The 2024 PWHL draft is just days away. After Monday night, a new wave of female athletes will enter the PWHL. The draft is being held in Minnesota and the following is the PWHL Awards night, where some players will be honored with different awards based on regular season performances.
The draft will consist of seven rounds, with six picks each round. The draft is in linear style, meaning the order of the draft stays the same throughout all seven rounds. Boston has the 4th, 10th, 16th, 22nd, 28th, 34th, and the 40th pick of the draft. This will remain unless a trade goes through before Monday.
Here is a brief overview of each player Boston is projected to draft Monday night.
*This is a mock draft based on what Boston needs and what would work well for the team.*
Round 1 | 4th pick: Cayla Barnes, D (Ohio State, NCAA)
If Barnes is still available at the fourth pick she would be a great pickup. Boston would have a chance to add some strength to their defense. She is a young two-way player and would work well alongside Megan Keller. Barnes has played in five IIHF Women’s World Championship series and was named the best defender at the World U18 Championships in 2016 and 2017. She collected 111 points in 170 games played during her NCAA career and she led the NCAA in goal differential with a +71 in her last season.
Round 2|10th pick: Noora Tulus, F (Lulea HF, SDHL)
Boston ended the season with the worst offensive stats. A player like Tulus would go well for them to pick up in the second round. Her speed would put her above some of the other players on the team. She was the top scorer in Finland this past year. Sliding Tulus on the second line with Hilary Knight could add more speed and talent to Boston’s offensive depth.
Round 3|16th pick: Izzy Daniel, F (Cornell, NCAA)
Daniel is a Patty Kazmier Award winner. She is a two-way forward who would also bring speed to Boston. She would work well on the offensive lines in Boston. She is a big contributor, she picked up 158 points in her 124-game NCAA career. Along with winning the Patty Kazmaier award, she was also named ECAC Player Of The Year, and the Ivy Player Of The Year this past year.
Round 4|22nd pick: Sydney Bard, D (Colgate, NCAA)
A smaller but impactful defender is what you will find in Sydney Bard. She would be a physical addition to the blue line. She can create chances in the offensive zone and would be a nice pairing along with Digirolamo on the second line. Bard represented the U.S. at the 2018 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. She recorded 112 points in 180 games with Colgate.
Round 5|28th pick: Mae Batherson, D (St. Lawrence University, NCAA)
Batherson is another defender who could set up chances on the offensive end. Batherson transferred to St. Lawrence University during her graduate year. In that one year, she put up 37 points in 39 games, almost averaging 1 point per game. Megan Keller was the closest defender to a point-per-game stat line, with 15 points in 29 regular season games. Mae Batherson would be a good pickup if she is still available for Boston.
Round 6|34th pick: Sara Hjalmarsson, C (Linköping, SDHL)
Sara Hjalmarsson could add some depth to Boston. She could provide the secondary scoring that Boston seemed to lack throughout most of the season. Boston is a more physical team to play against, Hjalmarsson is 5 foot 9 inches and 159 pounds. Hjalmarsson would bring a more physical aspect to Boston’s second line, a pairing with Hilary Knight could work well. During her five seasons with the Providence Friars, she recorded 122 points during 150 games. In the 2020-2021 season, she made the Hockey East Second Team All-Stars.
Round 7|40th pick: Alexie Guay, D (Clarkson, NCAA)
Alexie Guay would be a good addition to Boston’s blueline if she is still available in the seventh round. She is a two-time U-18 World Championship All-Star and was also named the tournament’s best defender in 2019. During this past season at Clarkson, Guay recorded 15 points in 26 games. She is noted for her skating and her offensive skills, as well as her ability to log significant ice time. At Boston College, she collected 19 points in 36 games in her rookie NCAA year, which is third among all rookie NCAA defenders. Megan Keller played for Boston College during her NCAA career. In her rookie year, she picked up 24 points in 37 games. Guay could bring more points and scoring among Boston’s blueline.
