Minnesota is the lone team with only four defenders from free agency and the draft after Minttu Tuominen chose to stay overseas. Will it spell trouble for the PWHL team's first season?
Minnesota signed one of the world's best defenders in Lee Stecklein. Stecklein was one of only four blueliners signed prior to the draft. It was a move that sent a strong message to other teams, particularly with the shallow pool of defenders, compared to other positions, available in the draft.
On draft day, Minnesota made the obvious selection of Taylor Heise, a forward, first overall. They then watched as teams selected defenders - Jocelyne Larocque, Ella Shelton, Jamie Bourbonnais, Ashton Bell, Sophie Jaques, Savannah Harmon, and Erin Ambrose - with seven of the next ten picks before Minnesota picked again at 12 and 13.
Here, Minnesota took the first goalie of the draft in Nicole Hensley, which they followed with another forward in Grace Zumwinkle. By the time Minnesota selected again, Jincy Dunne-Roese and Dominika Laskova were off the board.
Finally, at 24th overall, Minnesota selected NCAA grad Maggie Flaherty.
By the time Minnesota took another defender, gone were Kali Flanagan, Jessica DiGirolamo, and Kati Tabin.
At 37th overall, Minnesota selected steady Wisconsin grad Natalie Buchbinder.
Off the board went Aneta Tejralova, Madison Bizal, Brooke Hobson, and Emily Brown.
At 49th overall, Minnesota chose Olympic gold medalist and veteran pro Sidney Morin.
To round out their defensive draft, Minnesota took Finnish veteran Minttu Tuominen in the 14th round. But as it turns out, Tuominen would opt out of the league, choosing to pursue a pathway overseas.
It left Minnesota with only four defenders, the least of any team in the league, in Stecklein, Flaherty, Buchbinder, and Morin. With only two players with professional experience in Stecklein and Morin, Minnesota had a need. One that given the abundance of offensive talent across the league, had to give general manager Natalie Darwitz reason for pause.
Had Tuominen remained, Minnesota would have entered the season with a blueline balancing veterans and rising stars, but without, there is reason for Minnesota fans to be concerned.
In the free agency period that followed the draft, Darwitz managed to secure Dominique Kremer, captain of the PHF's Buffalo Beauts as a camp invite. Her signing would make up for the loss of Tuominen, but would still leave a spot on the blueline.
Sadly for Minnesota, Patti Marshall who will attend training camp is not eligible to sign a standard player agreement, and will be required to start the season as a reserve, unless the league changes their tune on how they deal with players who applied for, but were not granted compassionate circumstances.
In the draft itself, Minnesota was handcuffed by compassionate circumstance rulings, which likely cost the team a defender as well.
As further invites, has Emma Greco, who played for the Toronto Six last season, coming to camp, along with Abby Cook and Nikki Nightengale. Greco and Cook specifically could fill a depth spot, but it still leaves Minnesota shy on the blueline.
When training camps open, Minnesota could be very active on the waiver wire inviting any and all defenders released from camp to compete for these final spots. Ottawa and Toronto specifically, have the best potential to provide Minnesota with a defender following their cuts.
In Ottawa, a team with six defenders already in the organization, at least one, potentially two of Saroya Tinker, Tori Horwan, and Kyra Willoughby will be released. In Toronto, Lauriane Rougeau and Emma Kennan, or perhaps draft picks Jess Healey or Mellissa Channell will be available.
From Montreal, one of Mariah Koepple, Catherine Daoust, or Brigette Langiere will come available, and who knows who is released from New York. Boston has only one extra defender, and Minnesota already has similar or stronger talent in house.
However Natalie Darwitz deals with this situation, it will greatly impact her team's inaugural season success.