Things didn't go as planned for the Ottawa Charge in free agency. They had conversations with players like Natalie Spooner, Susanna Tapani, and Michela Cava, but in the end, came up empty.
More concerning was the inability of Ottawa to keep their top free agents losing Tereza Vanisova, Shiann Darkangelo, Zoe Boyd, Jincy Roese, and Natalie Snodgrass, and it may not end there.
Ottawa will make a few additions, but it won't be what Charge fans envisioned. It leaves only the draft as a realistic opportunity to change their trajectory from downward, to remaining in the playoff hunt.
There are ways to do this. And Ottawa knows it. They also know the pool of available players after the draft might have some pieces to the puzzle that teams didn't want to risk a pick on, but could be home run additions on a league minimum deal.
Defence First Draft Strategy
Ottawa needs help on the blueline. Whether it's Nicole Gosling or Rory Guilday, the need to take a blueliner with their first pick. Truly, when they step back to the microphone at 13th, Ottawa needs to grab another defender. If Kendall Cooper is available, she's the obvious pick. If she isn't, Ottawa should continue their Minnesota-Duluth trend and pick Nina Jobst-Smith.
While it's not high end, there is a lot of defensive depth in the draft that can play a bottom pair role. Ideally Ottawa would have found another veteran defender to pair with one of them, but it might not be possible unless they bring in a free agent who wasn't in the league last season.
Deep in the draft, or in the days that follow, Ottawa could target defenders like Maggie MacEachern, Emily Rickwood, or Courtney Vorster for third pairing depth that comes with European experience.
Tapping Into The European Market
Whether it's Sara Hjalmarsson or Anna Shokhina, after Ottawa takes a pair of defenders, they should look to grab a veteran player from overseas. Both have significant upside, and both will be physically capable of contributing immediately. When the draft is done, or with their final pick, Ottawa should go back to this well. On league minimum salaries and one year deals, the risk of signing players like Fanuza Kadirova, Alexandra Huszak, Reece Hunt, Franziska Feldmeier, Mathea Fischer, or Michelle Lowenhielm are well worth the risk. A few of these players could climb into top six roles with the right chemistry, and the rest have the experience to play valuable depth roles. The offensive upside in this group is something Ottawa must consider, because above all else, they need skill.
Returning To Known Pathways
Ottawa has had significant success drafting players from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and from Jobst-Smith to a number of forwards with upside, Ottawa should be able to grab one or two Bulldogs in the mid-rounds. Clara Van Wieren, Olivia Mobley, and Olivia Wallin all have offensive upside and come from that program. Ottawa could also look at defender Hanna Baskin. It's a path that has worked for Ottawa from Gabbie Hughes and Ashton Bell, Katerina Mrazova and Jocelyn Larocque, to Mannon McMahon, it's a well that hasn't failed the Charge.
Skill Above All Else
Whether they're targeting it in the draft or after, Ottawa needs to look at players with unique skill sets. Targeting a forward like Anna Segedi after filling their blueline could provide a surprise boost. Another interesting name who could be available late is Lindenwood's Morgan Neitzke.
Even targeting players coming from U Sports to Europe, like Maggy Burbidge and Elizabeth Lang has merit. If they could be patient in the development of Lucia Haluskova, and get her on a strength program this summer, there's upside there as well.
Fourth line energy will always be available, but shooting for high upside should be the goal of the league's original six, and in particular teams most impacted by expansion and free agency like Ottawa, New York, and Boston.
If Ottawa were to target defenders early, grab a European veteran next, go with known quantities from trusted programs in the middle, and then shoot for the stars late, before signing the best players coming from the SDHL, SWHL, WCIHL, EWHL, and DFEL after the draft, they could be a surprise team that remains highly competitive.