Free agency has been open for a little more than a week after the expansion process wrapped up. The Fleet have had some seismic moves.
In the two weeks since we last checked in the Fleet have made some major moves, both by choice and by force. New and exciting free agents have come, along with some players choosing to re-sign with the Fleet, but a number have moved onto other teams. The big shakeup comes up top though.
Additions:
Laura Kluge (F), Chloe Aurard (F), Liz Schepers (F), Zoe Boyd (D), Ryland MacKinnon (D), Abbey Levy (G)
After losing some of their depth defenders to expansion and then a few more taken in free agency Boston was able to add some good size to their blue line with Boyd and MacKinnon. Both are big minute eating defenders that should stabilize the team in front of net.
Levy is coming in to ostensibly replace Emma Soderberg and Klara Peslarova, both of whom are tied to rumors they will be returning to Europe for the year. Levy is a tremendous back up option for the Fleet with her big frame it will be a big contrast to the starter Aerin Frankel.
The real big jump was made up front though. Adding the only player to ever score a Walter Cup winning goal has to translate to good omens with Scheppers and the addition of Aurora can only make Alina Mueller’s life better. With Mueller being one of the three players protected initially she is clearly a cornerstone for the franchise, and her chemistry with Aurora in college was undeniable, if the duo can recreate any of that with Mueller hopefully moving back to her position as a center then the Fleet will have a very dangerous top line.
Returns:
Jill Saulnier (F), Theresa Schafzahl (F), Susanna Tapani (F)
All three players were great signings by the Fleet for a return. Tapani will continue to feature on the top lines while both Saulnier and Schafzahl will continue to slot into solid depth options for the team.
Losses:
Lexie Adzija (F), Jessica DiGirolamo (D), Emma Greco (D)
With the expansion process already claiming two forwards and two defenders the Fleet have only officially lost three more skaters at this point. Digirolamo went north to Montreal while Adzija and Greco went west to Seattle and Vancouver respectively. All three were contributors for the Fleet and depth on the blue line is hard to come by in this league but Boston seems to have been able to replace them for now.
Draft:
With the second pick in the draft the Fleet have the chance to get a great immediate provider. They have been linked to Haley Winn a defender from Clarkson at that spot which would be a tremendous addition to pair up with Megan Keller. They have enough people at all positions that there isnt a desperate need for a specific one but both skater groups need more depth so the Fleet will likely take a best available approach and try and add depth to both the forwards and blue liners. They are pretty set in net with top goalie Aerin Frankel ready to continue her dominance and the addition of Abbey Levy, a good friend of Frankel from high school, should leave the goalie room in a very healthy spot. With only a reserve role need hopefully no draft capital is used on a goalie this year.
Coaching:
Rumors had been swirling about a possible departure by Courtney Kessel for awhile, with most saying she would choose to leave to return to Princeton and not be fired if any changes were to be made. The timeline of the decision is rather painful for the Fleet though. The news while broken last week was only made official yesterday. And with the draft tonight the Fleet will be going in without a coach in the war room. There is speculation that the uncertainty has hurt their free agency but with the signings they have made it clearly wasn’t too big of a hurdle for Daniels Marner.
What comes next? Any new professional coaching slot will be in demand. You have the quick ideas of the local college coaches whether they be current or just recent. A few names from recent could be BC’s Courtney Kennedy or BU’s Brian Durocher, while current NU coach Dave Flint and BC Coach Katie King-Crowley are likely to have some attention as well. Marner will certainly be taking a wide look at her options since they will already be missing the draft.