As The Hockey News' Ian Kennedy writes, PWHL Boston won the league's first trade not only for the players involved, but also for the cap flexibility Boston gained for the future.
There's no doubt the excitement surrounding Sophie Jaques entering the PWHL was significant, and she remains a bright young prospect. Jaques is the reigning Patty Kazmaier Award winner, and first defender to win the award in 19 years when Hockey Hall of Famer Angela Ruggiero earned the honor.
She's also the back-to-back WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, scoring 45 goals and 107 points in 79 games over her final two seasons in the NCAA.
Jaques is bound to find her way in the PWHL, but she's not there yet. Jaques has struggled early, and the 23-year-old defender is going to need time to develop. The issue for Jaques and other young players like her, is that there is no place to develop aside from playing critical games in a shortened PWHL season.
Before we get into the players Boston brought back in return for Jaques, this biggest win in this situation is that Danielle Marmer bought her PWHL Boston team something no other roster will have heading into the offseason...flexibility. PWHPA players negotiated themselves six three-year guaranteed contracts paying at least $80,000 each per season. With those contracts, there was risk. There's risk in signing older players on the decline, and there's risk signing younger players who are unproven at the pro level. Boston, through their trade, freed up thousands of dollars moving into next season that could be used to lure top free agents. With 57.9% of the league set to become unrestricted free agents next year, Boston will have added recruiting power through financial incentives for players. And if they target wisely in the draft, there are enough top end defenders available to grab another talented blueliner who can replace Jaques moving forward.
In terms of the players they did get, Boston sent Jaques, who was playing minutes as the team's 6th or 7th defender, to Minnesota for Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook. Tapani will immediately slot into Boston's second line center position, which is a massive boost to their depth and scoring punch up front. Cook is no slouch herself, and can easily play a similar depth role on the blueline to Jaques, or Boston could choose to shift Gigi Marvin to the blueline at any point.
Tapani also gives Boston another player who can contribute on the powerplay, not only up front, but on the blueline if needed.
In Minnesota, perhaps the change of scenery is all Jaques needed, and it's likely this move also opens the door for Abigail Boreen to join the roster full time, as she was an impact player during her 10-day short term contract and in the preseason.
If it was a top six forward alone, Boston could already claim to be the victors in this deal, but the added bonus of cap flexibility the next two seasons is something that can't be overlooked