What Kelly Babstock Could Provide Fleet Amid Grueling Road Trip
The Fleet made a roster addition ahead of their matchup against the Minnesota Frost at Xcel Energy Center.
Boston signed Kelly Babstock on Thursday to a 10-day standard player agreement. The veteran forward was on the team’s reserve player list to start the season. Babstock joined the Fleet as a reserve last year on March 19 before signing her first 10-day contract on April 20. She signed a full SPA ahead of the PWHL playoffs where she recorded one assist in eight games.
Babstock’s addition came after two straight losses that kicked off a six-game road trip for the Fleet. Boston was at the bottom of the standings heading into its matchup against Minnesota.
Before the season, head coach Courtney Kessel hoped for an offensive improvement while maintaining the team’s physical identity. That was on display in the Fleet’s loss to the Montréal Victoire. However, the offensive issues, especially on the power play, persisted this season. Boston scored a league-low 12 games in six games.
Babstock likely won’t feature on the power play, but Kessel’s side could use a boost from the bottom six lines, which Babstock could provide. The 32-year-old was a vocal leader during Boston’s run to the Walter Cup Finals, and the energy she brings could help it during the final stretch of its road trip — Sunday’s matchup against Montréal is on paper a home game, but it will be played at Climate Pledge Arena as part of the “PWHL Takeover Tour.”
Puck drop for Thursday’s Fleet-Frost matchup is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. ET on NESN+.
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