watts a record breaking contract, the Six will expect big things from her this year and will need to consider who else lands a major contract. Looking at the Six's lineup from last season, one more top four blueliner would be a major boost. The team was solid defensively, but too much of a good thing in this situation, can't hurt. If there's anything to know when it comes to Angela James, Geraldine Heaney, and Sami Jo Small recruiting players, it's to count nothing out. While Toronto could stay status quo and still compete, it would be surprising to watch this trio exit the offseason without making a blockbuster signing.