Yahoo Sports 2025 PWHL Draft: Preseason Rankings
Looking at the initial group of players who could, or are expected to declare for the 2025 PWHL Draft, it's another talent laden cohort set to make the league stronger and deeper. Following this draft, teams will all be four lines deep of players who can move up and down the lineup. There are some question marks for this draft. Those are primarily around two American players - Abbey Murphy and Lacey Eden - who technically have another season of NCAA eligibility, but have been in school for five years already due to an Olympic gap. The other question mark involves veteran European players like Jenni Hiirikoski and Michelle Karvinen. If they declare, it will certainly shake the rankings. In the meantime, here's The Hockey News' preseason 2025 PWHL Draft Rankings.
Abbey Murphy, F, 2002, Minnesota / Team USA - If, and it's an if, we knew Abbey Murphy planned to declare for the draft, she'd be the early favorite to go first overall. Murphy has great speed and is a dynamic player. She also has an edge and physical presence that will torment opponents in the PWHL. She'll need to keep her inner pest in check to avoid unnecessary penalties, something that at times has been an issue in the NCAA, but she has all the tools to thrive.
Natalie Mlynkova, F, 2001, Minnesota / Team Czechia - When you watched Mlynkova play at Worlds last year, she looked like a player with something to prove. She carried the Czech attack, and is one of the better two way forwards, albeit one who can produce at high rates. After transferring to Minnesota, Mlynkova's year in the WCHA will define her placement. Make no mistake, she's gunning for first overall.
Nicole Gosling, D, 2002, Clarkson / Team Canada - Rock solid, great first pass and at getting pucks through traffic. Gosling can produce, but more importantly, she chooses her opportunities in a calculated manner. She is equally adept on both sides of the puck. A First Team All-American last season, Gosling will be a stalwart on a PWHL blueline for a decade.
Haley Winn, D, 2003, Clarkson / Team USA - A mobile, right shot defender who is deceptive along the line. She moves extremely well in all directions and puts pucks into spaces where offense can be created. On the small side, but she's shown she can play in physical, fast paced games through her national team performances.
Krystina Kaltounkova, F, 2002, Colgate - A physical net front presence who is one of the most pure scorers and producers in the NCAA. Her style is a perfect match for the PWHL and she could become one of the league's top producers in short order. There were questions about her absence from Czechia's national team, but it sounds like she'll be reunited with the national program this year, which could boost her stock higher.
Rory Guilday, D, 2002, Cornell / Team USA - Steady without the flash but makes an excellent first pass. With her size and poise, she sometimes looks like Lee Stecklein, but with less offensive upside. She's certainly one of the better defensive defenders in the world. Teams in this league need shutdown players.
Viivi Vainikka, F, 2001, Lulea / Team Finland - A highly skilled player who has shown growth at the pro level over each of the last four seasons, and she's still only 22. One of Finland's top international players, Vainikka has learned the physical game in the SDHL and should slide onto a second line in the PWHL and contribute immediately. It would not be surprising to see Vainikka continue to get better when she arrives in North America.
Lacey Eden, F, 2002, Wisconsin / Team USA - It would not be surprising to see Eden go higher than this, especially if her offence continues to trend upward this season. She has never been given a realistic opportunity to be a scorer with Team USA, but at the pro level, the experience of being a checking line energy player internationally, and a scorer at the NCAA, has helped her develop balance to her game others don't have. She's effective on both sides of the puck, and that's an attribute PWHL teams desperately need. Could return for one more year pushing her eligibility to the 2026 draft.
Michaela Pejzlova, F, 1997, Ambrì-Piotta / Team Czechia - A two time NCAA champion scoring 1.12 points per game across her collegiate career with Clarkson. She led Finland's Naisten Liiga in points the last two seasons totally 153 points in 55 games, and she's won a pair of bronze medals with Czechia at the World Championships, playing top six minutes for them. This year she'll move to Switzerland, and can certainly play in the PWHL today, but she'll lose draft value the longer she stays in lower level leagues away from North America.
Hanna Olsson, F, 1999, Frolunda / Team Sweden - A fun all-around player to watch who despite having spent nine seasons in the SDHL, is still only 25. She's a good skater, and can create offensively. The biggest question mark will be her health, as Olsson missed almost all of last season with an injury from a dirty hit. If she bounces back and produces as expected, she'll be a coveted player in the first three rounds of next year's draft.
Casey O'Brien, F, 2001, Wisconsin - An offseason surgery will be an item to watch for the second leading scorer in all of NCAA hockey last season. The First Team All-American will enter her final season of eligibility as a front runner for the Patty Kazmaier Award. Depending on how teams view the European players available, or if they even declare (similar to Eden and Murphy), O'Brien could easily climb several spots in this draft.
Anne Cherkowski, F, 2002, Clarkson - There's a lot to like about Cherkowski's game at the pro level. She doesn't have noticeable weaknesses and plays an excellent two way game. She can provide energy and tempo from a depth role, and step up a lineup with her speed and offensive instincts to contribute.
Abby Hustler, F, 2003, St. Lawrence - Shockingly hasn't received love from Team Canada who has a gap in talent they need to fill moving forward. It will be interesting to see how she fares this season without Julia Gosling, but Hustler has been a consistent scorer. She has good size, hands, and sees the ice well offensively. Could turn out to be a steal if she slides.
Kiara Zanon, F, 2002, Ohio State - It wouldn't be surprising to see Zanon climb in the draft. She's scored at every level, and reads the ice well. A good skater with slick hands, Zanon wouldn't look out of place on a PWHL team this season. Adding to her physical game is one aspect she'll have to adapt to.
Sara Hjalmarsson, F, 1998, Linkoping / Team Sweden - Contract kept Hjalmarsson in Europe this year, but she wants to be in the PWHL. Good size and a willingness to engage physically, Hjalmarsson went from a breakout senior season with Providence, to a stellar rookie campaign in the SDHL. She was also one of Sweden's top threats at Worlds. Some have mixed opinions on her game, and she certainly can work on smoothing out her stride, but Hjalmarsson will be a good pro in the PWHL.
Elisa Holopainen, F, 2001, Frolunda / Team Finland - She has a great shot and can produce at high rates. Wisely, Holopainen abandoned the weak Naisten Liiga for tougher competition in Frolunda this season. She may not declare next season, as some believe she'll remain in Europe through the 2026 Olympics, and there is room for her to get stronger and develop her physical game before coming to the PWHL. Her skill set however, is elite.
Jenna Buglioni, F, 2002, Ohio State - A model of consistency at Ohio State, who will captain the Buckeyes this season, Buglioni has a strong two-way game. She's small, but makes up for it with her hockey IQ. Buglioni is a player who will provide shift in and shift out contribution on or off the puck.
Jenniina Nylund, F, 1999, Brynas / Team Finland - It will be interesting to see how PWHL teams shift their draft strategy after the first two rounds next season. Yes, each team can
Ella Huber, F, 2002, Minnesota - A good skater with soft hands who isn't afraid to go into the corners or battle in front of the net, Huber took a big step forward this season offensively. With more talent surrounding her yet again this year in Minnesota, it should be a big season for her. It will be small items like her compete level that could separate her from a number of similar forwards between picks 12-24.
Kendall Cooper, D, 2002, Quinnipiac - Likes to transport the puck from her own end. Picking her spots will be the lesson to learn in the PWHL, so she doesn't get caught up ice at inopportune times. Cooper can also play with an edge. At the Canada vs. USA national development season, it was hard not to notice Cooper.
Peyton Hemp, F, 2003, Minnesota
Emma Seitz, D, 2000, MoDo
Vita Ponyatovskaya, D, 2003, Yale
Michelle Pasiechnyk, G, 2002, Clarkson
Sanni Ahola, G, 2000, St. Cloud / Team Finland
Skylar Irving, F, 2002, Northeastern
Lily Delianedis, F, 2001, Cornell
Morgan Neitzke, F, 2003, Lindenwood
Emma Gentry, F, 2002, St. Cloud State
MacKenna Webster, F, 2002, Ohio State
2025 PWHL Draft Watch List
Maddi Wheeler, F, 2002, Ohio State
Sarah Wozniewicz, F, 2002, Wisconsin
Andrea Brändli, G, 1997, MoDo / Team Switzerland
Ashley Messier, D, 2002, Cornell
Sydney Pederson, D, 2003, Mercyhurst
Anna Segedi, F, 2000, St. Lawrence
Hanna Baskin, D, 2003, Minnesota-Duluth
Pia Dukaric, G, 2000, Yale / Team Slovenia
Callie Shanahan, G, 2003, Boston University
Amanda Thiele, G, 2002, Ohio State
Lyndie Lobdell, D, 2002, Penn State
Nina Jobst-Smith, D, 2001, Minnesota-Duluth / Team Germany
Marianne Picard, F, 2002, Wisconsin
Abby Newhook, F, 2003, Boston College
Maddy Samoskevich, D, 2002, Quinnipiac
Kira Juodikis, F, 2003, New Hampshire
Skylar Vetter, G, 2003, Minnesota
Millie Rose Sirum, F, 2003, Holy Cross
Jamie Nelson, F, 2002, Minnesota State
Ena Nystrom, G, 2000, Brynas / Team Norway
Ida Kuoppala, F, 2000 Skelleftea AIK
Darcie Lappan, F, 2001, MoDo
Reece Hunt, F, 2001, Lulea
Nadia Mattivi, D, 2000, Lulea / Team Italy
Alexie Guay, D, 2001, MoDo
Rachel Weiss, F, 2001, HV71
Riley Brengman, D, 2002, Ohio State
Sydney Langseth, F, 2002, Minnesota State
Ava Rinker, D, 2002, Connecticut
Maya Labad, F, 2002, Quinnipiac
Clara Van Wieren, F, 2002, Minnesota-Duluth
Brianna Brooks, F, 2002, Penn State
Sarah Marchand, F, 2003, St. Lawrence
Vanessa Upson, F, 2003, Mercyhurst
Neena Brick, F, 2003, Colgate
Mia Biotti, D, 2002, Harvard
Maggie Nicholson, D, 2002, Minnesota
Olivia Mobley, F, 2001, Ohio State
Jada Habisch, F, 2002, Connecticut
Brooke Becker, D, 2002, Providence
Kylee Mahoney, F, 2003, Mercyhurst
Brianna Brooks, F, 2002, Penn State
Tatum James, F, 2001, Waterloo
Mackenzie Kordic, F, 2001, British Columbia
Chanreet Bassi, F, 2001, British Columbia
Maude Pepin, F, 1999, Bishop's
Jessymaude Drapeau, F, 2000, Concordia
Michelle Karvinen, F, 1990, Frolunda / Team Finland
Jenni Hiirikoski, D, 1987, Lulea / Team Finland
Emma Nordin, F, 1991, Lulea
Andrea Dalen, F, 1992, Frolunda / Team Norway
Estelle Duvin, F, 1997, SC Bern / Team France
Sophie Lundin, F, 2000, Frolunda
Clara Rozier, F, 1997, SC Bern / Team France
Maggy Burbidge, F, 2001, HC Fribourg-Gottéron
Haruka Toko, F, 1997, Linkoping / Team Japan
