After losing their top defenders in the expansion process and having just four defensive players currently signed, it's no surprise that the Frost took three blueliners in the entry-draft. The group overall is gritty and will be strong on the puck. That being said, none of them are Claire Thompson or Sophie Jaques and fans will have to adjust their expectations because they had an embarassment of defensive riches. While this might not matter elsewhere, in Minnesota a lot of fans and media noted that none of the players selected have any connection to the state.
Draft Picks
Round #1: Kendall Cooper (D), 2002, (#6 overall) – After winning their second title, Minnesota was down in the draft order and then Ottawa took Rory Guilday the spot before this. Cooper is overall less flashy on both sides of the puck than some of her counterparts in this draft, but she was a realiable point-getter throughout her career at Quinnipiac. After the Covid-shortened season, she never tallied fewer than 23 points. She's good at getting involved offensively, particularly on the breakout and she has a powerful shot that makes its way through traffic.
Round #2: Abby Hustler (F), 2003, (#14 overall) – She had a breakout second-half of the 2023-24 college season, playing her way onto the list as a Patty Kaz top-1o finalist. She's not going to stick out with dangles and fancy moves, but she is going to win puck battles, be physical in both directions of play and put deceptive and hard shots on net. She's the kind of power forward this league was made for.
Round #3: Anna Segedi (F), 2000, (#22 overall) – She brings international experience having played in the Olympics with China. She's small and will probably have to do some work to get a little heavier in her skates in this league. But until she gets there, she's nimble nd has the hockey IQ to anticipate - and evade - contact. While there are more expereinced players that handle faceoffs, she offers another option for that rotation.
Round #4: Ava Rinker (D), 2002, (#30 overall) – She's a good skater who is deft with both her skates and her stick, but I foresee her needing time to catch up to not just the actual speed of this league, but the pace of play. If she can still show the poise that was a part of her game while making quicker moves and decisions, she'll be a really great addition.
Round #5: Vanessa Upson (F), 2003, (#38 overall) – A former league Rookie of the Year, she averaged basically a point per game (157 points in 158 games played) at Mercyhurst. A versatile player who didn't often make mistakes - with the puck or mentally - she received the bulk of opponents' defensive attention and still led the team in scoring.
Round #6: Brooke Becker (D), 2002 (#45 overall) – She's not afraid to get in front of the puck and is also active on the offensive end. Has a heavy shot from the top of the zone and was active on the power play.
Takeaways
It's basically impossible as media to pay attention to everything happening at the draft while it's happening. I was watching the live feed and sharing that information on social media while also wearing one ear bud to listen to the players' press availability after they got drafted. So I didn't realize until I went back to listen to everything that both Cooper and Hustler said they hadn't had any conversations with Minnesota prior to the draft. Maybe that wouldn't catch my attention if it happened in a vacuum, but unfortunately for the Frost that's not the case so I'm left wondering - once again - what's going on behind the scenes in Minnesota?
You could argue that there was no expectation that Hustler would be available to them and I'd even be forgiving enough to let that one slide, but Cooper absolutely should have been on their radar. Even if they had designs on Guilday, someone, somewhere should have suggested talking to the next-best available defender in case things did not go to plan. It's truly wild that their first-round draft pick met the press looking bewildered and admitting she was speechless. When she said she was looking forward to meeting the coaches and staff, she meant it literally. She'd never spoken to the team that took her sixth overall.
It makes it really difficult for me to take the draft or the front office seriously or find a way to analyze it in any way, if I'm being completely honest. I've been pretty confused by the moves this team has made since winning the Walter Cup for the second-straight season, so maybe it's not surprising that this also has me nonplussed.
For a team that has struggled with public relations and image, the Frost didn't do much this draft to change that perception. They've already developed a reputation for not listening, trying to bury or ignore their issues and being out of touch. It's difficult to argue with that after this draft. They come off as clueless at best and callous at worst.
Quotables
"A lot of preparation heading into the evening. It’s been a very busy couple of weeks since we lifted that Cup. A lot of conversations with athletes. A lot of conversations with coaches. We had plans in place and we feel great about the results of our picks." -GM Melissa Caruso
"It certainly was something that came into play. At the table we had a lot of conversations about who could play on their off side, whether it's one of these picks, or one of our veteran players. But again rebuilding that defensive corps was priority number one tonight." - Caruso on selecting multiple right-handed defenders
"It was crucial (to get a defender in the first round). We had our eyes set on a couple of targets who were going to be available to us in the first round. Kendall is exactly what we are looking for, an offensive-minded defender to fill some of those voids that we were left with. She’s big and she’s strong and she has the tools and the hockey sense." - Caruso on Kendall Cooper
"She is one of those well-rounded, reliable players that who we feel like has a lot of flexibility for us and will make an immediate impact." - Caruso on Vanessa Upson
"She moves really well. She's a really good skater. She's really poised with the puck. She's just going to be a reliable defender for us." - Caruso on Ava Rinker
"I was really shocked she was available to us to be honest with you. I'm really excited about her. She's going to be a really great power forward for us." - Caruso on Abby Hustler
"I think this is the next phase of the Frost." - Caruso
"We did have a lot of conversations, but we did not really need feel the need to act on anything. We felt comfortable where we were picking in that sixth spot. I think that we got exactly what we needed from the draft." - Caruso
"I think there's a reason, obviously, why they're back-to-back champs. I'm super excited to just kind of meet the team, meet all the staff, the coaches and just kind of be a sponge. Learn as much as I possibly can, and hopefully have an impact on the defensive corps." - Kendall Cooper
"I try to pride myself on being consistent and and hopefully physical. I try to play consistent in all three zones." - Cooper
"I didn't have any conversations with [Minnesota] prior to the draft." - Cooper
"It feels amazing. Obviously going to Minnesota, they're a pronounced franchise with amazing players and amazing coaching staff and there's a reason they've won two years in a row so just super excited to join them." - Abby Hustler
"I think a physical presence, you know. I like to use that on the forecheck, and someone who can create a little bit of offense and hopefully take advantage of the opportunities given to me in the offensive zone." - Hustler
"No, not really. Minnesota - it was kind of shocking in that regard. I think they've been known in years past to pick the who they feel is the best available player, and it's worked out for them so hopefully I can fit that bill." - Hustler on whether she had conversations with the Frost before the draft
"I think I'm really just a two-way forward. I'm really reliable in the defense zone, but then also can make offensive plays with the puck and I like to be a playmaker." - Anna Segedi
"I think I have really high hockey. IQ. I think I see the ice very well, good vision, and I think I can also put the puck in the net, as well." - Vanessa Upson
"The hitting, the physicality is definitely something that I'll have to adjust to. And I think the pace of the game, too. That's something I'm kind of working on right now is getting faster. The speed and just the quickness of my stride." - Upson
Current Roster
(listed with the amount of years remaining on their current contract)
Forwards:
Kendall Coyne-Schofield - 1
Taylor Heise - 1
Kelly Pannek - 1
Grace Zumwinkle - 1
Britta Curl-Salemme - 1
Klára Hymlárová - 1
Claire Butorac - 1
Katy Knoll - 1
*Dominique Petrie is currently unsigned restricted free agents
Defenders:
Natalie Buchbinder - 2
Sidney Morin - 2
Mae Batherson - 2
Lee Stecklein - 1
Goalies -
Maddie Rooney - 3
Nicole Hensley - 1
(Photo: PWHL)