The Boston Fleet were one of the teams hardest hit in the expansion process. They lost Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka, Emily Brown, and Sydney Bard. The team also watched veterans such as Sidney Morin and Jessica DiGirolamo walk in free agency.

While Boston managed to plug a few of those holes, including signing Zoe Boyd and Rylind MacKinnon on the blueline, the team has plenty of work to do at the draft. Last year Boston grabbed Hannah Bilka in the opening round, and then three picks later made a deal to swap selections with New York to move up and take Daniela Pejsova. 

Boston took a risk in the final round selecting Ilona Markova. It's a move they'll hope pays off this season if Markova can make their roster, as Boston needs offensive support.

Biggest Needs At The Draft

While Boston will undoubtedly follow a best available model, their biggest needs remain up front. That said, prior to expansion, GM Danielle Marmer stated her biggest need was a puck moving defender. At second overall, it's hard to envision Boston passing on Haley Winn. Winn would give Boston one of the better bluelines in the league with Megan Keller, Pejsova, Boyd, and MacKinnon already on board. Up front, Boston has a wealth of players who can line up down the middle in Susanna Tapani, Alina Muller, and Hannah Brandt, so they'll want to target players who can play the wing and provide scoring support to these pivots. Their returning group includes Jamie Lee Rattray and Shay Maloney, but beyond this duo, they have significant scoring needs.

Round One Target

Haley Winn is the obvious pick. With New York picking first and entering the draft with seven defenders, it's a near certainty the Sirens will select with Kristyna Kaltounkova or Casey O'Brien first overall. It will leave Winn, who might be the best all around player in the draft, to Boston. Winn, a Clarkson grad and Team USA stalwart, is a dynamic offensive defender who will be a catalyst for a Boston offensive attack that will presumably struggle. 

Available Players That Fit Boston's History

There's one obvious trend in Boston, and that's collecting Quinnipiac alumni whether it's Boyd, Maloney, Lexie Adzidja, Emma Greco, Kelly Babstock, or Taylor Girard, they've had their share of Bobcats. This year Kendall Cooper is the top Quinnipiac prospect, but there's no guarantee Boston can get the Bobcats captain. She's a late first round to mid-second round prospect, and with defenders in short supply, could climb a few spots for positional needs. But she's not the only available player from the school. Maya Labad and Maddy Samoskevich are both projected selections and for different reasons, would be excellent selections. Labad in particular has offensive upside, while Samoskevich can score, and also will add a competitive advantage with her versatility. Boston might also look to tap Kaley Doyle as their backup or third goalie this season after she finished as one of NCAA hockey's statistical leaders. While she's not in the draft, previously eligible free agent Julia Nearis is another to watch from Quinnipiac.

Beyond this duo, a name to watch for Boston is Michelle Karvinen. If Karvinen is available with Boston's second pick at 10th overall, the Finnish forward would make a logical sidekick to national team linemate Susanna Tapani. The two have established chemistry, and Karvinen is intellectually capable of playing with Muller or Tapani. On the blueline Boston showed interest in Maggie MacEachern last year, and could target the steady defender in the later rounds of the draft. With a desperate need to find scoring, it will be interesting to see if Boston rolls the dice a second time with the Russians in this draft. Anna Shokhina is far more of a 'sure-thing' than Markova was.

Where will Boston pick in the draft?

Boston picks second overall to open the draft and will also pick second in each subsequent round. It means in the six round, 48 player PWHL Draft, the Boston Fleet own picks 2, 10, 18, 26, 34, and 42.

Boston Fleet PWHL Draft History

2024 PWHL Draft Results

1. Round 1, 4th overall - Hannah Bilka, F, Ohio State University – NCAA
2. Round 2, 7th overall - Daniela Pejsova, D, Lulea – SDHL
3. Round 4, 22nd overall, Sydney Bard, D, Colgate University – NCAA
4. Round 6, 34th overall, Shay Maloney, F, Leksands IF – SDHL
5. Round 7, 37th overall, Ilona Markova, F, Agidal Ufa – ZhHL
6. Round 7, 40th overall, Hadley Hartmetz, D, Ohio State University – NCAA

2023 PWHL Draft Results

1. Round 1, 3rd overall, Alina Muller, F, Northeastern University – NCAA
2. Round 2, 10th overall, Sophie Jaques, D, Ohio State University – NCAA
3. Round 3, 15th overall, Jamie Lee Rattray, F, PWHPA
4. Round 4, 22nd overall, Loren Gabel, F, Boston Pride – PHF
5. Round 5, 27th overall, Hannah Brandt, F, PWHPA
6. Round 6, 34th overall, Jessica DiGirolamo, D, PWHPA
7. Round 7, 39th overall, Theresa Schafzahl, F, University of Vermont – NCAA
8. Round 8, 46th overall, Emily Brown, D, PWHPA
9. Round 9, 51st overall, Taylor Girard, F, Connecticut Whale – PHF
10. Round 10, 58th overall, Emma Soderberg, G, University of Minnesota-Duluth – NCAA
11. Round 11, 63rd overall, Sophie Shirley, F, University of Wisconsin – NCAA
12. Round 12, 70th overall, Shiann Darkangelo, F, Toronto Six – PHF
13. Round 13, 75th overall, Emma Buckles, D, PWHPA
14. Round 14, 82nd overall, Tatum Skaggs, F, PWHPA
15. Round 15, 87th overall, Jess Healey, D, Buffalo Beauts – PHF