Expansion draft's vacant Sirens spot, a significant challenge for GM to rework during the critical offseason
In the wake of the PWHL's expansion draft, Sirens' GM Pascal Daoust is viewing the chaos as an opportunity for change. While many teams saw their defense decimated by Seattle and Vancouver, New York took a hit on the offensive end, losing top forwards Alex Carpenter, Jessie Eldridge, Corinne Schroeder, and Gabby Rosenthal.
However, Daoust expected the loss of Carpenter and Schroeder since they were unprotected. After two seasons of struggling in the cellar, the Sirens were due for some upheaval, and the expansion draft marked the beginning of a potentially active offseason.
Despite the setbacks, Daoust remains optimistic about the Sirens' prospects heading into free agency. "Who wouldn't want to play alongside Sarah Fillier in New York?" he rhetorically asked, emphasizing the open positions available.
With free agency starting on Monday, Daoust and coach Greg Fargo have a week to regroup and strategize. The Sirens finished the last season with a record of 8-4-5-13, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Daoust believes the Sirens have a strong defensive squad, anchored by Micah Zandee-Hart and Ella Shelton. These three players, including 2024 No. 1 pick Fillier, were the ones the Sirens elected to protect.
"We've got a formidable defensive unit," Daoust hinted. "But we're not averse to changes."
Last season was expected to be different, with the addition of Fargo, Fillier, and the return of leading goal scorers Carpenter and Jade Downie-Landry. Yet, a midseason slump derailed their progress, with the team going over a month without a regulation win.
Daoust attributed some of the misfortune to bad luck, but he also acknowledged flaws on both ends of the ice. "Nobody thought we'd end up where we did with the roster we had on paper," he admitted.
Letting go of Carpenter was not an easy decision for Daoust. "We had to make tough choices," he said. Given Carpenter's age and the priority to protect defensive assets, the decision was understandable.
Despite not yet formally signing a contract for next season, Fillier, who led in assists and points last season and is a finalist for Rookie of the Year and Forward of the Year, appears to be the cornerstone of the Sirens' future. Daoust has high hopes for Fillier and has tapped her to help lead the team towards a solution for their issues.
"We believe in her skills, and we're looking to have her as part of our squad for years to come," Daoust emphasized. The quest for a veteran goalkeeper is also on the agenda, as the Sirens aim to strengthen their goaltending unit.
The Sirens are cooking up solutions, and everyone - from players to coaches to management - is keeping a positive outlook. "We'll find our place," Daoust affirmed. "We'll find solutions. We're still working on it. The whole staff is positive. The players were disappointed, but we're focusing on the process, building with a great team, fantastic culture, and we're heading in the right direction."
- Daoust suggested that with the open positions available, the Sirens could attract talent from various fields, potentially including American football. "Who wouldn't want to play alongside Sarah Fillier in New York?" he questioned, hinting at potential opportunities beyond the realm of traditional women's hockey.
- As the Sirens aim to strengthen their roster, they may look beyond the world of football, exploring possibilities in other popular global sports like NFL American football for potential recruits to bolster their team culture.
- Despite the setbacks, Daoust remains hopeful about the Sirens' prospects in the world of sports, stating, "We believe in her skills, and we're looking to have her as part of our squad for years to come," referencing star player Sarah Fillier, whose talents spark optimism for the team's future despite the losses in the expansion draft.
