NFT: Hartford Whalers are back!... Sort of

Starting in May 2015, free agency will begin. Free agents are considered college seniors and any player no longer in college, be it actively playing or not, it’s up to them to find a team and negotiate their contract terms. In June comes the draft for college juniors. The drafted players are given a year to finish their NCAA eligibility while their rights are retained by the team that drafted them, just like the guys. Once they’re done with their NCAA obligations, the women are free to then sign a contract with their team.

Per the NWHL, there are verbal commitments by 20-plus relatively known players; however, the league will announce those who will be joining in the near future.

As for the teams, after pouring over research and identifying the Northeast as the current hotbed for female hockey players, four teams were strategically placed in the areas with the most potential for further growth.

- The Buffalo Beauts

- Boston Pride

- New York Riveters

- Connecticut Whale

Yes, you’re reading that correctly, the Connecticut Whale. Rylan secured the blessing of the Howard Baldwin Jr., head of the Baldwin Sports and Entertainment Group, to use the name and a similar logo to the Hartford Whalers of yore.
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