This week on The IX Sports Podcast Hockey Edition, host Maya Smith is joined by guest Alyssa Turner to break down the Professional Women’s Hockey League Detroit roster.
In the expansion draft, PWHL Detroit picked up Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Jesse Compher, Britta Curl-Salemme and Daryl Watts. The team also traded with PWHL Las Vegas to receive Hilary Knight. When that happened last month, it raised questions about where systems of the PWHL truly apply.
The team also signed Taylor Girard and Shiann Darkangelo during the third phase of the PWHL expansion process.
“You kind of can see from those players that they were planning to have Hillary Knight this whole time, regardless of all of the contract things that happened. But like Hannah Bilka playing with Hillary Knight again, like that was that was the crux of a lot of these picks,” Smith said.
Bilka and Knight previously played together as members of the Boston Fleet, Seattle Torrent and Team USA.
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Smith and Turner agreed that the team has work to do when it comes to building depth at goalie. PWHL Detroit drafted Swiss goalie Andrea Brändli in the second round of the PWHL Entry Draft, which both considered a good choice.
“She’s like out of college for a few years. Played overseas, like we’ve already said. Like she’s played in the Olympics, Worlds. Like she’s ready, and like I’m really intrigued to see how that works, and I like the d[efense] in front of her, too,” Turner said.
Turner and Smith both agreed the team could use a second-string goalie, though.
“I think they had a really, really strong expansion draft. I’m not certain, other than like the Brändli selection, that they had the best entry draft compared to some other teams,” Smith said.
Smith and Turner said a lot of the team’s performance will depend on how all the pieces are put together.
“Again, everything on paper looks great, but like you know, once they hit the ice, like is it going to work? Is it not going to work?” Turner said.
Be sure to tune in to this week’s episode to learn more about the Ottawa Charge’s arena move and new personnel at PWHL San Jose.
Make sure to subscribe to The IX Sports Podcast for in-depth coverage of women’s soccer, hockey and basketball; and tune in each weekday morning for a quick overview of the biggest headlines on Women’s Sports Daily, like WNBA news and PWHL expansion updates.
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