
The Toronto Sceptres entered the offseason as one of the deeper teams in the PWHL, and only got deeper using both the draft and free agency to stockpile an abundance of talent.
New name, new logo, new players. The Toronto Sceptres were one of the PWHL's top teams last year, and all they did this offseason was get stronger through free agency and the draft. No team will be able to roll four, or five, lines as deep and talented as Toronto. While there are still questions about their defensive depth, Toronto looks ready to challenge for a Walter Cup.
Here's a look at the Toronto Sceptres incoming and outgoing players.
Erica Howe retired opening Toronto's crease, and Rebecca Leslie and Alexa Vasko both signed with the Ottawa Charge. Brittany Howard is probably the biggest name not returning to Toronto as she took a coaching job with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program. Maude Poulin-Labelle is headed to Boston on a free agent camp invitation, so she's also unlikely to return.
The big splash of the summer came early in free agency as the Toronto Sceptres signed Daryl Watts away from Ottawa, and also lured Emma Woods from New York. The duo will add to an already strong forward group, that also added Canadian national team member Julia Gosling via the draft. On their blueline, the biggest addition was Northeastern captain Megan Carter, who will look to slide into Toronto's second pairing. Toronto also replaced the retired Howe with Ohio State netminder Raygan Kirk. Up front Toronto continued to pad their already deep lineup by signing Patty Kazmaier winner Izzy Daniel from Cornell.
If there's any team who could be forced to cut free a talented player, or two, who could make any other PWHL team in the league, it's Toronto. Returning unsigned free agents like Lauriane Rougeau, Kaitlin Willoughby, and Jessica Kondas will have a hard time making this team and could end up as reserves. Toronto still has unsigned Ohio State defender Lauren Bernard to consider, as well as Czechia national team member Noemi Neubauerova and big American forward Anneke Linser. The rich have gotten richer, and those riches are overflowing, in Toronto.