Can Gracie Gilkyson Make Impact for Torrent as Rookie?
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Gracie Gilkyson starred for the Yale Bulldogs before being drafted by the Seattle Torrent with the 50th overall pick in the PWHL Draft. Credit: Yale Athletics [/caption]
Starring for the Yale Bulldogs, Seattle Torrent 50th-overall pick Gracie Gilkyson was a reliable, minute-eating top pair defender and power play quarterback going against Ivy League competition. In a lesser role during her PWHL rookie season, will she be able to adjust?
“She's a very complete player,” Yale assistant coach Erica Kromm said of Gilkyson. “She can be offensive, but she's also defensive. So I think [it’s important] for her to [continue] that.”
Gilkyson had nine goals and 27 points in 36 games in her senior year for Yale. That was a big step, as she had 31 points in 87 games throughout her first three seasons for the Bulldogs. In her last season, she commanded a huge role and blocked a team-leading 59 shots, stuffing the stat sheet in a myriad of ways.
“She really grew in terms of her defensive play and just her ability,” Kromm said. “She's really quick, so her ability to close time and space on players, have a good stick, make good contact: things like that really grew over her four years.”
The Score’s Kyle Cushman sees her having a limited role to start next season.
“She's somebody that I view as a No. 6 or a No. 7 defender in the PWHL,” Cushman said. “I don't see necessarily a top four potential with her. It's possible she could become that. There's [her style of] defenders that have surprised me in the PWHL already, and there are her styles of defenders that have found top four roles.”
The 5-7 blueliner profiles as a solid defender who can make a good first pass, possess the puck in the offensive zone, and hold her own defensively. That’s an important part of every team, but usually on a third pair.
“Can she be that in a top four at some point?” Cushman wonders. “And be that steadier, just make a breakout pass to your much more skilled [player] defender. And make your way doing that for 18 minutes a night. I wouldn't set that as an expectation for her over her career.
“In terms of what she can be next season, I view her as basically a 6 or a 7, competing for some third pairing minutes. I wouldn't necessarily have her penciled into anything more than like 12-13 minutes. I look at the way Lindy Lobdell was used last season, and she ended up rotating more into the lineup at the end of last season. I would say that’s pretty comparable to the kind of progression you would hope for if you're Gilkyson.”
Unless the Torrent add another defensemen via trade or free agency, they enter training camp with exactly seven defenders. Both Gilkyson and second-round pick Sydney Morrow still need rookie contracts as well. Barring a major move, the Torrent will need Gilkyson to play minutes right away. That’ll be a jump up from the ECAC schedule she played.
“Anytime you jump to another level, you’re gonna have to keep getting stronger,” Kromm admitted. “She's very fit, but I think [she needs to be] getting even stronger, just because there's going to be more contact.”
“Generally speaking, I think she's competing for that sixth defender spot with Noemi Neubauerová,” Cushman shared. “That's a lefty (Gilkyson) versus a righty (Neubauerová), so it might just come down to their handedness preference in terms of what they go with in the top six.”
“She's somebody that I don't have high expectations for, but if she's playing on a third pairing every night for the entire season, and you got her at [50th-overall,] that's pretty solid value,” Cushman concluded.
Off-ice, Kromm believes Gilkyson will be a good fit for the team and city culture. The biggest questions remain with her fit on the ice and whether or not she can contribute right away for the Torrent.
“She's always the first person to thank whoever paid for the food,” Kromm shared. “She's just very respectful. I can't say enough good things about her character. I'm not just saying that because I coached her, she's really exceptional as a person. I think she's gonna contribute a lot to the community there in Seattle.”
