After taking a year off to work with the Pittsburgh Penguins, three-time Olympian Amanda Kessel was selected 41st in the PWHL Draft by PWHL Montreal.
Sources revealed yesterday that Kessel only wants to play with PWHL Boston. Boston held the 40th pick. Kessel was two rounds away from becoming an undrafted free agent, which would have given him the opportunity to go to Boston. Montreal must either trade Kessel to her preferred destination or allow her to report to the team.
Why didn’t Boston pick Kessel sooner?
Boston took Hadley Hartmetz with their 40th choice. She was a defender at Ohio State who scored 59 points in three seasons there. Hartmetz, more than any other Ohio State defensive player in this year’s draft, excels as an offensive defender.
Boston is a strong defensive club, but it has the lowest-scoring offensive in the league. A guy like Hartmetz will hopefully aid to enhance their offensive numbers.
It’s impossible to compare Kessel with Hartmetz because they’re two different players with different positions. Kessel, an experienced player with years of professional experience, might assist Boston’s offence. However, the most likely reason she was not picked by the team was a potential conflict of interest.
Kessel’s sister-in-law is Courtney Brichard-Kessel, Boston’s head coach. While dads and brothers have previously coached their sons and siblings in the NHL, this would be the first time in the PWHL that a family member would coach another family member. Perhaps Boston didn’t want to take that risk, or they didn’t see Kessel as a match for their team.
To play for any PWHL team, Kessel has to declare for the draft and sign a regular contract. The hope was that no one would take her up so she could sign with Boston. However, Montreal dropped her to second-to-last place.
What team could make the best use of Kessel?
Starting with the team that drafted her, Montreal may benefit from her skill, versatility, and leadership abilities. Kessel has proven to be a talented player throughout her career and will surely make an impact in Montreal. However, being picked so low may imply that they will employ Kessel to help their current talents rather than as her own outstanding star.
PWHL Toronto is a team where Kessel might play an important role. Her and Izzy Daniel, a third-round draft pick from Cornell this year, would provide much-needed offensive support for Toronto. New York could benefit from her veteran presence while they work out the wrinkles. Boston may also use her, reuniting her with Team USA teammates Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, and Megan Keller in the hopes of helping them win the championship.
Kessel will have to play for Montreal or request a move. While she could pull an Eric Lindros or a Cutter Gauthier and refuse to play for the team that drafted her, she is more likely to do one of those two things. The return for Kessel would have to be significant for Montreal, with both players and draft picks involved. As she begins her return to hockey, it will be great to see her on the ice again, no matter where she is.
