Each PWHL Team's Biggest Needs Entering Free Agency

The PWHL is set to open free agency, with teams looking to fill roster sports. Here's a look at what each team will be looking to accomplish, and where they still have positional needs.

PWHL free agency is about to begin. While teams may sign another few players, many may league roster spots open for training camp battles. Or, given the contract rules, they could sign players now and release them later if someone beats them for a camp position. Here's a look at what each of the PWHL's original six teams need from the market when it opens on June 21.

Boston's biggest needs including bringing back key defenders, and shoring up their depth down the middle. Emily Brown, Kaleigh Fratkin, and Sidney Morin are all unrestricted free agents, but it's hard to see Boston allowing more than one of these players to walk. They drafted three defenders, but the shutdown presence of Brown, physicality and savvy of Fratkin, and skating skills of Morin will be hard to replace, especially considering these are seasoned pros who are proven at this level. Up front, Boston has Susanna Tapani as a natural center, but the options thin drastically after that. Jamie Lee Rattray will likely be shifted to the middle, and Hannah Brandt could stay down the middle as well, but Boston will need 1-2 centers, and that's if they get Brandt re-signed. Katerina Mrazova is the top center on the market, but options thin after that. Boston may look to bring back Lexie Adzija to fill a bottom six center position, or could try to lure Liz Schepers, Sarah Bujold or...Jillian Dempsey. Gigi Marvin played depth down the middle and could come back again as well.

Minnesota's biggest whole is along their right wing. Re-signing Michela Cava is going to give them options, and provide veteran depth. They could also look at players like Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Rebecca Leslie, or Sophie Shirley to bolster their wings. Of course there are internal options as well, but if you look at Minnesota's draft, they look intent to move on from a group of forwards. While they have six defenders in the organization, Minnesota will certainly look to bring back one or both of Mellissa Channell or Emma Greco. Channell was one of the more overlooked and underrated players in the league last season, and if Minnesota doesn't want her, there will be other teams waiting to scoop her to solidify their defensive depth.

Montreal has eight defenders in their organization, so there will be no need to even glance at another defender. It means their own unsigned defenders from last season like Catherine Daoust and Madison Bizal are out of work. Daoust could likely compete for a spot at came as she did average more than 16 minutes per night, but it's a long shot given their depth. Montreal has holes up front, which will be exasperated if Amanda Kessel doesn't show up for camp. If she's in the mix, Montreal will look good up front, aside from figuring out someone who can handle the third line center role. Gabrielle David is one candidate, as is Sarah Bujold. If Amanda Kessel is in the mix, it wouldn't be surprising to see Montreal shift Maureen Murphy into the middle for more scoring depth. There just aren't a lot of centers on the market unless Montreal wants to look at undrafted players. Laura Kluge, Michelle Lowenhielm, and Sadie Peart are all free agent options. Montreal is reportedly on the market for a third goalie, and some reports have them tied to Quinnipiac's Logan Angers. Hannah Miller is another name up front to watch for Montreal.

Believe it or not, PWHL New York looks to be in pretty good shape. They have 12 forwards, six defenders, and two goaltenders in the mix already. They're likely to re-sign either Lindsey Post or Abbey Levy as their third goalie this season to provide veteran padding for new backup Kayle Osborne. That said, they will still look to add some scoring depth on the wing. Could they target Daryl Watts? If not, one name to watch in New York is Claire Dalton who played for Montreal last season. Dalton can play both wings, and lining her up beside Elle Hartje would be reconnecting a dynamic pairing from their days at Yale with proven chemistry. New York has been more diligent this year focusing on bringing in character players who can shift their culture. Watch for that trend to continue in the offseason. New York also needs a seventh defender, and could target one of Boston's three veterans who will be feeling the squeeze in Beantown.

Everything here depends on Daryl Watts and Katerina Mrazova. With them, Ottawa is looking for a few depth forwards, without them, Ottawa is looking for something that doesn't exist on the free agent market...high end scoring. If Ottawa can't get there with them, expect them to take a big swing at Toronto's Hannah Miller. They might anyway because she fits the boost to Ottawa's size they've been trying to achieve. Beyond Miller, there aren't many options out there. Ottawa could look at Michela Cava in hopes she can bring her postseason prowess to the regular season, but otherwise, Ottawa will be sifting through the large pool of unsigned free agents and undrafted players looking for key attributes that can benefit the team in depth positions. They went from no defense, to having eight. It's a good problem to have, but someone will be on the outside of a roster spot looking in.

At this point, Toronto has two big free agents of their own in Hannah Miller and Allie Munroe. If Miller returns up front, Toronto will have by far the deepest, most physical, and highly skilled forward group in the league. Even without Miller, Toronto has impressive pieces in place and only need depth. They also need one defender to fill out their top six. Munroe is likely the best available option, but Toronto will likely be watching Boston's trio of veterans as well. Sidney Morin and Kaleigh Fratkin are both right shot blueliners which would best fit the positional need. Toronto could also look at free agent defenders, specifically Rylind MacKinnon or Maggie MacEachern who have been on Hockey Canada's radar for years. Finally, Toronto could look to change up their third goalie position. They have Erica Howe and Carly Jackson in the fold from last year, but it will be interesting to see if they target a new face as support for rookie Raygan Kirk.