The PWHL features the best players in the world. This year, the incoming draft class pushed some of the inaugural cohort to Europe to play bigger minutes, re-find their scoring, or to continue to develop. For many it paid dividends, and could earn players a new lease in the league with roster spots opening via expansion.
Here's a look at the group of former PWHL players, both full time rostered players and reserves, who could return to the league next season to bolster rosters.
1. Sarah Bujold - Bujold played important minutes in the inaugural PWHL season with the Montreal Victoire and it was surprising to see her not back on their roster, especially considering some of the players Montreal kept. Instead Bujold went to Sweden to finish out her year scoring 18 points in 14 games for Lulea. She's the type of veteran a team can immediately add to their bottom six who can have an impact in the expansion era.
2. Savannah Norcross - Last season Norcross provided speed and solid depth checking minutes for the New York Sirens. She was a strong forechecker, but couldn't produce offensively. She went to Sweden to play for Lulea, and found her way into a key scoring role registering 18 points in 13 games. If she can bring back a bit of that confidence with the puck to North America, Norcross could be a bottom six boost.
3. Dominique Kremer - In Kremer, a PWHL team has the ability to add a veteran with a Walter Cup title on her resume, and leadership abilities as evidenced when she served as a team captain in the PHF. Kremer is not going to play top four minutes, but she can bolster blueline depth.
4. Taylor Baker - Baker spent a season and a bit patrolling the New York Sirens' blueline, but as they added depth, Baker saw her role reduced until she was released. She made the late season move to play for Brynas in Sweden and also saw plenty of time with Hungary at the Olympic Games qualifiers and World Championships. Another veteran capable of adding depth.
5. Emma Keenan - Although she's never stepped foot on the ice in a PWHL regular season game, Keenan spent a season as a reserve with the Toronto Sceptres. This year, she got all the ice time she could handle playing in China's women's league. She recorded 27 points in 24 games making more than most PWHL players in her time abroad, and gained confidence she might use to slingshot into a PWHL position.
6. Akane Shiga - Shiga isn't leaving Europe yet, and following surgery for an injury suffered at the World Championships, she'll need the year in Sweden to get her game back. Shiga looked good in Sweden this season showing the talent she flashed in the PWHL with Ottawa, while putting up points and learning to handle more physical games night in and night out. If Shiga wants to return to the PWHL after next season, there should be a market for the talented Japenese forward.
7. Kristin Della Rovere - Similar to Shiga, Della Rovere won't be returning to North America this season. Instead, she's focused on preparing for the 2026 Olympics as a member of Team Italy. She represented Italy for the first time at the recent World Championships helping them earn promotion. She was named an EWHL All-Star this season and is playing a role in growing the status of the league. Don't count out a return from Della Rovere following the Olympics.
8. Maude Poulin-Labelle - After being selected by Montreal in the 2023 Draft, Poulin-Labelle spent her year as a depth defender in Toronto during the 2024 season. This year she took a tryout in Boston but was unable to steal a spot from one of their signed players. Instead, Poulin-Labelle joined Brynas where she flashed her reputation as a rushing offensive defender scoring 16 points in 17 games from the blueline.
9. Madison Bizal - Bizal's stor is impressive and she continues to write new chapters to it. In the first PWHL season, Bizal played 21 games for Montreal. This year, she took a tryout in New York, but chose to play top four minutes in Europe rather than being stranded as a reserve in the PWHL. Bizal played a key role for SDE in their opening round SDHL upset over MoDo. She'll be a D teams will look at to replenish their defensive depth.
10. Fanni Gasparics - The Hungarian captain saw her inaugural PWHL campaign cut short due to injury. She's skilled and a good shooter with multiple seasons of North American hockey under her belt. Gasparics may not want to come back, but in an eight team league, she might have new opportunities.
Others to Watch: Audrey-Anne Veillette, Alexa Gruschow, Malia Schneider, Johanna Fallman.