When the mud lastly settled on the PWHL’s growth draft this week, Sirens basic supervisor Pascal Daoust took a step again to evaluate the injury.
Whereas many groups noticed their defensive corps attacked by Vancouver and Seattle, New York suffered hits totally on the entrance finish.
The Sirens misplaced two of their high forwards, Alex Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge, together with their No. 1 goalie Corinne Schroeder to Seattle. And Vancouver took rookie ahead Gabby Rosenthal.
Daoust knew it was inevitable the Sirens would lose Carpenter and Schroeder after leaving them unprotected.
However after spending the primary two seasons within the PWHL cellar, change was inevitable — and the growth draft was step one in what must be one more lively offseason for the Sirens.
Daoust believes the Sirens are in an incredible spot heading into free company, which begins Monday.
“Who in the world wouldn’t like to play with Sarah Fillier in New York and to have time on ice available and the opportunity on the offensive side?” Daoust mentioned Tuesday in a post-expansion draft information convention. “From [free agency], from draft, from trades, everything is open — any position is open.”
The following week is a time for Daoust and coach Greg Fargo to regroup and consider what’s subsequent for the Sirens, who completed 8-4-5-13 final season and missed the playoffs for the second straight 12 months.
Daoust believes the Sirens have a robust pool of defenders, anchored by Micah Zandee-Hart and Ella Shelton, who — together with 2024 No. 1 choose Fillier — have been the three gamers the Sirens selected to guard.
“We do have a squad on the back end, we feel confident, we feel happy with it,” Daoust. “It doesn’t mean that it will stay as is because a lot of things will have to change.”
Daoust wasn’t pleased with the way in which the primary two years went.
Final season was alleged to be totally different. The Sirens employed Fargo and added Fillier. The Sirens additionally welcomed the return of main aim scorers Carpenter and Jade Downie-Landry.
However a robust begin by the Sirens was spoiled by a midseason skid, throughout which New York went greater than a month with out a regulation win.
A few of that misfortune was a results of unhealthy puck luck, Daoust mentioned. However lapses on each ends of the ice additionally contributed to the rising disappointment.
“This is not something that we’ve planned, that we expect and even talking with players or talking with colleagues … no one was expecting us to end there with the roster we had on paper,” Daoust mentioned.
It wasn’t straightforward for Daoust to go away Carpenter — or every other participant for that matter — weak within the growth draft.
“We go back to the process, saying, ‘How can we choose?’ ” he mentioned. “We knew it was a tough call to make.”
Whereas Carpenter continues to be the most effective forwards within the league, the 31-year-old is on the again finish of her taking part in profession, and Daoust prioritized defending defensive property.
“Sometimes you make a call for something, which was the case,” Daoust mentioned. “It was not a call against anything.”
The Sirens look like constructing round Fillier, who’s not but formally underneath contract with the Sirens for subsequent season.
Fillier tied for the league lead in assists (16) and factors (29.) She’s additionally a finalist for PWHL Rookie of the Yr and Ahead of the Yr.
She’s the current and way forward for the Sirens in Daoust’s eyes.
Daoust mentioned he hasn’t had a lot time to barter Fillier’s subsequent contract after she signed a one-year deal out of the draft.
“We have time,” he mentioned. “But our intent is the same from the very beginning. We have someone that we believe in that has great skills, that we’re looking to have in the market for years and years.”
Daoust mentioned Fillier is a part of the “leadership group” who he’s tapped to assist discover a answer to the Sirens’ points.
“We feel confident that we’re going to find our place,” he mentioned. “We’re going to find solutions. We’re still cooking. The whole staff is very positive. The players were positive. Everybody had disappointment on the result, but we’re going to still aim on the process, building with great people, great teammates, great culture and we’re going to move in the right direction.”
