State of the Fleet: Free Agency Update and Entry Draft Preview

The PWHL offseason is in high gear, with free agency currently underway. Each roster already looks dramatically different than it did when the season ended just a few weeks ago. That will only escalate come the 2025 PWHL Entry Draft on June 24. The Boston Fleet have made several signings over the past few days, but they still have a lot of holes to fill after losing numerous players. So, let’s take a look at who they’ve gained/lost and some players who should be on their radar come draft day.

Who Did They Lose in the Expansion Draft?

Boston did not have a fun expansion draft. The biggest hit came pre-draft when former captain and 2025 PWHL co-leading scorer Hilary Knight signed a one-year contract in Seattle. Not only did she lead the Fleet in scoring by ten points, but her leadership is invaluable. The lineup hole left by her is not fillable by a single player, which is something GM Danielle Marmer acknowledged in a post-expansion draft virtual press conference. 

The Fleet’s forward corps took another hit come the third pick in the draft, when Seattle selected 2024 fourth overall pick Hannah Bilka. Bilka missed 14 games due to a knee injury this season, but still finished fifth on the Fleet in scoring with 11 points. She’s one of the craftiest, speediest young players in the game, and losing her is a big blow to the Fleet’s present and future.

After protecting forward Shay Maloney with their final slot, the Fleet lost defenders Emily Brown to Seattle and Sydney Bard to Vancouver in the final three picks of the expansion draft. Brown is one of the most underrated defenders in the PWHL. She’s not flashy, but she is a reliable, minutes-munching shutdown defender who played physical but rarely went to the box. As for Bard, she fell out of favor a bit and saw less playing time as the season went on, but she’s an excellent puck-moving, transitional defender who will only get better as she adjusts more to the pace and physicality of the PWHL.

How Has Free Agency Gone?

Gained

The Fleet have signed returners and new faces alike in the past few days. Kicking things off with returners, forwards Jill Saulnier, Theresa Schafzahl, and Susanna Tapani have all signed new one-year contracts.

Boston has also brought in some new faces, although only two have been announced by the team. Forward Liz Schepers secured a two-year contract, joining the Fleet after spending the past two seasons with the Minnesota Frost. There, she scored both Walter Cup-winning goals while being a highly reliable depth center. Meanwhile, Chloé Aurard signed a one-year deal after being woefully underutilized by the New York Sirens for two seasons. However, she dominated alongside Alina Müller at Northeastern University. Should the pair reignite even a fraction of their previous chemistry, it’ll be massive for the Fleet.

As for the other signings, defenders Zoe Boyd and Rylind MacKinnon and forward Laura Kluge have reportedly agreed to terms in Boston. Boyd will join the team after spending two seasons with the Ottawa Charge, per Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News. The 24-year-old defender isn’t flashy, but she’s strong defensively and by all accounts a fantastic locker room presence. THN's Kennedy also reported that Laura Kluge has signed with the Fleet after spending last season with the Toronto Sceptres. As for MacKinnon, she inked a one-year deal after spending her rookie season with the Sceptres, per Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. Another stay-at-home defender, she’s a big body (listed at 5’10”) who should fit right in on the Fleet.

Lost

The Fleet have seen two free agents sign with expansion teams. Defender Emma Greco earned a two-year contract with PWHL Vancouver, while forward Lexie Adzija is off to Seattle on a two-year deal.

Boston has also reportedly lost two other players. Defender and Minnesota native Sidney Morin signed with the Minnesota Frost, per TIG’s own Melissa Burgess. Plus, defender Jessica DiGirolamo departed for a two-year deal with the Montréal Victoire, per Kyle Cushman of The Score.

Last but not least for players, sources confirmed to The Ice Garden that Czech netminder Klára Peslarová will return to Sweden next season to ensure she plays consistently ahead of the 2026 Olympics.

Finally, reports have also come out that head coach Courtney Kessel is in final talks to step down from the Fleet and take over as the head coach of Princeton women’s hockey. John Wawrow of the Associated Press was the first to report, while The Ice Garden has been able to corroborate the report with multiple other sources.

How Does the Roster Look Now?

Here’s where the Fleet’s roster stands as of June 19 at 12 a.m. ET.

Forwards (8):

• Hannah Brandt
• Laura Kluge
• Alina Müller
• Jamie Lee Rattray
• Jill Saulnier
• Theresa Schafzahl
• Sophie Shirley
• Susanna Tapani

Defenders (4):

• Zoe Boyd
• Megan Keller
• Rylind MacKinnon
• Daniela Pejšová

Goaltenders (1):

• Aerin Frankel

Rights Held, Not Currently Under Contract: Hadley Hartmetz (D), Ilona Markova (F), Shay Maloney (F).

Remaining Free Agents: Olivia Zafuto (D), Kelly Babstock (F), Jillian Dempsey (F), Loren Gabel (F), Amanda Pelkey (F), Emma Söderberg (G)

So, What Are Their Draft Needs?

During her post-expansion draft media availability, Marmer identified defenders as her team’s greatest need. Given the only defenders she's signed during free agency are stay-at-home ones, it’s a safe bet she’ll be using the second overall pick on a puck-moving one. That player should be Clarkson’s Haley Winn. She’s already an elite two-way defender at just 21 years old, and she’s only getting better. She’s mobile, physical, and not afraid to step in front of pucks while also being a phenomenal puck-hander. She was the second-highest scoring defender in the nation this season, behind only the University of Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey, who is a top prospect for next year’s draft. She’s also already a three-time IIHF Women’s World Championship medalist. Overall, Winn is the best defender available in this draft and plays a style that should fit in perfectly on the Fleet.

Beyond the second overall pick, things get a little murkier. Given how much offense they’ve lost, they should go for a forward. However, by the second round of this draft, the players who can step right in and put up big points will likely be gone. That doesn't mean they're bad players, but they might need a little time or to play with current stars to make a big impact right away. Still, Ella Huber sticks out as a player to watch. She captained a talented University of Minnesota Golden Gophers squad this season, posting a career high 48 points. But, perhaps more intriguingly, she’s a high-hockey IQ player who can both play and produce in all situations. So, even if Huber’s offense doesn’t translate to the PWHL immediately, she’ll still provide value on the ice.

Another reliable option up front that might still be available is Ohio State’s captain Jenna Buglioni. Often overshadowed in her college career by her flashier teammates, Buglioni was one of the most consistent players in Division I hockey. She produced at more than a point per game pace in three of her five seasons, including her final two. But, similar to Huber, what might be most intriguing about Buglioni is her hockey IQ and ability to produce in all situations. Her three goals on the penalty kill were tied for third-most in the NCAA, and that kind of production is even more valuable in the PWHL with the jailbreak rule. She’s small, listed at just 5’3”, but the Fleet proved with Bard last season that they aren’t afraid to take a chance on smaller players if they believe in them. 

Another need for Boston is goaltending. It’s far from their biggest concern given they have Frankel, but she is currently their only netminder under contract. With Peslarová heading back to Sweden and Söderberg's next steps unclear, the Fleet have to find one or two netminders through free agency or the entry draft. St. Cloud State’s Sanni Ahola will almost certainly be the first goalie off the board and will likely go before the Fleet are in a position to consider picking a netminder. However, others will be available later that are worth looking at. Boston University's Callie Shanahan is one of them. She’s flown largely under the radar because last season was the only one where she cracked the 15-game mark. She lost a significant chunk of her junior season to injury, and before that, she was an underclassman caught behind other talented netminders on the depth chart. However, Shanahan was a massive part of the Terriers’ resurgence this season. She sported a 1.81 GAA and 0.924 SV% through 30 games en route to BU’s first Hockey East championship and NCAA tournament berth since the Marie-Philip Poulin days. She’s also 5’10”, which will be a big asset in the PWHL. Unless the Fleet lock down another goaltender ahead of the draft, she’s a smart pick, especially if it's a later round.

All of this said, one has to wonder if the Fleet will keep all their picks. They certainly won’t ship off their first rounder, but perhaps Marmer does what she did last year and trades up for her second pick. This year, that would likely mean trading to get a second first-rounder. It may not be possible, but it's something to consider if there's a projected late first-round forward Marmer covets and a team that might be willing to move their pick for the right price (Vancouver comes to mind, given their currently stacked line-up on paper).

Overall, the Fleet's roster is beginning to take shape for next season, but they have a lot of holes left to fill. They need a puck-moving defender, productive forwards, and more goaltenders. So, Marmer still has her work cut out for her this offseason to keep Boston competitive next season, but a strong draft will go a long way toward that goal.