Biggest Under-Performers and Over-Performers In The PWHL

With the inaugural PWHL season beyond the midway point, players should be in "midseason form" and from here on out, every point matters.

With three-year guaranteed contracts handed out prior to the season, 36 players entered the PWHL with big expectations placed on their shoulders. Some have lived up to those expectations, others haven't. The same could be said for the dozens of players who signed as free agents following the PWHL Draft. Many of these players who had lower expectations have outperformed drafted and the 36 three-year players.

Here's a look at the PWHL top under-performers and over-performers.

Hilary Knight (Boston) - It's hard to not see Hilary Knight as an under performer in the league, but given her output last year in the PWHPA, it should be surprising. Knight has been playing more than 20 minutes per Knight, and taking her share of shots, but she's not finishing. Many of her chances are coming from outside of dangerous offensive space, and the speed of the game appears to be a challenge. She's elite in every other way, and the goals might come in bundles when it matters, but as a three-year player making one of the league's top salaries, she needs to be producing.

Elizabeth Giguere (New York) - Zero points and a -5 rating through 13 games are not the stats New York envisioned, or anyone for that matter, for Elizabeth Giguere. She is a player who can produce in this league, but it's not clicking in New York, and unless Howie Draper can find a way to better utilize a player who could be helping his team, New York should send Giguere to a team who can. 

Clair DeGeorge (Minnesota) - This one's not so much DeGeorge's fault, as it is the unrealistic expectations placed on her being drafted in the sixth round, 36th overall in the draft. Zero points through 13 games, DeGeorge is down to averaging less just over nine and a half minutes per game. With Minnesota short forwards, opportunity has existed, but it hasn't been claimed. 

Jincy Roese (Ottawa) - Sitting at the bottom of the PWHL in plus minus is one thing, as the stat can be deceiving. What hasn't been deceiving is Roese's role in many of those goals against. She's been caught out of position, coughed up pucks, or lost battles being on the wrong side of her opponent too often. Roese has played for USA's national team and has the skill set, but right now it looks like she's simply trying to do too much. This could be an easy slump to start climbing out of, but it's all about consistency.

Blayre Turnbull (Toronto) - When you ask Toronto's management, they are thrilled with Blayre Turnbull's play. Seeing a player of her stature averaging 0.3 points per game beyond the midway point of the season however, is something that can't be overlooked. If not for the heroics of Natalie Spooner, Toronto would be in rough shape. Turnbull is doing everything right off the puck, but needs to finish more of her opportunities to provide at least secondary scoring for Toronto.

Kirsten O'Neill (Montreal) - To see a Canadian national team member signed to a guaranteed three-year contract producing .25 points per game, with no goals through 12 games is not ideal for anyone. Those contracts were handed out without any player needing to prove their worth in the professional game, and right now O'Neill, who is still playing an effective defensive game, has to earn it. 

Tereza Vanisova (Montreal) - If there were more opportunity to see Tereza Vanisova and the rest of Czechia's national team stars over the past few seasons, Vanisova wouldn't be the surprise to many she's been. Skilled, quick, hard on the puck, and a nice compliment to Marie-Philip Poulin. Vanisova's value extends far beyond her play with the puck, and she's emerging as a star not only in Montreal, but in the league.

Lexie Adzija (Ottawa) - Selected in the 11th round of the PWHL Draft, few would have predicted Lexie Adzija would be leading PWHL Ottawa in scoring and be sitting in the top 20 in league scoring and top 10 in goals. The fact that Ottawa is also putting her out to defend one goal leads in the final minutes of play shows not only the respect she's gained as an offensive player, but also on the defensive side of the puck.

Natalie Spooner (Toronto) - Everyone knows Natalie Spooner is one of the best in the world, but nobody knew she'd be this good in the PWHL, especially after not playing much the past two seasons. As a fourth round draft pick, who wasn't signed to a three-year guaranteed contract, Spooner is outperforming so many who were given that financial and contractual assurance. It's hard not to cheer for Spooner, and that's become evident by her growing support in Toronto and across the league.

Sidney Morin (Boston) - Picked in the ninth round of the draft by Minnesota, expectations for Morin were tempered. When she couldn't come to terms in Minnesota and was released, only to be picked up on waivers by Boston, those expectations fell again. Fast forward and Morin is averaging more than 20 minutes of ice per game, second only in Boston to Megan Keller. She's showcasing her skating and ability to transport pucks, and despite not producing a ton offensively, her value on Boston's blueline has been evident. 

Abby Boreen (Minnesota) - If rules didn't restrict Boreen from signing a full-time SPA as a full-time student, she'd be playing in the PWHL right now for more than her second and final 10-day contract. Averaging the fifth most minutes on ice among Minnesota's forwards as a reserve is impressive, and Boreen makes a noticeable difference with her size and willingness to drive pucks to the net.

Jade Downie-Landry (New York) - Maybe it's as easy as Alex Carpenter leading the league in scoring, but the real answer in New York, a team with more under performers right now than over performers, is Jade Downie-Landry. One of the few USports products in the league, Downie-Landry has been a pleasant offensive surprise for New York.