Key Players PWHL New York Should Extend Prior To Free Agency

PWHL New York finished last overall, and they'll need a lot of bolstering of their roster from free agency and the draft to become more competitive. Here's a look at the players they should focus on extending before free agency opens.

PWHL New York finished last overall. Their roster had many good pieces, but it also had serious holes...or perhaps canyons. Even some of PWHL New York's players on two year contracts, specifically Jill Saulnier and Elizabeth Giguere had forgettable years. Both of those players are capable of a bounce back, but not without a shift in their forward group. Here's a look at who PWHL New York should focus on extending prior to PWHL Free Agency.

Paetyn Levis, Kayla Vespa, Emma Woods, Alexandra Labelle, Savannah Norcross, Madison Packer, Olivia Zafuto, Taylor Baker, Johanna Fallman, Corinne Schroeder, Abbey Levy, and Lindsey Post were all on one year deals. 

Corinne Schroeder should be extended immediately. Corinne Schroeder should be extended immediately. That's a duplicate sentence, because there is no other player as important to New York's roster. There are few options for Schroeder in the league unless she's willing to share the crease, but she may end up sharing the crease more with whomever New York signs as a back up. Schroeder was a finalist for PWHL Goaltender of the Year and for good reason. She saved New York on many occasions. It will be interesting to see if New York gives Lindsey Post a shot at being the backup, or if they target Klara Peslarova, Gwyneth Philips, or Kayle Osborne at the draft. Aside from Schroeder, Emma Woods is likely the only player New York will focus on before the draft and free agency. It's believed those talks have been underway for a while, but Woods should be factoring down New York's lineup, not up it if they can bring in the forward depth they need. She started strong but fizzled as the season progressed, but would likely produce more if she wasn't facing top match ups each night. New York gave Paetyn Levis a long runway this season but she couldn't find her game, and the rest of the group, aside from their defenders who they had to play, Howie Draper didn't give any runway to at all. There are players in the group including Levis, or even Madison Packer, who under a new coach, could find a more valuable role with the team. But until Pascal Daoust gets his coach in place, and free agency opens for New York to see who might be interested in coming to the team, it's unlikely they'll do much else beyond Schroeder and Woods.