PWHL Draft: Toronto's Biggest Needs On Draft Day

PWHL Toronto went from a cold start to a hot streak, to a season long success. But it ended early in the PWHL playoffs in five games to Minnesota. They relied heavily on their top defensive pairing, along with starting goalie Kristen Campbell. The lopsided use shows areas they recognize as needing more depth. Through the draft last year, Toronto his several home runs picking Emma Maltais, Natalie Spooner, Jocelyne Larocque, Kali Flanagan, and Kristen Campbell. The absence of Spooner in the playoffs however, showed how quickly their fate could turn.

Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Nurse, Emma Maltais, Natalie Spooner, Jesse Compher, Victoria Bach, Maggie Connors, Renata Fast, Jocelyne Larocque, Kali Flanagan, and Kristen Campbell are all back. It's a strong core that can be built upon without tampering with the chemistry the group has developed, but rather strengthening it from the edges.

Toronto has a few positional needs, but they aren't in a position like other teams. They benefitted greatly from being gifted Natalie Spooner in the fourth round of last year's draft via the compassionate circumstances waiver, and the league's evaluation of Spooner as a fourth round pick, clearly showing the flaw in that system. 

Toronto certainly needs a top end blueliner to take some pressure off Fast, Larocque, and Flanagan. If she's still available, Claire Thompson could be the choice, but the end of the first round will also have Ronja Savolainen, Daniela Pejsova, and Maja Nylen Persson available if a team like Montreal grabs Thompson first. Watch for Toronto to target U Sports defender Rylind MacKinnon somewhere in the draft. No team knows how underrated she may be in this class between than Toronto. It would be shocking to see Toronto use their first round pick on a player outside this group. They'll be looking for defenders again as the draft progresses as well. In terms of other needs, Toronto will likely look for a right winger who can score knowing Brittany Howard will be gone, and Connors may be more effective on the third line. It's highly likely Toronto targets Jennifer Gardiner for this spot based on her Hockey Canada ties, but Patty Kazmaier winner Izzy Daniel and Austria captain Anna Meixner would be fits as well. Big Canadian forward Julia Gosling will be another player to watch as Toronto has frequently tapped into Hockey Canada connections. Similarly, it would not be a surprise to see Toronto take Megan Carter, Mae Batherson, or Stephanie Markowski for the coaching staff's knowledge of the group from Hockey Canada as well. Finally, Toronto will likely look to add more depth to their crease, as they leaned heavily on Kristen Campbell this year, but may want a 1B in case of injury, or a prolonged slump like she endured this year. Whether or not they do this in the draft or free agency is the question. There's no guarantee any goalie is drafted this year, but Gwyneth Philips and Klara Peslarova are the top two available. The name that may end up in Toronto however is Kayle Osborne, who looked great at Hockey Canada's selection camp last year.