Edwards Embraces “Swiss Army Knife” Role for Sea Lions, Set To Play Forward & Defense in Same Game

Laila Edwards — an NCAA goal-scoring leader and three-time national champion as a forward, and an Olympic gold medalist as a defender — is in agreement with her new head coach on a dual-position approach in the PWHL. Both GM-Coach Troy Ryan and Edwards — the San Jose Sea Lions’ first-ever draft pick — tell SJHN that she is set to play a mix of forward and defense, including switching positions in the same game. “I honestly, right now anyway, envision her playing forward in parts of games and playing D in parts of games,” Ryan said. “I think it’ll be a real unique situation.” “You know, I’m playing defense with the national team, and he respects that. But at the end of the day, he has to do what’s best for the team,” Edwards said. “I respect him enough where I trust he’ll put me where he thinks the team needs me, and I think — ‘the Swiss Army knife’ — I like that saying.” While switching positions mid-game is rare, Edwards dismissed any concerns. “I’ve done that at Wisconsin, and to be completely honest, it’s not as difficult as people probably think,” she said. “I mean, at the end of the day, it’s still just hockey, and you just have to learn how to backwards skate.” The pair’s understanding comes after Ryan visited Edwards in her hometown of Cleveland this summer. Over the course of the visit, San Jose’s bench boss and star player laid the foundation of the expansion team’s most important relationship. “We got coffee, then lunch with my parents and brother, then ice cream after. It was really cool, just getting to know him as a person before a coach,” Edwards said. “I don’t think I have enough good things to say about him.” The visit with Edwards — who demonstrated her commitment to San Jose by signing a three-year contract (the maximum rookie contract length) — gave Ryan a better understanding of her mindset entering the pros. “It’s actually probably one of the most enjoyable couple days I’ve had so far involved with this team,” Ryan said. “[I] just got a good feeling for her and her goals with the U.S. national team, her goals in professional hockey, and her goals off the ice. And obviously, as a coach and a general manager, it’s really important for me to take all of those into consideration. “We had some really good discussions, and then went for a bite to eat and chatted a little bit more with her family about it, so I have a pretty good idea and indication of what she would like.” Ryan noted that because Edwards plays defense on the national team, San Jose would be “doing her a disservice as a player if we didn’t help develop her in that area.” However, he also knows that “she enjoys playing forward still,” and believes that “she could be a huge asset for us up front.” As a forward, Edwards is difficult to stop thanks to an elite wrist shot and her 6-foot-1 frame, which lets her shield the puck from defenders’ bodies and sticks. As a defender, she is still able to use those tools in the offensive zone, while her long reach helps her break up passes and her size allows her to move players off the puck and away from the net. Ryan built San Jose’s roster around 200-foot forwards and physical defenders, and it enters the season with the least PWHL goal-scoring experience in the league. This means he’ll likely want to use Edwards primarily as a forward when the team struggles offensively. However, this could clash with Edwards’ stated desire to improve her play as a defender, demonstrated by Edwards declaring for the PWHL Draft as a defender, not a forward/defender. But according to the 22-year-old, her position with the San Jose Sea Lions matters less than winning and helping her teammates. “I like the idea of just being for the team,” Edwards said. “It’s a team sport. I would have played something else if I didn’t like being a part of a team.” For Ryan, that sentiment makes things easy. “The cool thing is, [what Edwards wants] aligns with what I would like for her in the organization,” he said. Edwards is currently in Denmark, playing with fellow Sea Lions defender Rory Guilday at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. The tournament ends with the gold-medal match on Nov. 16, and the San Jose Sea Lions training camp will open two days later. Related Headlines PWHL San Jose Has Name: Welcome, San Jose Sea Lions! Sharks Insight: Askarov Sets Franchise Record, How Can Stenberg & Misa Gain More Shootout Trust? Sharks Locker Room: Behind Stenberg’s Surge, How Shootout Order Decided, Why San Jose Better After Players-Only Meeting Read more at San Jose Hockey Now