This is the third in our series looking at the draft needs of each team. Read about New York here. And read about Ottawa 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.
In all honesty, I started writing this before the expansion process and back then I said I wasn’t sure what this team could need. But decisions were made and now it seems obvious they need to focus on defense. They showed they can score basically at will and their fourth line of forwards were super impactful in the postseason, so regardless of losses, offense is not what I think they’ll be worried about.
That being said, other than a couple of pointed picks to shore up the back end, if I were doing their draft strategy, I’d be looking to take flyers - maybe they draft some folks higher than predicted to make sure they get who they want. Maybe they really dig deep for some late round gems. This is, I think, going to be a tough roster to crack and they may be looking more at personalities and how someone fits than their skills alone. I feel like they have some room to take some swings.
Forwards
In that vein, I feel like we could see some in-state products get a look here. Olivia Wallin and Clara Van Wieren from Minnesota Duluth and Claire Vekich from Minnesota State could all be good additions on offense. UMD was at its best when no one player was at the forefront and they had a really collaborative, scoring-by-committee type of approach, so I like the idea of how that style could help Wallin and Van Wieren find their roles with the Frost.
I’m not sure Vekich was in the best position to really reach her potential with the Mavericks and with her work ethic and multi-sport background, I think she’s the kind of player that will make the most of an opportunity. She’s a grinder. I mentioned Emma Gentry for the Sirens, but could see her fitting in here, as well. I like her size with this lineup. She was pesky and focused at St. Cloud and came up big when they needed her.
Another option is Ella Huber. I’m not as high on her as I’ve seen some mock drafts be because I feel like too much of how she played at Minnesota was influenced by how her teammates performed. That being said, she’d be surrounded by good players and has proven she can play a great supporting role, either dishing the puck to Abbey Murphy or finishing off Murphy’s passes back.
Sticking with our Minnesota theme, Anne Cherkowski transferred to Clarkson, but started as a Gopher. She was the second-highest scorer for the Knights, behind only Winn. She really blossomed at Clarkson and seemed to find her groove. I like her movement and how she sees the ice. She’s smart in her shot choice and was particularly good on the power play.
Defenders
It feels crazy to have left both Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson unprotected, but here we are and now the Frost have a lot of talent to try and replace. I’m not sure that there is a player in this draft that will still be available when the Frost are on the clock that comes close to even the style of Jaques, much less her hockey IQ and shot. But as I said, the mid-level defensive class is deep and instead of focusing on replacing them player for player, the Frost needs to pick some utility defenders with a big skill set that can work well with the defenders they do have.
Quinnipiac’s Kendall Cooper is a playmaker who probably should unleash her shot a bit more. She was a needed part of the offense with the Bobcats and I think she could lean into that even more in the pros. She has shown an ability to be successful in both directions and doesn’t give up ice just because she’s involved in the zone.
On the home-grown theme Nina Jobst-Smith has been the heart of UMD and the German national team for several years. I don’t know if she’s an under the radar pick, but if she’s on the board in the later rounds, she’d be a steal. She’s a good closer on defense - pesky and strong on her stick. She carries a big load on both ends of the ice with Germany and does it well.
Goalies
This might be controversial, but I’m thinking it wouldn’t be the worst idea to use their first pick to get St. Cloud State’s Sanni Ahola. I don’t think either Maddie Rooney or Nicole Hensley are a long term answer for them and I’d argue the fact that neither has outright won the starting role in two years tells you all you need to know about the team’s goaltending needs. Minnesota fans might hate that, but unless Haley Winn or Nicole Gosling are still on the board when they select (which would be shocking) I feel like the best use of that first pick isn’t a top tier forward that would have to find a slot in this roster.
Ahola has been one of the best, most consistent goalies to come out of the NCAA in recent years and she’s also Finland’s starting goalie internationally. She is a game-changer of the highest order. She can single-handedly keep her team in a game. She’s athletic and can be acrobatic and honestly should fight for a starting position.
