Final Mock Draft: Fillier First, But Who Comes After?

It's time for the 2024 PWHL Draft. But before the official picks begin, here's a final Mock Draft from The Hockey News.

1. New York - Sarah Fillier, C, Princeton, NCAA (2000, Canada) - Fillier seems like the lock. She's a unique offensive talent, a 200-foot player, and brings a level of star power to New York they didn't have.

2. Ottawa - Danielle Serdachny, C, Colgate (2001, Canada) - A top line center, with size and who can score. She could be the top point producer in this draft.

3. Minnesota - Cayla Barnes, D, Ohio State, NCAA (1999, USA) - Until Natalie Darwitz was fired, it was almost a certainty Barnes was the pick. Minnesota has been high on Barnes for a long time. 

4. Boston - Hannah Bilka, LW, Ohio State, NCAA (2001, USA) - Boston wants elite,  immediate impact players. Bilka is that and can provide serious impact. Dynamic and skilled, Bilka weaves, zigs, and zags through the offensive zone and does it with an edge. A full season on a line with Hilary Knight should be able to reshape Boston's identity. If Boston wants to go with a defender first, Claire Thompson or Ronja Savolainen are likely picks.

5. Montreal - Claire Thompson, D, DNP (1998, Canada) - Reuniting Claire Thompson with Erin Ambrose on a team that is in desperate need of defensive depth, and who will take offensive boosts from the front or back end? It seems like a no-brainer.

6. Toronto - Julia Gosling, C, St. Lawrence (2001, Canada) - We've called Gosling a young Natalie Spooner many times. So how better to prepare for a potential period without Spooner than drafting a young power forward. Hockey Canada ties will never hurt your stock in Toronto.

7. New York - Amanda Kessel, RW, DNP (1991, USA) - New York needs more leadership, they need more scoring, and they need star power. With Fillier in round one, putting Kessel on her wing gives you two dangerous lines in New York. It's a risk versus reward situation, but New York needs a significant boost, and if Kessel can remain healthy, she could get New York over the hump the new few seasons. If she doesn't go here, watch for Boston to snap her up at #10.

8. Ottawa - Daniela Pejsova, D, Lulea, SDHL (2002, Czechia) - Ottawa isn't going two rounds without selecting a blueliner, and the idea of bringing in Pejsova, a young player coach Carla MacLeod trusts and has build in rapport with is logical. She's a good skater, physical, and defends well. This one seems like an easy pick.

9. Minnesota - Abby Boreen, RW, Minnesota, PWHL (2000, USA) - Originally I thought Boreen wouldn't go until the third round, and likely shouldn't until the fourth, but with a new sheriff in town running the draft, and knowing whoever the powers that be are in Minnesota like Boreen, it stands to reason they'll look to guarantee she's in the folds.

10. Boston - Ronja Savolainen, D, Lulea, SDHL (1997, Finland) - This is a really difficult spot, because truly, the speed of Nooa Tulus might be more valuable down the middle where Boston desperately lacks scoring and speed. But Savolainen can add much needed scoring from anywhere as she roves the ice. The plays physical, can carry the puck, and would look great in bumper position on the PP.

11. Montreal - Noora Tulus, C, Lulea, SDHL (1995, Finland) - It would not be a surprise to see Tulus off the board before this. She's got dynamic speed, is tenacious in pursuit, and was the top scorer in Europe this year. There are several teams who want Tulus. It's a race of who can get to the SDHL's leading scorer first.

12. Toronto - Maja Nylén Persson, D, Brynas, SDHL (2000, Sweden) - There's nothing saying Toronto wouldn't reach up for Megan Carter here, but to pass on Nylen Persson at this point in the draft could be a monumental mistake. To see her go anywhere from pick 6-12 would not be a surprise. The right shot blueliner can contribute in all three zones. Toronto admitted they don't have a formal scouting staff which will eventually be a liability for the team. For now, the fact Gina Kingsbury could watch Nylen Persson at World the last few seasons means she's aware how good this defender is and can be.

13. New York - Allyson Simpson, RD, Colgate, NCAA (2000, USA) - After taking forwards in the first two rounds, it's time we start reuniting Greg Fargo with a few Colgate players. Simpson is stedy, and reliable. There's nothing saying however, that if Pascal Daoust asks Fargo for his presence in defenders that he doesn't choose Sydney Bard.

14. Ottawa - Megan Carter, D, Northeastern, NCAA (2001, Canada) - Doubling down on defensive depth, and getting more physically tough to play against, selecting Carter would give Ottawa incredible defensive depth, and would allow them to mix and match among six stellar defenders next season.

15. Minnesota - Izzy Daniel, RW, Cornell, NCAA (2001, USA) - The hometown woman is a Minneapolis product, who won the Patty Kazmaier Award last season. Minnesota needs to be deeper along the wings, and starting Daniel on the third line where she can contribute away from top match ups, and also pitch in defensively would be huge. 

16. Boston - Anna Meixner, RW, Brynas, SDHL (1994, Austria) - Hearing GM Danielle Marmer discuss proven players, veteran presence, and impact, and it's hard not to see Meixner. The 2023 SDHL MVP, captain of Team Austria (which would re-unite her with Teresa Schazahl), would also provide more much needed speeed.

17. Montreal - Sara Hjalmarsson, C, Linkoping, SDHL (1998, Sweden) - Some of the top upside in the draft, if you shift her to the wing, Hjalmarsson can use her size to insert herself into dirty areas, and she can certainly add secondary production. It's a bit of a reach, but the upside is undeniable.

18 - Toronto - Jennifer Gardiner, LW, Ohio State, NCAA (2001, Canada) - Toronto to veer from their path. Gardiner was the last cut from Team Canada this year, and Troy Ryan and Gina Kingsbury know what she brings as well as anyone. With the loss of Brittany Howard, Toronto needs immediate help on their left wing, and asking Gardiner to take the third line role there is a position she can thrive in.