2024 PWHL Ottawa Season Recap: After the Dust Has Settled

Where do we start with Ottawa's season?

It began with an electric game in front of a sold-out crowd in Ottawa, where Ottawa lost in overtime to Montréal. The fans showed precisely the kind of crowd they'd be that night, and they kept that energy and passion all year.

The team saw mixed success through the first months of the season. They had strength throughout their lineup but didn't appear to have a clutch goal scorer. Ottawa really struggled in overtime and lost its first six games that went to extra frames. Ottawa didn't win a single game in overtime, it won one in a shootout.

Top scorers finally emerged for the team in the latter half of the season. Captain Brianne Jenner exploded, and Daryl Watts found her stride. Ultimately, Ottawa scored the second most goals of any PWHL team - over two and a half per game.

But Ottawa's goals seemed to come at the wrong time. They would win 5-0 blowouts but lose 3-2 battles.

Ottawa was last place at the end of February. As the team approached the March 18 trade deadline, it had lost eight of its previous ten games. In need of a shakeup, GM Mike Hirshfeld made trades, dishing Lexie Adzija and Amanda Boulier for Shiann Darkangelo and Tereza Vanišová.

Leaving Ottawa

Adzija - OTT (8 PTS in 17 GP) TO BOS (3 PTS in 7 GP)

Boulier - OTT (6 PTS in 17 GP) TO MTL (3 PTS in 6 GP)

To Ottawa

Darkangelo - BOS (1 PTS in 17 GP) TO OTT (0 PTS in 7 GP)

Vanišová - MTL (10 PTS in 17 GP) TO OTT (2 PTS in 6 GP)

Neither acquired player made a big impact, but the team seemed to wake up following the moves. They won four straight and looked ready to clinch a playoff spot. Then, the team lost their final three games, missing every chance they had to clinch a playoff spot. They allowed 11 goals in those three games and scored only 5.

Jenner proved herself as captain and was an offensive leader when the team needed it. Daryl Watts exploded onto the scene and showed who she can be in the PWHL.

Who's signed for next season?

Forwards

• Emily Clark
• Brianne Jenner
• Gabbie Hughes
• Hayley Scamurra

Defenders

• Jincy Roese
• Ashton Bell
• Savannah Harmon

Goalies

• Emerance Maschmeyer

Who should they target?

Ottawa has a lot of work to do this off-season, with only a shell of their team signed to deals. There are a handful of players Ottawa needs to do everything they can to keep.

Simon's picks to re-sign:

• Watts
• Shiga
• Mrázová
• Abstreiter

Other holes need to be filled in free agency and the draft. Ottawa needs an elite goal scorer, strong defensive players, and youth to develop. With the second overall pick, Ottawa should target either Sarah Fillier or Danielle Serdachny in the draft.