Top PWHL Draft Prospects To Watch At The 6-Nation Women's Euro Hockey Tour

There won't be an event this year featuring more top PWHL Draft prospects in one place than this week's 6-Nation tournament in Finland. Featuring national team players from Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Czechia, and development teams from Canada and USA composed exclusively of NCAA players, the event is packed with the next way (or three) of PWHL prospects.

A Look At Potential First Round Picks

Czechia has two of the most intriguing prospects who will undoubtedly land in the top 10 PWHL picks this season in Kristyna Kaltounkova and Natalie Mlynkova. Mlynkova is an intelligent two way player who has shown her ability to elevate her game against the best in the world, and Kaltounkova is a bullish goal scorer who is one of the most PWHL ready players we've seen outside the league. They'll be joined by Viiivi Vainikka of Finland, a skilled and physically capable forward who will likely push herself into the top 10 of the draft. From Canada and USA, it's a longer list including Nicole Gosling, Haley Winn, Rory Guilday, and Casey O'Brien.

The Question Marks

Unlike the NHL, there's no way to know who will declare for the PWHL Draft until the season is nearly over. In many cases, there will be surprises on the day the eligibility list is announced as well. From this tournament, the biggest question marks are Abbey Murphy and Lacey Eden. Could they go back to the NCAA for another season? Certainly. Would they be forfeiting career earning potential and playing in a league where they have nothing to prove and have maxed out their development? Probably. The duo's decisions around the draft will define the rest of the class. They aren't alone however. There is a large group of players in Europe who have question marks floating over their heads. Veterans like Michelle Karvinen, Hanna Olsson, and Michaela Pejzlova could all declare and earn roster spots in the PWHL, but will they? The list of European question marks could also include less certain selection like Linnéa Johansson, Sinja Leeman, and Elin Svensson.

It's A Deep Pool

In general, the 2025 PWHL Draft could turn out to be far weaker than the 2024 cohort if a few pieces of the puzzle fail to fall into place. Specifically from the group who may not declare. There is however, a large group of players almost certain to declare that will challenge for depth roles in the league, and some who could become more. European players like Jenniina Nylund, Sara Hjalmarsson, Sanni Ahola, and Andrea Brandli have been making cases for themselves this year. The bigger group however, is coming from the NCAA including Anne Cherkowski, Kendall Cooper, Jenna Buglioni, Kiara Zanon, Emma Gentry, Peyton Hemp, Ashley Messier, Ella Huber, Skylar Irving, Hannah Murphy, Maya Labad, Amanda Thiele, and Sarah Wozniewicz who are all draft eligible this season and almost certain to declare.