Boston Looking For Proven Players, Experience, And Immediate Impact At PWHL Draft

PWHL Boston general manager Danielle Marmer discusses her approach to the 2024 PWHL Draft, Boston's needs, and what traits she'll target in the draft in search of impact players.

In some leagues drafts are about prospects and the future. In the PWHL, it's about the here and now and PWHL Boston knows it. As general manager Danielle Marmer stated in a pre-draft press conference, she's looking for a small group of players with experience at an elite level, who can step in and make an immediate impact.

"We've established a really strong core and an identity in how we want to play, so now it's just adding then pieces that make us a little bit better and allow us to finish the job next year," said Marmer. "So looking forward to a draft where we're looking for 3-4 players we think are going to impact our lineup right away as opposed to 15 last year and there's incredible talent in this draft so I'm looking forward to it."

Last season PWHL Boston finished last in the league in goals scored. It's a point that haunted Boston at times, and it's definitely a point Boston will look to address in the draft. In the opening rounds, Boston will have shots to select a player like Sarah Fillier, Danielle Serdachny, Hannah Bilka, Amanda Kessel, or Noora Tulus. All fit the description Marmer is seeking. And all would be a step toward solving Boston's lack of scoring. 

"When you look at our lineup we didn't have the 15-20 goal scorer that you see in some other markets," she said. "So there's a high end elite goal scoring forward who can hang on to puckl and allow plays to develop, and just as much as we're looking to add offensively, we're looking for D who can end plays in the neutral zone and transition quick. I think we score more goals if we play less hockey in our D zone."

Those defenders early in the draft could include Cayla Barnes, Claire Thompson, Ronja Savolainen, Daniela Pejsova, and Maja Nylen Persson. When seeking players who can make an immediate impact, and who have proven experience at elite levels, the draft drops off substantially following the fourth round. But Boston will have their chances to take players they can sprinkle throughout their roster to become difference makers. 

Aside from these top names, there are others like Austria's Anna Meixner who could re-join countrymate Theresa Schafzahl, and provide the veteran experience and prove scoring Boston needs.

Boston will almost certainly take a handful of younger players who will need to prove themselves in camp, but for Marmer, the focus is clear. She wants an impact now, so that Boston can win now. And the first season of the PWHL proved that the step was difficult for many players, and with more talent incoming, and a year fo experience for those who were in the league during the inaugural season, that step will be even more difficult this year.

"We're looking for players who can impact right away and so that's proven players who've played at the highest level," Marmer said. "We weren't sure what the adjustment to this game was going to look like with this league and we've seen that it is a big step up from college and even a step up for these national team players who are usd to playing these three week tournaments and now they have to find a way to sustain and be productive for a 30 game season and playoffs."

PWHL Boston will select 4th overall, 10th overall, 16th overall, and 22nd overall to open the draft's first four rounds. It's with those selections Marmer and PWHL Boston will look to achieve their mandate, and take another step toward the clubs first Walter Cup.