Grading Each PHF Team's Offseason Moves So Far

With PHF Free Agency in full swing, all but one team has announced multiple signings. While it's well known almost every team has more signings in place than they're announced, here's a look at how each PHF team's offseason acquisitions have gone so far.

When we learn the full extent of Boston's offseason moves, this could move to an A+. Rumors include the additions of Toronto Six leading scorer Brittany Howard and NCAA standout Gabrielle David, but until they're announced, we can't factor them into Boston's score. The loss of Elizabeth Giguere, Corinne Schroeder, Kaleigh Fratkin, and Allie Thunstrom is a lot to handle. The team however, immediately went out and replaced those players with the likes of Alina Müller and Chloé Aurard.  Boston also re-signed Taylor Wenczkowski. Locking in Müller and Aurard is monumental for the league. Right now the main hole Boston needs to fill is in net, and finding an upgrade on their blueline. Defense wins championships, and Boston underperformed in the playoffs. They're set to score a ton, but still have work to do.

No one likes to receive an F on an assignment. Luckily for the Buffalo Beauts, this is the issue that they forgot to hand in their assignment, not that they didn't complete the work. Still, it has to be concerning to Beauts fans that the team who had the most to do this offseason, including finding a new head coach, has yet to announce a single player, or that coaching hire. There are players, such as captain Dominique Kremer, who followers know are coming back, and there are new players, like USports All-Canadian Tatum Amy, who are coming in. But the silence out of Buffalo is deafening, especially watching the arms race across the league. Buffalo's saving grace could be the players sitting and waiting to hear about a PWHPA league, who could eventually need a place to play.

Before you light your torches and try to burn this score down, hear us out. The Connecticut Whale have largely retained who they had last season, thus far. Kennedy Marchment, Taylor Girard, and Allie Munroe are tremendous signings. However they were all on two-year deals that were re-negotiated, and they comprise a large portion of Connecticut's salary cap. Kacey Bellamy is the only new Whale announced so far. She's a big name in the hockey world, but hasn't played in multiple seasons. She'll surely make an impact, but might need a few games to find her rhythm. In total, those four are being paid more than $460,000. That's a third of the team's salary cap. The signing of goaltender Sandra Abrstreiter is big news, but the Whale have a lot of roster left to fill, and to keep up with the improvements other teams are making, they still need to act.

This will be an A+. Why? The moves the Riveters have made, but have yet to announce, will push this over the edge. The team opened their offseason re-signing captain Madison Packer. Then they re-upped Olympic gold medalist Amanda Pelkey and former Finnish national team member Minttu Tuominen. It's what the Rivs did next however, in bringing Noora Räty and Susanna Tapani, two of Finland's legends, that pushed their offseason into overdrive. These two players are not only big for the Riveters, but are big for the PHF. Signing two players of this stature will help bring the Riveters into the playoff fight. Metropolitan has an exciting lineup of signings still to come.

Minnesota's signings have been trickling out, and if we know anything, it's that this team will be competitive again, and have good depth. What they need however, is some star power to boost their scoring. Minnesota's depth last season was some of the best in the league, and they've added more NCAA grads in Claire Butorac and Brooke Bryant, but their signing class has lacked incoming star power. Amanda Leveille's re-signing ensures they'll have a goalie who gives them the chance to win each night, which was big. If PWHPA interest in the league continues to increase, as rumor suggests it is, no team in the league is in a better geographic region to capitalize off new NCAA graduates and experiences players who could make an immediate impact.

The Montreal Force have signalled they mean business. This team wants to win, and wants to win now. Adding Elizabeth Giguere and Corinne Schroeder from the Boston Pride was flat out theft. Next it was Emma Keenan to bolster their blueline from Connecticut. Then the Force added a cohort of college hockey stars including Theresa Schafzahl, a former Hockey East player of the year, and First Team All-Canadian Audrey-Anne Veillete, who participated in Canada's national team selection camp this summer. Notable re-signings for the Force include leading scorer Jade Downie-Landry and captain Ann-Sophie Bettez. Keenan is a good add, but if there's work to do, adding a big name defender would complete the offseason build. Montreal is definitely not done looking to improve. There are big plans happening for the Force on a variety of fronts, and their summer build is not done.

It's hard to hand out that low of a grade to a team that has re-signed their captain in Shiann Darkangelo and starting goalie Elaine Chuli. If there's one thing we know, it's to never count out Angela James, Geraldine Heaney, and Sami Jo Small as a powerful trio who can recruit talent. It's how the Six built an Isobel Cup championship team as quickly as they did. It's assumed the Six have lost Howard, and some believe Michela Cava is headed out of town as well. The team has been in discussions with forwards who could easily make up for these losses. With James at the helm, the quiet start to the offseason for Toronto is more likely a calm before the storm, than a lack of action. Toronto will need to get stronger to contend for back-to-back titles.