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Top PWHL Free Agents Who Could Bolster Teams This Season

ian kennedy
·4 min read

Each PWHL team is allowed three reserve players, the equivalent of 18 players league wide. As injuries mount across the league, five players - Kelly Babstock, Jessica Adolfsson, Samantha Isbell, Lucy Morgan, and Jess Kondas have already signed their first 10-day contracts. Each reserve is eligible to sign two such deals. Others including Charlotte Akervik, Catherine Daoust, Taylor House, and Olivia Knowles have signed full contracts. The result is that the PWHL's reserve pool now sits at only 11 players league wide.

At some point this season, PWHL teams will likely begin looking outside the current player pool to bolster their rosters prior to the March 3, 2025 roster freeze date. The problem for PWHL teams will be that the world's second best pro league, the SDHL, will only be done their opening round of playoffs by that point, meaning players from the top four SDHL teams, which at the moment includes powerhouse teams Lulea, MoDo, and Frolunda, will likely not be available. There's no guarantees however, and teams will be looking at all players leading up to the roster freeze.

Here's a look at the top eligible players who could sign as PWHL free agents this season:

  1. Laura Kluge, F, Eisbaren Berlin - Kluge could be playing in a PWHL bottom-six right now, and given her size, veteran leadership and experience, and two-way acumen, she'd make an ideal addition down the stretch. Similar to players in Sweden however, her Eisbaren Berlin squad sits second in the DFEL and may not be eliminated from playoffs in time.

  2. Akane Shiga, F, Lulea - Shiga showed she could think the game at the PWHL level, and skate with the best last season as a member of PWHL Ottawa, but the physicality and her overall strength needed time. She's taken massive steps this season in Sweden scoring close to a point per game with Lulea. Don't expect Lulea to be ousted, but if an upset occurs, Shiga will have teams calling.

  3. Dominique Kremer, D, SDE - She played 12 games for the Walter Cup champions in Minnesota last year. Kremer has years of pro experience and would be invaluable depth along a PWHL blueline heading toward the postseason.

  4. Sydney Brodt, F, Frolunda - It's surprising a team didn't grab Brodt when they had the chance following her release from Minnesota. A former USA national team member, Brodt brings an abundance of off-ice value as well. Frolunda may still be in the mix, but if they aren't, there will be teams looking her assets. Adding a PWHL champion is experience any team would value.

  5. Madison Bizal, D, SDE - Bizal has fought back from incredible odds to play in the PWHL. This year she didn't stick, but she's having an impact and finally getting the minutes a defender needs to develop with SDE, and she'll be better for it. SDE could be out in time for Bizal to re-join the PWHL for a stretch run.

  6. Savannah Norcross, F, Lulea - She's off to a hot start in Lulea showcasing her speed and finally getting to play and offensive role. Norcross is the type of player who could come back with confidence and provide her trademark energy, but also depth scoring.

  7. Kristin Della Rovere, F, EV Bolzano Eagles - We really didn't get a chance to see Della Rovere last year. The rookie was adapting to the league before her season ending injury. She's playing with Bolzano in Italy with the intent of also representing Italy at the 2026 Olympics. Challenging herself for a playoff run should Bolzano find themselves out of the EWHL playoffs could aid in that continued development.

  8. Emma Keenan, D, KRS Shenzhen - Keenan served as a reserve for Toronto last season and this year is lighting up the WCIHL in China with KRS Shenzhen. She's a veteran player who could provide a safety net on the blueline. Last year a team like Ottawa could have benefitted from having another defender in the mix.

  9. Maggie MacEachern, D, KRS Shenzhen - Another player in China, Maggie MacEachern, could help shore up a blueline heading to the postseason. She's a defensive specialist but got the opportunity to be a little more offensive in her time in China. MacEachern captained Colgate, she captained Canada's U-18 national team to gold, and she could bring the assets that earned her those positions to a PWHL team as a depth addition.

  10. Maude Poulin-Labelle, D, Brynas - While other SDHL teams may not be eliminated from playoffs in time for the PWHL's roster freeze, Brynas, who is having their first season out of the league's top teams could be. Maude Poulin-Labelle has been able to play her style attacking more often and joining the play, and we're seeing the player many were excited to see in the league as a rookie last year.

  11. Other Free Agents: Sarah Bujold, F, Lulea, Audrey-Anne Veillette (HV71), Kennedy Bobyck (HV71), Alexie Guay (MoDo), Alexandra Huszák (MAC Budapest), Ida Kuoppala (Skelleftea), Darcie Lappan (MoDo), Julia Nearis (HV71), Teghan Inglis (HV71), Nadia Mattivi, LuleaLotti Odnoga (SDE), Camryn Wong (Lulea), Marah Wagner (MoDo), Malia Schneider (SDE)