Three Things PWHL New York Need To Address Before 2024-25 Season

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

With the PWHL’s inaugural season officially in the books and the offseason in full swing as fans patiently, but eagerly, await news about the 2024-25 campaign, we’re taking a look at what PWHL New York needs to do before the team’s second season gets underway. Of course, the recipe for success never looks the same, but with these issues addressed before puck drop on opening night, fans can expect a season full of excitement and victories.

1. Pick one home arena

Last season, PWHL New York played in three different arenas around the tri-state area. UBS Arena on Long Island (home to the NHL’s New York Islanders), Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut (home to the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders), and the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (home to the NHL’s New Jersey Devils). For a team that’s already in an oversaturated sports market, playing in three different “home” arenas makes it even more difficult to establish a loyal fanbase. Attendance at UBS Arena was average, the games in Connecticut saw very low attendance, and the biggest crowds belonged to the two games hosted at The Rock in New Jersey. Establishing one arena as the team’s home arena will greatly benefit PWHL NY in their second season as that makes it easier for fans, old and new, to know where games will be held consistently instead of the constant guessing which arena will host the next home game.

1. Find 5-on-5 scoring

One of New York’s biggest downfalls last season was the lack of 5-on-5 scoring. The team had a stellar power play (24.4%) and penalty kill (88.6%), finishing the season with the second best in the league for both categories. But winning games and being successful requires scoring to happen at all strengths, not just on special teams. Almost all of PWHL New York’s leading goal scorers saw at least or almost half of those tallies come on the power play throughout the entire season. Hopefully with new Head Coach Greg Fargo at the helm for the 2024-25 season, the team will find more rhythm at 5-on-5 play which should lead to more pucks finding the back of the net. 

Courtesy of PWHL New York

1. Tighten up on defense

With stellar defenders like Ella Shelton and Jamie Bourbonnais on the blueline, you wouldn’t think defense would be much of a problem for PWHL New York. Unfortunately, it was in the inaugural season and the entire team needs to play more responsibly on defense in order to be successful in the 2024-25 campaign. As a whole, New York only scored 53 goals through 24 games which is an average of 2.21 goals per game. Only Ottawa scored fewer goals last season. To make matters worse, New York allowed a whopping 67 goals which was by far the most among all teams in 2023-24. If the team is able to find their scoring touch and tighten up defensively, a much better season will be ahead. 

The 2024-25 season is sure to be exciting for the entire league, but with all the potential changes and adjustments that will surely be made for New York prior to their first game, fans can’t wait to see the team back in action. With these three things addressed before puck drop, PWHL NY should be set for a successful run in just the second ever season in PWHL history.