PWHL Minnesota is ready to drop the puck on their season. Here's a look at their roster strengths, team defense, offense, x-factor, and one question.
PWHL Minnesota is ready to drop the puck on their season. Here's a look at their roster strengths, team defense, offense, x-factor, and one question.
Minnesota was one of the most exciting, high flying teams in the PWHL preseason, here's a look at their roster heading into regular season.
Strengths
One thing that looked clear immediately in Minnesota, is they were a team that knew each other, and had built in cohesion. It's likely a product of being a roster with 14 players born in the state, and more having played college and pro in Minnesota. The other aspect is Minnesota's top end players. Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Lee Stecklein are all among the best at their positions on the planet, and in a six team league where talent is deep, having players that still stand above the rest is a feat in itself. Nicole Hensley looks to be another key player for Minnesota, as she was spectacular for USA in Rivalry Series games, and the fact she's being backed up by Maddie Rooney and Amanda Leveille gives Minnesota strength at the position. Few teams are as well positioned to deal with any netminding injury as Minnesota.
Offense
Any team fielding Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield is already bringing together elite speed and skill. Add in Grace Zumwinkle, Susanna Tapani, Denisa Krizova, and Kelly Pannek, and it's an impressive crew. When it comes to Tapani, Pannek, and other players like Sophia Kunin, Michaela Cava, and Liz Schepers, the saying that good defence creates offense will likely stand true as well, as it's a group that can create chances from stealing pucks. In the preseason when Minnesota fell behind, they showed they could score in bunches, and quickly. Once they level out the highs and lows of that process, they could be dangerous. if there's one downfall to their attack, it's a lack of offensive upside on the blueline. Lee Stecklein will certainly contribute, and young Maggie Flaherty has potential, but Minnesota is not gifted with a group of proven producers on the blueline.
Team Defense
This starts up front with Kelly Pannek, Sophia, Kunin, and Liz Schepers. Minnesota's actual blueline has points of concern, so this will truly need to be a full team defensive effort, not one that can solely rest on the back end. Minnesota's blueline will likely start with Stecklein, Flaherty, Dominique Kremer, Natalie Buchbinder, Abby Cook and Emma Greco. They brought in Mellissa Channell through waivers after losing Sidney Morin. It's not a high scoring group, but perhaps given additional opportunities, a player like Abby Cook could find the offense she showed in the NCAA.
X-Factor
Susanna Tapani has long been considered one of the best players in the world, but she's yet to test herself immersed in a North American professional setting. Add in the fact she's coming off a year away hockey where she captained Finland and was named MVP of the Ringette World Championships. In Utica, she looked ready to dominate. Hopefully the concussion concern suffered in preseason will be long behind her by puck drop. Seeing Coyne Schofield, Tapani, and Heise up front is an exciting prospect. Few bring the size, skill, and experience of Tapani.
One Question
The main question of concern in Minnesota was if their blueline is deep enough, not only to defend, but to jumpstart an attack. It's a very serviceable group, but there's not a lot of flash. Teams like New York, Ottawa, and Toronto have groups that blend elite skill and mobility, which will be crucial in a league where the offensive talent is abundant. The new question of the day is how the last minute coaching change with Charlie Burggraf leaving the team, being replaced by Ken Klee less than a week before puck drops on the PWHL season. There's much belief that Burggraf wasn't a fit for the team and that internal conflict was brewing, so the change was made to start the season fresh.