The Boston Fleet made several significant changes in the offseason. The team taking the ice in 2025-26 will look very different from the roster fans have come to know over the past two seasons. From a coaching change to a captain departing, the Fleet are embracing a fresh start, perhaps the key to future success.
Captaincy
In the offseason, former Fleet captain Hilary Knight was traded to Seattle. Knight had led the team since its inaugural season, taking them to one Walter Cup championship and narrowly missing the playoffs last season.
While Knight brought notable achievements, the Fleet also faced challenges. After scraping into the playoffs in their first season, they fell short last year, failing to secure a playoff spot in the final game.
Knight’s extensive experience includes multiple World and Olympic Championships with Team USA. The four-time Olympian and IIHF Female Player of the Year (2023) was left unprotected in the expansion draft—an opportunity Seattle quickly capitalized on.
Now, the Fleet must select a new captain. The leading candidate is Megan Keller, a two-time Olympian who has played 54 games with the Fleet over the past two seasons and is widely expected to step into the role next year.
Roster Changes
The Fleet lost several players in the expansion draft and free agency. The expansion teams Seattle and Vancouver took the majority of the roster during the offseason.
- Hannah Bilka, last season’s first-round pick with five goals and six assists in 16 games, was selected by Seattle, reuniting her with Hilary Knight.
- Emily Brown, the 14th overall pick in the expansion draft, also went to Seattle after recording one goal and three assists in 29 games.
- Lexie Adzija, a two-way forward, joined Seattle in free agency.
- Sydney Bard, a defender, was picked by Vancouver in the expansion draft.
- Emma Greco signed a two-year contract with Vancouver in free agency.
The Fleet also lost:
- Sidney Morin, defender, signed with Minnesota Frost
- Jessica DiGirolamo, defender, signed a two-year deal with Montreal Victore
- Klara Peslarova, goaltender, returned to Sweden
Additions in Free Agency
To fill the gaps, Boston added several players: Chloe Aurard, Liz Schepers, Laura Kluge, Zoe Boyd, Rylind MacKinnon, and Abby Levey.
Following free agency, the projected lineup looks like this (with [Y] denoting free agency acquisitions and [X] representing open roster spots):
- Chloe Aurard [Y] – Alina Muller – Hannah Brandt
- Jamie Lee Rattray – Susanna Tapani – Shay Maloney
- Jill Saulnier – Liz Schepers [Y] – Laura Kluge [Y]
- Theresa Schafzahl – X – Sophie Shirley
- Megan Keller – X
- Zoe Boyd [Y] – Daniela Pejsova
- Rylind MacKinnon [Y] – X
- Hadley Hartmetz
- Aerin Frankel
- Abby Levey
- X
In the PWHL Entry Draft, the Fleet added six players: Haley Winn, Ella Huber, Olivia Mobley, Riley Brengman, Abby Newhook, and Amanda Thiele. Players will report to training camp in the fall, and those not under contract will compete for roster spots.
Coaching Changes
The Fleet also lost head coach Courtney Kessel, who departed to lead Princeton University. On July 23, Boston announced Kris Sparre as the new head coach.
Sparre previously served as an assistant coach in the AHL, spending three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks affiliate, and was formerly associate coach with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL.
In his first press conference, Sparre emphasized a strong work ethic and culture-building for the upcoming season:
“We are going to be suffocating in every area of the ice, and we're going to build a culture where we crave the work,” he said. “We're doing more than the regular teams are willing to do because we know the results will pay off in the end.”
Sparre highlighted the team’s blend of youth and experience:
“We have a lot of youth coming into this team. We also have some great veteran leadership with Megan Keller. Our goalie is one of the best in the league. It’s a strong mix, but if we want to win, we’ll need to get our youth up to speed immediately.”
From the lineup to the bench, the Boston Fleet have undergone a major offseason transformation. While the next captain and training camp dates are yet to be announced, the team is embracing a new era as they head into 2025-26.