This is the second in our series looking at the draft needs of each team. Read about New York here.
Instead of a mock draft, I'm looking at what needs I think each team has based on last season's record and outcomes as well as who they lost in the expansion process. Using the draft eligibility list, I've identified players that might be able to fit each teams' specific needs. It’s less mock draft and more sharing insight on players who I think have the skills to be successful in this league.
The stats say that Ottawa needs to focus on defense, but their postseason play seemed to belie that. The Charge played shutdown defense against Montréal in the first round and kept the very prolific Minnesota offense in check in the second round. Obviously I think they need to figure out how to bring that energy all season long. A lot of their best defense was done by their forwards and just four of their current defenders - Ronja Savolainen, Jocelyne Larocque, Aneta Tejralová and Ashton Bell - are under contract for next season. I think both Bell and Savolainen are likely to be picked in the expansion draft, so I’d think defenders are a priority.
Forwards
This may be dependent on who they lose to expansion signings and picks, but a pair of Buckeyes should be on their radar - Jenna Buglioni and Makenna Webster.
It should be noted that Webster is a good bet to make the US Field Hockey team and I have no idea how that may or may not affect her availability over the course of the season. But particularly if that fact means teams are wary and leave her on the board until later rounds, she’s a feisty, fast and tough forward who excelled being a two sport DI athlete. That kind of work ethic and commitment are difficult to match. She’s good in the dirty areas in front of the net, very mobile in the zone and constantly finding new lanes to the net alongside a very good shot. I feel like she’ll thrive in the physicality of the PWHL.
Buglioni was the glue for Ohio State. She hasn’t been the flashiest player for them over her career, but she has been steady and consistent and she’s also very, very good when the chips are down - she’s program record holder for both career and single season game-winning goals and is tied for the program record in career short-handed goals. You know how pesky and involved the Frost’s fourth line was during the playoffs? Buglioni would bring that same kind of energy.
We know Carla MacLeod likes having her Czech national team players with her in the PWHL and it might be nice to see Natálie Mlýnková here. She didn’t shine as much as I think she would have hoped in a 5th year season in Minnesota. The Gophers didn’t necessarily have the players to complement her, but at Worlds, I thought Mlýnková stood out even as everyone talked about Kaltounková.
Defenders
They should probably pick a defender early. With the assumption Winn is off the table, I would not disagree with them looking at Nicole Gosling in the first round.
Cornell’s Rory Guilday has national team experience and though she hasn’t been mentioned a ton in draft prediction conversations, she should be high on the radar of any team in need of a buoyed defense. She’s a big, solid, dependable, calm and strong blueliner. She’s the kind of player you can build a defense around - disciplined and smart and able to dish the puck. If she’s available I think she’s worth a pick in the first couple of rounds.
Looking at some possible depth picks that might be big value in the later rounds, I’d suggest Boston University’s Julia Shaunessy. She was part of a massive culture renewal at BU and the Terriers were warriors in the final weeks of the NCAA season, coming from behind and winning inOT again and again. Shaunessy was an assistant captain and part of the heartbeat of that squad. She’s big in the clutch and really good at distributing the puck.
Maggie Maceachern might be off some radars after playing this past season with KRS Shenzhen, but she was stellar in four years at Colgate. She’s a shot blocker, a solid blueline presence and not afraid to let go of a shot from the top of the zone. I’d definitely use a late round pick on her or at the very least have her on the top of my undrafted free agent list.
Goalies
I was of the opinion they should prioritize Gwyn Philips as their starter and it would seem management agrees, since they protected her. This is a very good draft class of goalies and I wouldn’t be surprised if they pick up two and move on from both Logan Angers and Lucy Morgan as backups.
Apparently I’m all in for Ottawa and the Buckeyes. Amanda Thiele had an up and down career at Ohio State, but I feel like her familiarity with sharing the net and the pendulum of starting and backing up would serve her well in the PWHL. She faced some of the best forwards in the world regularly and played in three national championship games, including winning the starting job and then winning it all her rookie year.
This might be a good fit for Tindra Holm, but I think someone like Calla Frank, who faced an absolute ton of shots over her career and was solid and consistent could be a really good backup option for any team.
