PWHL Boston will look to get faster, feistier, and key pieces who can finish, as well as a top end defender. It's a long shopping list, but it's all available in the 2024 PWHL Draft.
PWHL teams are bound to change dramatically this offseason, not only through free agency, but through the draft. Looking at this season's rosters, some teams have glaring needs that will require deeper changes, while others will only need small alterations.
At the 2024 PWHL Draft, 42 players will see their rights added to the organization depth charts of the PWHL.
Here are PWHL Boston's biggest needs at the 2024 PWHL Draft.
Returning players
Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, Alina Muller, Aerin Frankel, Emma Soderberg, Jamie Lee Rattray, Susanna Tapani, Theresa Schafzahl, Taylor Girard, and Jessica DiGirolamo are back. Boston didn't play Soderberg much this season, and when they did results were mixed. The remainder of this group played key minutes, although often underperformed.
Boston's Biggest Needs At The PWHL Draft
It seems off to say this when you see Boston's roster on paper, but this team needs a finisher. They also desperately need a top pairing defender to compliment Megan Keller.
Boston will have a chance to get one of their two needs met with their first pick as they can select Hanna Bilka, Sarah Fillier, Danielle Serdachny, or Cayla Barnes. When the second round opens, they're going to get a second elite player. At this point, it's probably a European pro they'll get to pick from, and there will be forwards and defenders available again. On the blueline, if they can't get Barnes, Ronja Savolainen seems like the obvious pick, but Maja Nylen Persson and Daniela Pejsova are also on the table. Northeastern captain Megan Carter would be a solid back end acquisition as well staying in Boston.
Up front, a scoring center would be a welcomed addition to Boston, and this is where we could see Danielle Serdachny leap frog others to be picked. Truly, Serdachny could go first overall or second overall without people blinking an eye. Fillier is the other option down the middle, and either player would add scoring punch, and take some load off Boston's older forwards. If they don't hit this in the first round, grabbing Noora Tulus in the second would answer speed down the middle as well.
Boston will also look to add some punch along the wing. Alina Muller is their staple on the left side, and Jamie Lee Rattray is there as well. They could conceivably select Hannah Bilka to jumpstart their second line and allow Rattray to slide into a more familiar and effective checking role. Other options along the left wing are Jennifer Gardiner and Dara Greig, or right wing with Izzy Daniel or Noemi Neubauerova.
Speed and Punch
Many question why Hilary Knight hasn't produced in the PWHL like she has internationally. First, defensive depth and goaltending are stronger in the PWHL than worlds. Second, she has more help around her on the world stage. If Knight is asked to drive possession and play herself, she's lost that step. If she's asked to compliment and clean up, she can still produce. That's where a motor player like Dara Greig, or the speed of a player like Noora Tulus down the middle would help. A winger like Noemi Neubauerova could also help with some of the heavy lifting at both ends of the ice. Boston just isn't fast enough up front, and they aren't hard enough to play against at the moment.