2025 PWHL Draft Grades: How all eight teams did
In what was a thrilling night at the 2025 PWHL Draft, we were treated to some of the best prospects getting their time in the spotlight, while seeing some exciting drama on the floor.
From players tumbling down the board while others rose to the top of the crop, our experts, Hunter Crowther, Tyler Kuehl and Dylan Nazareth, grade how the eight teams performed in the third edition of the league’s annual draft.
Boston Fleet
Key picks: Haley Winn (D), Ella Huber (F), Olivia Mobley (F)
Tyler (B+): I really liked what Danielle Marmer did this year. She had the easy choice of taking Haley Winn after Kristýna Kaltounková was taken by the Sirens. They were able to address their lack of offense by picking up Ella Huber and Olivia Mobley. They managed to address the goaltending situation by taking Amanda Thiele, though I thought they could’ve addressed the blue line a little more.
Hunter (B+): Winn was the easy choice at No. 2, and Huber’s college production could translate to the pro game. Getting Abby Newhook in the fifth round may be their diamond in the rough, as the strong two-way forward from Boston College may be able to step into a lineup and contribute. Also, don’t hate taking a goalie in Amanda Thiele with your last pick.
Dylan (B): Winn was an easy pick to start and very on-brand for Boston. But considering where they were picking, I would have liked to see them make some splashier picks, even though they got some solid, hard-working, middle-six forwards.
Minnesota Frost
Key picks: Kendall Cooper (D), Abby Hustler (F), Ava Rinker (D)
Tyler (B-): The Frost really didn’t wow me with any of their picks. Picking later in rounds can be tough, but given the names that were taken after some of their picks, I think they could’ve done better. I like Kendall Cooper and I know Abby Hustler will live up to her namesake in the league, but passing over players like Olivia Mobley and Nina Jobst-Smith…those were names literally playing in Minnesota last year.
Hey, at least they didn’t have the PR dumpster fire they had after last year’s draft.
Hunter (C+): Cooper can step in and fill some of the void left by Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. I think Hustler’s game translates to the pro style nicely, and Ken Klee will give her opportunities to thrive. Some of the lower picks were off the board, but Vanessa Upson’s production in college highlights that there’s some skill in there worth taking a shot on. Besides, the double champs can do whatever they want.
Dylan (B-): I’m hesitant to give the Frost too low a grade, as they’ve shown a keen sense in finding players that fit their Cup-winning culture. I would agree that none of these picks stand out to me as game changers, but Cooper, Hustler, Segedi, and Upson were all part of their respective college’s leadership group, and will be reliable pieces for this team looking for a three-peat.
Montreal Victoire
Key picks: Nicole Gosling (D), Natálie Mlýnková (F), Skylar Irving (F)
Tyler (A): I really liked what Hall of Famer Danièle Sauvageau did at the draft. She went out and got more scoring in Abby Roque, but hardly lost any draft capital. She bolstered up the back end even more with Gosling, who will be a great shutdown defender. With Natálie Mlýnková, Skylar Irving and Maya Labad, they add some needed depth and secondary scoring that has hurt them in recent years in the playoffs. It was quite the day for the Sauvageau.
Hunter (B): Taking Gosling is a no-brainer, she’ll be able to thrive behind Ambrose. I liked the Mlynkova and Labad picks, but I’m curious as to how they spread out some of their offensive pieces, because this team needs depth beyond its top players. Speaking of which, it will be interesting to see if Roque can help replace some of the production lost with the departures of Jennifer Gardiner and Abby Boreen.
Dylan (A): Sauvageau was definitely doing a victory lap Tuesday after being named to the HHOF this week. Roque will help boost their scoring, bring the grittier style of hockey they are trying to build, not to mention what a treat it will be to see her play with occasional foe Marie Philip-Poulin. On the blue line, Gosling is a huge pickup, and having her play alongside fellow Clarkson alum Erin Ambrose is sure to produce some fine hockey.
New York Sirens
Key picks: Kristýna Kaltounková (F), Casey O’Brien (F), Anne Cherkowski (F)
Tyler (A-): Giving up Ella Shelton is surely a choice that could come back to haunt Pascal Daoust, but the pair of trades that he made on Tuesday allowed him to pick a plethora of talented players. With those nine picks, they addressed how shallow their offense is. Getting Kaltounková, Casey O’Brien, and Anne Cherkowski will fix that.
Addressing the goaltending was important for the Sirens, though I would’ve gone with Sanni Ahola over Callie Shanahan.
Hunter (A): It’s not often you’re able to select first overall and make a seismic trade within a half hour of each other, but that’s what the Sirens did. We’ll see how losing Shelton affects their blue line, but adding both Kaltounkova and O’Brien will immediately provide a spark up front after the departures of Alex Carpenter and Jessie Eldridge.
Dylan (A): It looks like Sarah Fillier is calling the shots in New York, and it might be the best thing that could happen for this team. The Sirens added the top two attackers available in the draft and bolstered their forward depth down the line. Losing Shelton is tough, and their blue line is looking a little thin, but their top six is going to put on a show next year. In a league with such high goaltending parity, it’s a gamble that may just pay off.
Ottawa Charge
Key picks: Rory Guilday (D), Anna Shokhina (F), Peyton Hemp (F)
Tyler (B-): Is it wrong for me to think that the Charge’s best pick came in the fourth round? I do believe Peyton Hemp has the tools to be a key scoring threat for a team that has been decimated this offseason. The only thing that kept me from rating Mike Hirshfeld a C is because of the Sanni Ahola pick. The team needed goaltending depth and they have it with her.
Hunter (B): I’ll try to unite the clans in saying I think their first-round pick in Rory Guilday was one of the best in the draft, as they took arguably the best defensive defender in a league with plenty of two-way threats. As for Shokhina, what gives me confidence from Ottawa’s perspective is that they also took her Dynamo-Neva St. Petersburg teammate, Fanuza Kadirova. The Charge is a team that prides itself on an international lineup, and I have no doubt they were thorough in their scouting evaluations.
The Anna Shokhina pick confuses me. Sure, she clearly has skill, but will leading the fourth (maybe fifth) best league in the world in scoring translate to the PWHL? Also, using a SECOND-ROUND pick sounds like a little much.
Dylan (B+): I’ll disagree a bit with Tyler in saying I actually quite like the Shokhina pick. The Charge has shown they’ll take a chance on high-skilled Europeans, and it’s certainly paid off for them in the past. Along with her Russian teammate Kadirova, I think it’s a bold swing for a team that needed to take one after the expansion draft hollowed them out.
Seattle
Key picks: Jenna Buglioni (F), Hannah Murphy (G), Lily Delianedis (F)
Tyler (B): It seems like Seattle has been playing catch-up compared to Vancouver and I do think they closed the gap a little with this draft. Jenna Buglioni is the right player to further add scoring to the roster. I like the Hannah Murphy pick (though using a second-round pick seemed a little overzealous) and Liv Wallin, despite going so late in the draft, might be one of Meghan Turner’s best choices on the night.
Hunter (B-): Anytime a team can take a Buckeye in the first round, it’s a good decision (sorry, Tyler), so I like the Buglioni pick. Taking Wallin (shoutout Stoney Creek!) with the second-last pick in the draft is a worthy hail mary pick, as the forward was tied for the team lead in scoring at Minnesota-Duluth. As for Murphy, it’s not too early if the pick ends up working out!
Dylan (B): Not that they need any more talent on their already stacked roster, but Seattle managed to grab some anyway. Buglioni is a proven winner and Murphy has just unbelievable stats between the pipes, even if I agree they may have jumped the gun taking her so soon, then triggering the ensuing goalie-picking mayhem.
Toronto Sceptres
Key picks: Emma Gentry (F), Clara Van Wieren (F), Kiara Zanon (F)
Tyler (A-): Clearly, Gina Kingsbury didn’t head to Ottawa looking to build for the future by going after Ella Shelton. Yet, with just five picks, I think the Sceptres got bigger with players like Emma Gentry and Clara Van Wieren. I love the Van Wieren choice cause she can fill the role that Julia Gosling left behind. Also, taking Swedish star Sara Hjlamarsson is a huge swing for Toronto after she was passed over last year.
Hunter (B+): If you were to tell teams you could take today’s version of Shelton with the third-overall pick, every one of them would do it. Beyond the big trade, Gentry can step in and immediately provide depth up front, while Hanna Baskin will fight for minutes on the blue line. After moving on from Campbell, it looks like it’s Elaine Chuli’s crease to lose.
Dylan (A): I think the Ella Shelton trade will pay off in spades for this Sceptres team, and I’m impressed they were able to offload Campbell’s contract, considering it was looking like the market wasn’t really there to deal her just yet. Despite losing out on their first-round pick, they added size and depth, and came out looking a lot stronger.
Vancouver
Key picks: Michelle Karvinen (F), Nina Jobst-Smith (D), Brianna Brooks (F)
Tyler (A): You could tell in Cara Gardner Morey’s approach that she only has so many roster spots left, so she gives up some picks to acquire Campbell on draft night. That allowed her to be selective with just five selections. I think she nailed it. Some believed taking on Michelle Karvinen was a gamble, but I like bringing in that veteran experience. Nina Jobst-Smith is going to be a big-time player, and Lyndie Lobell further adds depth to their D-Corps that only enhances my belief that this team is a championship contender.
Hunter (A-): Lots to like about Vancouver’s night. Let’s start with taking Karvinen out of Sweden, a seasoned veteran who can step in and produce right away. Her production in Europe is outstanding, and she’s held her own at the international level. Grabbing Jobst-Smith is a smart pickup that provides depth on the blue line, and Brooks could be their steal in the draft, as she was one of the best puck battlers in the country. Oh, and Campbell!
Dylan (A+): Okay, maybe A+ is a bit extreme, but I just want to tip my hat off to the absolute beast Gardner Morey has built these past weeks, culminating in the finishing touches on draft night. I think Karvinen is a huge pick, as a number of other teams were hungry to steal her. We’ve seen in the past two seasons how important veteran experience is in this league, and even at 35 years old, Karvinen can be a big-time player for this team. Plus, I’m always a sucker for a homecoming, and I think North Vancouver’s Jobst-Smith will quickly become a fan favourite. On that note, shoutout to Kelowna’s Chanreet Bassi of UBC for being the only USports pick in the draft, as Vancouver took her last overall.