More than a month and a half into free agency, multiple rosters are nearing completion, while the Buffalo Beauts are just beginning to make moves. Who has improved? Who hasn't? We look at offseason grades.
More than a month and a half into free agency, multiple rosters are nearing completion, while the Buffalo Beauts are just beginning to make moves. Who has improved? Who hasn't? We look at offseason grades.
The PHF offseason is months old, and most teams are nearing a roster count that they could hold until opening day. Some teams like the Boston Pride and Metropolitan Riveters have made significant changes. Others like the Montreal Force look to be vastly improved. The Toronto Six have remained picky in their signings after securing a core, while the Buffalo Beauts remain the lone mystery in the league both in the players they're signing...and the players they're not.
Boston Pride: A
It's hard to believe there's a deeper forward group in the PHF, and if there's one thing to believe, it's that Boston might not be done making big names splashes yet.
Their forward group includes Loren Gabel, Brittany Howard, Jillian Dempsey, Caitrin Lonegran, Alina Muller, Chloe Aurard, Sophie Shirley, Gabrielle David, and Taylor Wenczkowski...so far. It's unheard of depth for a team that can now send out any of their top three lines and claim they are as good as almost any first line in the league last year.
On the blueline, Zoe Boyd and Brooke Hobson are the most notable newcomers to this point, coupled with the veteran return of Aneta Tejralova and Kali Flanagan. The Pride also brought back Katie Burk, who was in net for the Pride the last time they won an Isobel Cup.
You can't help but feel like the Pride still have something big up their sleeves this offseason.
Buffalo Beauts: C
The Beauts are in the game. Their recent signing of Akane Shiga and Aoi Shiga showed signs of life.
Outside of USports star Tatum Amy, and the Shiga sisters, the team has yet to make significant changes or improvements that would show Buffalo can climb out of the PHF's basement.
Some of the Beauts early signings have been questionable and could best be described as depth, but the team, and their fans, and the rest of the league, are waiting to see when further impact additions emerge. Right now, some of the moves being made would not be able to crack other PHF rosters. Last year the Beauts had a goal differential -31 lower than the Montreal Force who finished second last in the standings.
Oliver told The Hockey News earlier this month that he's focused on the "end product" and what their final roster will look like. The recent moves however are concerning if they're representative of that final product. Perhaps the signing of the Shiga sisters was the beginning of that end product.
Connecticut Whale: B
Recent additions of NCAA players including Maude Poulin-Labelle and Emma Soderberg have started to turn the tides for the Whale who signed Kacey Bellamy to open the offseason, before looking mostly internally in the coming weeks. The Whale are leading the way on six figure salaries disclosed to this point with Bellamy, Kennedy Marchment, Allie Munroe, and Taylor Girard all surpassing the mark.
It's a big section of their salary cap committed to four players, meaning the Whale might be looking for bargain options for their fourth line.
They have one of the more intriguing bluelines in place already with Poulin-Labelle, Bellamy, Munroe, and Tori Horwan, bringing a mix of offense and mobility. The work is not done in Connecticut.
Metropolitan Riveters: A
There's no arguing the Riveters feature one of the most improved rosters in the league. They have 20 players signed and announced already, meaning any additions from here on out will need to be depth, or a home run star.
The Riveters have added from everywhere - within the league in players like Kaleigh Fratkin and Katerina Mrazova, overseas with Noora Raty and Susanna Tapani, NCAA with standouts like Lexie Adzija and Emma Seitz, or USports in Lauren Dabrowski. The team also managed to retain key members of their core without overspending.
Whether or not it's enough to get them into the playoffs and playing for the Isobel Cup, that depends how quickly the roster gels. On paper, this is a massively improved team.
Minnesota Whitecaps: B-
The Whitecaps roster is almost complete. They've added a number of NCAA players who have the chance to be impact players in the future. On the blueline it was Maggie Flaherty and Madison Bizal. Up front, key additions include Catie Skaja and Abigail Boreen.
What didn't happen, was the Whitecaps have not added an outside veteran to make an immediate impact. Looking at their roster from last year, there's an opportunity for massive internal growth. Big time NCAA scorers like Anna Klein went through a massive adjustment stepping to the PHF, but could be in line for leaps forward. The same could be said for a player like Liz Schepers, who was handed a large contract in Minnesota, and now needs to play like a six figure forward. The pressure will be on for these players to elevate their games.
There are so many fence sitting players waiting to hear if the PWHPA will launch this year. Many of those players would be interested in playing for the Whitecaps if the PWHPA league fizzles out.
Montreal Force: B+
After a wild few opening weeks that saw the Montreal Force make major acquisitions, the Force's forward progress slowed a bit. They still make upgrades like adding Emily Rickwood on the blueline, and they'll bring one of the best goaltending tandems in the league to the table in Corinne Schroeder, and a back up who is rumored to be Lauren Bench.
What keeps Montreal's score high, is that just because they're currently sitting in a holding pattern, does not mean they're done. Kevin Raphael wants a winning product on the ice, and a holding pattern exists to find opportunity.
With 12 forwards and 6 defenders under contract, there's no need for the Force to rush. They are immensely improved already this offseason, and the number of PWHPA players who have expressed interest in playing with the Montreal Force "if" a league does not materialize, is nearly enough to field a second team in the city.
Toronto Six: B
A few potential deals seem to have fizzled, but the Toronto Six are circling and prowling the market for deals. They have their core in place, a championship experienced group, announced or not, who will keep the Six competitive.
The Six, similar to Montreal, are powerfully positioned to welcome PWHPA players if things go off the rails there. Those irons are in the fire, and Toronto is not rushing to complete deals for the sake of doing deals, they're waiting for the right players to challenge for a repeat Isobel Cup run.
Jennifer Wakefield remains the largest name on the market linked to the Six, but there is significant out of league interest in the team. The fact Toronto didn't immediately sign free agent camp attendees like Emily Pinto and Carley Olivier, shows you the depth of talent in the works. One of both of these players could, and should play in the PHF. Whether that's in Toronto is yet to be seen.
What players are still on the market?
Allie Thunstrom, Kelly Babstock, and Mikyla Grant-Mentis are just a few of the internal names on the market who would immediately make an impact on a roster.
In terms of out of league players, Lindsey Post, a former SDHL goalie of the year, would be an upgrade for almost every team in the league either as a starter or even in a backup role where she could come in an steal games, and potentially the starter role. Czechia captain Alena Mills was very open about her intent to play professional hockey in the PHF. She has been linked to Buffalo, but that deal has yet to cross the finish line. Perhaps another team swoops in and steals the veteran?
There's no telling who could come over from the PWHPA, but one name that's made the rounds among general managers is former Team USA member Hannah Brandt.
From the NCAA, the list is shrinking, but not without significant players still in conversation. Sophie Jaques remains the name to watch, and is a player who would benefit greatly from playing in the PHF. Similarly, players including Maureen Murphy, Natalie Buchbinder, Paetyn Levis, Ashton Bell, and Emily Oden should all be jumping at the PHF. Goaltender Blanka Skodova is the remaining World Championship netminder with an undetermined path.