u/xblacklodge

Nice writeup on the Fleet's fifth round pick, Jenna Goodwin. The article features a highlight reel of what we can expect next season. Interesting to note, after playing at Clarkson for four years, she un-declared from last year's draft so she could play in the SDHL and adjust to the full-contact physicality she could expect in the PWHL before declaring for this year's draft. She is known for having incredible speed, and is going to be a lot of fun to watch.

Fun facts, she is close friends with Haley Winn from their time together at Clarkson, and she has also been friends with the Fleet's fourth round pick, Jaden Bogden, since they were 14 years-old, when they were teammates in midget league. The two still train together to this day.

Spotlight on the Fleet's third round draft pick Leah Stecker. Fun fact, Haley Winn was once her roommate at a hockey camp years ago. I have a feeling she's going to be a fan favorite.

Finally some good news after a few tough ones today. Rylind MacKinnon is back with the Fleet on a one-year deal. I'm a huge fan of hers and believe she has a ton of untapped potential. She was initially signed to be a 7th D and improved with every game last year, playing valuable 2nd/3rd pairing minutes, stepping up big time after Zoe Boyd went down for the season. She's a human demolition derby highlight reel on skates, at one point recording seven hits in one game, and never turning down a scrap in defense of her teammates. Absolutely psyched about this one.

Fan favorite and Fleet alternate captain Jamie Lee Rattray has signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Sceptres. The former Olympian has been an incredible leader for the Fleet over the past three seasons, appearing in all 84 games and ending her tenure having contributed 11 goals and 22 assists. It was always a possibility entering this offseason that she might want to be closer to home with her family. This is a big loss for the Fleet from a locker room standpoint, especially. Thank you, Jamie Lee, for all that you have done for the Fleet.

The Fleet have kicked off today's signing news by announcing the re-signing of forwards Loren Gabel and Laura Kluge. Gabel, who has been with the team for three years, only made the reserve list last year but was a blessing for the Fleet when injuries piled up. She tallied one goal and one assist, the goal being an important one, as the first of four the Fleet scored in their overtime comeback win against Montreal after trailing 3-0.

Kluge still hasn’t unlocked the scoring potential she has shown internationally, but was a solid, hard hitting depth piece. She is an alternate captain on Team Germany and scored seven goals in the preliminary round, tying KK Harvey for most points, while notching one goal and one assist with the Fleet. Her first career PWHL goal, a textbook tip-in, allowed Aerin Frankel to secure a shutout against the Vancouver Goldeneyes.

Outstanding news: 2025 draft picks Olivia Mobley and Amanda Thiele have re-signed with the Fleet on one-year contracts.

Mobley was a standout rookie in the first half, scoring her first goal and picking up her first assist in a matter of 20 seconds to get the Fleet back into a game against Minnesota that they were trailing 3-0. She ultimately tallied five points in ten games before going down with an injury during practice over the Olympic break, ultimately returning just in time for the playoffs. She showed a ton of potential in the short time she was on the ice, and I look forward to seeing what she does over a full season.

Thiele was in net for the Fleet’s playoff clinching game against the Minnesota Frost. Her only start of the season was a gem, surrendering just two goals and saving 21/23 shots. She was consistently praised for her work ethic and commitment to the team, staying late at practices and never refusing an opportunity for extra reps. She was the third string goalie last year, but it’s entirely possible she takes on the primary backup role for 2026-27.

Very pleased with these signings. I assumed they would happen, but it’s always great to see confirmation of good news. Mobley and Thiele were the only RFAs who needed to receive a qualifying offer, so that’s one important item to cross off the offseason agenda.

Absolutely phenomenal news for any Fleet fan, as fan favorite forwards Jill Saulnier and Sophie Shirley have re-signed with the Fleet for two more years.

Shirley was drafted by the Fleet, 63rd overall in the inaugural PWHL draft. The fastest skater on the team and also a physical threat, she makes intelligent, heads-up plays to make everyone's life easier. Despite missing eight games last year due to injury, she recorded a career high three goals and six assists, in addition to the go-ahead third goal in the three goal rally of game four against Ottawa. She could still have another gear to find in her offensive game, as she was a highly productive offensively at the University of Wisconsin, where she won three National Championships. Look for Shirley to continue building on last year's production.

Saunlier was drafted 40th overall by New York in the inaugural draft, but traded to the Fleet during the 2024-25 season for Taylor Girard. A two-time Olympian, she is an incredible skater and stickhandler, which prompted former coach Kris Sparre to nickname her "Jill McDavid." she is a fierce competitor always willing to lay a big hit and block a shot, and of course holds the distinction of having participated in the league's first fight. She scored two goals to go along with four assists in 25 games last year. Saulnier is a locker room leader and stabilizing presence, always willing to stand up for her teammates. She has been clear that she wants to spend the rest of her career in Boston. With Alina Müller having departed in expansion, Saulnier seems a natural fit to add an "A" to her sweater.

If you've been following along here, you know that these two are my favorite players. Today is a very good day to be a Fleet fan.

Hey Crew! We're just over an hour out from the draft, but I figured I'd put a mock draft together and see how things turn out by the end of the night. I was hoping to have something put together WAY earlier, but obviously we all know what happened with the draft order.

If Crewmembers would like to share their own mocks and predictions in the comments, that would be fun! I based my picks on the prospect rankings from Kyle Cushman (C), The Hockey News (THN), and Daily Faceoff (DFO). For the latter, I cross-referenced referencing their Top 25 and their mock draft with the other lists, which I personally feel are more accurate. I then did further scouting and research on my own from there. Some prospects could be ranked 10-20 picks apart on different lists, but more often than not were pretty close. I occasionally split the difference and based it on an approximate range, e.g. Cushman has Sydney Healy at 33, THN at 54, and DFO doesn't list her at all, so I considered her a possibility at 46. Ultimately, I picked what I thought was most likely based on position, potential, individual stats, track record, and round.

This is, of course, just for fun. We really don't know who goes where until the names are called, and what GMs do on the night is often unpredictable. We'll see how things go, but ultimately, I trust Danielle Marmer and am psyched to welcome the next draft class to Boston!

10. Petra Nieminen - C, Lulea, SDHL; 24G, 21A. Ranking: C 13, THN 11, DFO 9.

A center and a scoring threat, both of which the Fleet need, and considered the second best at the position behind Tessa Janecke, who will go around #4. She has scored 45 points each of the last three seasons with 24-25 goals in each. There is concern about how SDHL players transition to the PWHL, with some top scorers struggling to find the net and adjust to the more physical style of play. Michelle Karvinen and Noora Tulus may not have come as advertised, but Susanna Tapani certainly has, who plays with Nieminen on the Finnish national team. Princeton's Issy Wunder (27G, 16A) is my preferred pick if she's available, but I think the Toronto native gets picked by the Sceptres, who need offensive help, at #8. It's possible the Fleet go with a D here, as there are defenders ranked higher who could still be on the board (Emma Peschel, Sydney Morrow), but with the departure of Alina Müller and their offensive woes last season, offense feels like the priority in the first round.

27. In the event that they go with a defender in round one: Carina DiAntonio - LW, Yale, ECAC; 26G, 22A. Ranking: C 27, THN 29, DFO 44

Believe it or not, her stat line was identical to Kristyna Kaltonkouva's when she was selected number one overall last year, and could be a steal in the third with some significant upside. Another option could be her teammate, Jordan Ray who tallied 17G and 32A last season (C24, THN 32). Depending on who takes whom where, there is a chance that Northeastern center Lily Shannon, Minnesota-Duluth winger Thea Johansson could be possibilities, but they're both ranked higher.

In the event they go with a forward in round one: Zoe Uens - D, Quinnipiac, ECAC; 10G, 9A. Ranking: C 29, THN 37, DFO 36

A LHD with a killer one-timer from the right side--sound familiar? Her offensive numbers were great this year, though it could be a matter of a career year, as they were nowhere near that previously. Her comp is actually Zoe Boyd. Cornell's Alyssa Regalado is also an intriguing pick here, matching the 19 point total, but a bit more classically defender-ish at 6G, 13A. When the Fleet had pick 22, my choice here was Jules Constantinople of Northeastern, the reigning Hockey East Defender of the Year, and if she's still available, that's the no-brainer pick. That being said, she's ranked a bit higher (Cushman 23, Kennedy 24), so she might have to drop a few spots.

46. Kendall Butze - D, Penn State, ECAC; 5G, 28A. Ranking: C 49, THN 38 DFO (unlisted)

Butze is a solid skater who can move the puck well and made First Team All-Atlantic Hockey America in back to back years. She follows Francois Methot on Instagram, so it's likely they have worked together previously. Another intriguing option at D is Stephanie Bourque, described as a "crafty offensive defender" who "likes to block shots." Another possibility it Northeastern alternate captain Sydney Healy, who led the Huskies in scoring with 18G and and 11A.

58. Grace Elliott - LW, UBC, Canada West; 24G, 13A. C: 56, THN 47, DFO 37

Reigning back to back USPORTS Player of the Year, she would be the tallest skater in the league at 6'2". Cushman believes she has star potential with proper development, and actually mentions wanting to see her work with Methot in Boston. She is described as a power play threat with great net front presence. I'm obsessed with this pick. It's a bit difficult to predict where she goes, but it seems like scouts trust USPORTS less than NCAA, hence only one player being taken in the sixth round last year, so I've got her later. Other possibilities here are Brown captain India McDadi (great name), or Cornell center McKenna Van Gelder if she's still on the board (ranked 43 by Kennedy but 62 by Cushman), who won 61% of her faceoffs last year.

70. Grace Wolfe - D, St. Cloud State, WCHA; 6G, 15A; Ranking: C 65, THN 73, DFO 58

RHD with potential, had her best offensive season but isn't viewed as a long-term offensive threat, though she comes with a good shot. Profiles as a good depth defender, but with Methot's track record of developing talent, she could be a great pick for the sixth round. Another player to keep an eye on is Sarah Marchand, who scored 9G and 15A at St. Laurence in 2024-25 and replicated that line last season in the SDHL in fewer games. Crazy to think, but there's a realistic chance the Fleet could emerge from this draft with a Bourque and a Marchand.

Side note, DFO's mock has us taking Luisa Welcke and trading for her twin sister Lilli, which I don't see happening, but would be kind of neat if it did.

Susanna Tapani has re-signed with the Fleet for two years, the club announced today. The announcement was teased earlier with Fleetmin saying she was "tapping away" at the keyboard. Tapani was traded to the Fleet during the inaugural season as part of the first ever PWHL trade in, along with defender Abby Cooke in exchange for rookie defender Sophie Jaques. She currently has 49 career points (24G, 25A), 18 of which (9G, 9A) were tallied last season.