Exploring the PWHL's Offseason Moves | GSMC Hoops and Heels Women’s Sports

Hello everybody welcome back to the gsmc hoops and Hills Sports podcast brought to you by the gsnc sports network we just got done previewing the US gymnastics olymp trials and now we're going to be talking about the pwl Olympic I mean offseason moves starting with something that is a bit more specific the pw's approach to player contracts during the off season because there has been a change here okay so so let's just Dive Right In so the offseason has seen a significant shift in the pw's approach to player contracts with an increasing number of deals being guaranteed this change addresses a major point of critique from both the pwhl and the pw's player association or the pwop paa which previously highlighted the lack of contract protection under the former at will agreement that allowed teams to release players at any time for any reason during the exclusive signing window leading up to June 21st all contra contct signed were guaranteed this pattern continued with an multi-year contract signed before the second season marking a substantial move toward more secure employment for players so here are some notable guaranteed contracts made this season Montreal made significant moves by signing Lena libloom and cayb Barnes to three-year contracts they also secure Mya Copo Elaine chulie and Amanda bullier with one year and two-year guarantee deals respectively additionally Boston insured stability stability by siging Hannah Brandt Sophie Shirley and and Emily Brown a 2-year guaranteed contracts while Sydney Moren received a 1-year guaranteed deal likewise New York retained Quine Scher on a 2-year guarantee contract furthermore Otoro welcome Natalie Snodgrass and zo Boyd on one-year guaranteed contracts Katarina marova also secured a guarantee deal by signing on June 20th moreover Toronto committed a Dara wats and Emma Woods with two-year guaranteed contracts and then lastly Minnesota strengthened the roster by signing draft picks for girl and Clara Hova to guarantee contracts the current collective bargaining agreement does not explicitly lay out the rules for guaranteed contracts allowing the document to evolve according to pwhl policy there are basically three fundamental rules one all multi-e agreements signed before season 2 are guaranteed two one-year deals ink during the exclusive window are guaranteed and three one-year agreements signed after June 20th are not guaranteed and can be terminated based on performance with these changes more players across the league are enjoying the security of guaranteed contracts presently New York and Ottawa each have 12 players under guaranteed contracts Minnesota Falls closely with 13 while Toronto and Montreal have 14 each and Boston leads with 15 as teams continue to secure their top draft picks the number of guaranteed contracts is expected to increase enhancing stability and predictability for players and teams alike this shift not only secures the livelihoods of the players but also signals the maturing of the League's approach toplay relations and Team Dynamics the pw's mve to hook players up with more guaranteed contracts as a huge game changer and how the league shows his appreciation and support for its athletes is a big win for the players giving them way more stability and secured in the old at will contracts that could see them dropped at a drop of a hat it's pretty clear the league is paying more attention to what the players and their Association have been pushing for better job protection and security strategically it's a smart move too by locking in key players with guaranteed deals teams can plan for the future build their squads with long-term vision and create a solid team Vibe this stability is likely to boost how well teams perform because let's face it players who feel secure and value usually play better and are more committed to their team success for a league that's still kind of finding its feet setting up these Forward Thinking labor practices lays down some strong roots for growth it shows that the pwhl really cares about its athletes and is serious about their wellbeing which isn't just good for keeping Talent around but also draws new talent in that said the collective the bargaining agreement is still a work in progress while it's great and it's flexible and can evolve it needs clear communication and precise terms to avoid any Mix-Ups and make sure everything's Fair the league and Players Association needs to keep a tight partnership to tweak these policies making sure they're good for everyone involved though all in all the pwhl shift toward guaranteed contracts is a huge step forward it's not only about making the league look good but also about making women's hockey more professional and competitive Sport with these changes setting in we're looking at a more stable competitive and fair environment for everyone hitting the ice now let's talk about the recent offseason moves in the pwhl this past season proved that parody is real in the pwl as even teams that miss the playoffs put up Fierce fights in the semis Toronto and Minnesota stretched to a full five games while Boston and Montreal batt through multiple overtimes in all their games but post draft and free agency were seeing some potentially gamechanging moves the finals featured the number three and number four ranked teams highlighting just how critical momentum and confidence are Boston initially seen as a top Contender struggled but found their stride just in time storming into the finals with Newfound Vigor with the draft influenced by regular season standings Boston and Minnesota capitalized on early picks scooping up talents like Hannah Bila and Clare Thompson Montreal picking later still managed to win with Caleb Barnes who many argue might have more potential than Thompson Montreal wasn't just sitting pretty they were strategic promising talents like Abby boring and Amanda kessle who could be game changers or viable trade assets we'll talk about them some more later they also locked in Lena lug Bloom from last year's draft showing their serious about boosting their squad Toronto after topping the regular season made this sixth pick drafting Julia Gosling they've enforced their lineup notably adding Mak Carter a solid defensive playmaker when free agency hit teams first resigned their players with no major surprises until Toronto made Headlines by snatching Emma Woods from New York and Landing the tar free agent Dar Watts from Ottawa this flurry of activity has everyone already guessing next season's lineups and spotting potential weaknesses Ottawa and Minnesota seem a bit shaky Ottawa losing key players in Minnesota dealing with internal changes and retirement sparking rumors of locker room issues on the flip side New York looks promising with new coach Greg Fargo and first overall pick Sarah filer poised to Turbo change their scoring they've also kept solid players like Karen schworer and Abby Levy positioning them as poss under Gods this underdogs this coming season as teams like Toronto Montreal and Boston appear to be bulking up for the strong Run Ottawa and Minnesota might be slipping unless they make some smart moves soon with the League's Dynamic quick Dynamics quickly changing this upcoming season could see some teams solidifying their dominance While others scramble to keep up it's all about moving forward if you're not you're likely falling behind as we Edge closer to the new season it'll be fascinating to see how these offseason moves play out on the ice so the last thing I wanted to talk about this segment was trading during the offseason and answer the question should pwhl Montreal trade Abby Boren or Amanda kessle okay so let me just pull up their pictures okay so before the first year players could opt out of the pwhl draft to become reserves a choice offer to select few including Abby worin due to special circumstances like her commandment to a doctor pharmacy program at the University of Minnesota Bine managed to balance her demanding academic schedule with professional hockey thanks to a supportive academic environment however her situation grew complicated when Montreal drafted her the tea has been exploring options for weine to continue her studies in Montreal possibly at McGill but it's been challenging the difficulties in coordinating her academic transfers are feeling trade rumors as only Minnesota provides the geographical and academic setting she requires despite this Montreal is unlikely to Let Her Go cheaply if a trade with Minnesota's pursued they would likely demand a sign ific return possibly ey players like Michaela Cava Liz shephers or Denisa chova whom they've had shown interest in the past Amanda Castle's situation equally precarious known for her scoring prowess Castle has expressed a desire to play only in Boston even hinting at a salary expectation to deter other teams however Montreal surprised many by drafting her with their final pick Montreal's um general manager Danielle saavu expressed post draft that a drafted players should be prepared to play in any Market a sta complicates cassel's position Boston would likely be interested in acquiring Cassell and K for but the trades complexity is hien by a familial Tes kessle sister-in-law Courtney kessle is Boston's head coach negotiating trade for kessle won't be straightforward Montreal knows her value exceeds that of typical late round picks and will expect a substantial return potentially targeting a player like luran Gable for her offensive skills or maybe even Taylor Gerard or Teresa shatel though the latter trades would require additional assets from Boston both scaras highlight Montreal's complex position of managing player expectations and team needs how they navigate these trades could set precedence for handling similar situation in the future underscoring the delicate balance between player desires and team strategies in professional sports my opinion is that Montreal's approach to handling Abby boring unique situation could set a significant precedent in the league for how teams manage players with dual create P particularly those involving intensive academic commitments the difficulty in transfering her academic credit to a suitable program in Montreal demonstrates a genuine effort on the team's part yet it also showcases the complexities involved when a player's personal development goals are at odds with their professional opportunities if a satisfactory solution can't be found trading Bine to Minnesota where she can continue her studies and play would be the most Humane and practical solution it respects the player's career and educational aspirations while potentially bringing back valuable assets to Montreal maintaining a good present for future scenario player welfare and team strategy must be balanced and Amanda kastle's case says sheu wish is more about the balance of player preference and team needs kle explicit desire to play in boss and couple with familial connections within the team presents a complex challenge mantra's decision to draft her despite their these preferences may seem bold and could be viewed as asserting the team's authority over player inclinations however this could potentially backfire affecting castel's morale and her performance on the ice a trade of Boston if it could bring a suitable return might be the best Alem for our parties involved it would allow Kastle to play where she feels most at home and motivated while Montreal could gain assets that align more closely with the Strategic goals and Team Dynamics so we're now going to move on to our next segment where we talk about the OU softball key transfer portal editions before we get into that we're going to be taking a very short break so I will see you guys very soon [Music] a [Music] oh [Music] [Music] [Applause]