Five Firsts To Watch At The PWHL Draft

It's the first ever PWHL Draft, but the draft itself will also be filled with firsts. Here's five first to watch in the PWHL Draft.

The PWHL Draft will be filled with firsts. While the league's first player in history was officially Kelly Pannek, there are plenty of firsts still to come, from the first overall pick, to the first European, and many more. Here's a look at five firsts to watch in the PWHL Draft:

First Overall

It feels like it's a foregone conclusion that Taylor Heise will become the first overall pick in the 2023 PWHL Draft. She's arguably the best player available, played for Minnesota GM Natalie Darwitz at the University of Minnesota where she won a Patty Kazmaier, and is Team USA's offensive leader. If there's any drama to add to this discussion, it would be in the presence of Alina Muller who stands shoulder to shoulder with Heise in the skill category, and has been competing against the top North American players in the world for years with Switzerland.

First European Player

It seems obvious Alina Muller will take this honor. She's one of the best players in the world, and luckily for the PWHL, had already made her decision to stay in North America to play professionally this season when she signed with the Boston Pride. It's highly likely Toronto breaks national ties and drafts Muller second overall. If Kingsbury happens to pass on the elite forward, she'll almost certainly remain in Boston with the third pick. Beyond Muller, Emma Soderberg, Chloe Aurard, Susanna Tapani, Noora Raty, Lina Ljungblom, Theresa Schafzahl, Denisa Krizova, Dominika Laskova, and Aneta Tejralova are names to follow, along with other members of Czechia's national team. With their coach Carla MacLeod in Ottawa, could we see a Czech contingent in the nation's capital? Considering the PWHPA was unable to welcome international players, who instead chose the PHF or SDHL, every European or Asian player selected is significant.

First PHF Player

So far 18 PWHPA players, all Canadian and USA national team members, have been signed. The first round is likely to be a combination of North American national team members and NCAA stars. After that, PHF players will factor into a large percentage of picks. Odds are the honor of the first PHF player selected will go to Loren Gabel. The PHF MVP from last season, Gabel is a pure goal scorer that few in the league will outmatch. Her release and willingness to shoot will make her a powerplay and even strength threat for whomever chooses her. Other PHF members to watch in the first half of the draft include Elizabeth Giguere, Kali Flanagan, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Corinne Schroeder, Taylor Girard, Jonna Albers, Brittany Howard, Jade Downie-Landry, Shiann Darkangelo, and Kaleigh Fratkin.

First Non-National Team PWHPA Player

The player who gets this honor might not be a current national team player, but they're likely to have national team experience. The leading candidates to grab this honor include players like Victoria Bach and Hannah Brandt. Both have significant national team experience, and if Bach's performance at Canada's national team camp in the week leading up to the draft is any indication, she could make a return to Team Canada. Other names to watch early include Jincy Dunne, Jill Saulnier, Rebecca Leslie, and Jessica DiGirolamo.

First Goalie

This choice will depend on how teams want to approach this situation. When one goalie is picked, it won't take long for other teams to grab their goalie. Nicole Hensley is the likely first goaltender to be chosen. New York and Minnesota will fight for her services, although with a goalie of her status, Toronto could also look to snag the goalie. Kristen Campbell and Emma Soderberg are the leading contenders to take the other starting roles, although Corinne Schroeder is making her case at Hockey Canada's camp and as the reigning PHF Goaltender of the Year, and future Hall of Famer Noora Raty is also on the market. Other goalies to watch in the draft, albeit in the later rounds, include Maddie Rooney, Amanda Leveille, Sandra Abstreiter, Cami Kronish, and Abbey Levy.