Five Potential Steals From The PWHL Draft

The top of the PWHL Draft was filled with the obvious contenders, but the bottom half of the draft has the potential to be where the real wins happened.

Every draft class has busts, and every draft class has late round steals. In the inaugural PWHL Draft. The most obvious scenario for a bust from this draft, would be a player choosing not to sign, which will have an immediate impact on the roster of a PWHL team this season.

And while each of the players drafted is expected to play next season, there's no guarantee once training camps open, and undrafted players can compete head-to-head with those selected in the inaugural draft. As the PWHL / PWHLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement states, even those signed before camp (apart from the six players on guaranteed three-year contracts) can be cut. As the CBA states, a teaam "may terminate a Player’s SPA prior to the end of its term because of the quality of the Player’s on-ice performance on or prior to the Roster Freeze Date in the applicable League Year, or as of the end of that League Year."

The real bust versus steal debate will begin midseason as we see the performance of early round picks and free agent signings compared to late round picks. 

Here's a look at a few early candidates selected in the second half of the PWHL Draft who could turn into draft day steals:

A lot of PHF love was give to Kennedy Marchment from the Connecticut Whale, but it's hard to overlook Girard when discussing Marchment, or vice versa. Girard uses her 5-foot-10 frame to her advantage, and plays a power forward game, but also with a lot of skill. She sees the ice well and is a real threat off the rush. She finished the PHF season tied for fourth in scoring and in 2022 was the PHF Newcomer of the Year. It's proven consistency that could earn her looks in the top six, and as a second powerplay unit feature as a net front presence. Playing with the elite offensive talents in Boston, Girard may again be overshadowed, but her value certainly will not be overlooked.

Downie-Landry was a professional rookie last season, but at 27, is already a mature player and it shows in her well rounded game. It's hard to point to a distinct weakness in Downie-Landry's game, and it's that versatility and attention to detail both on and off the puck that helped Downie-Landry not just transition to professional hockey last season in the PHF, but thrive leading Montreal in scoring with 23 points in 24 games. 

Long time Boston women's hockey fans had a pang of pain when Dempsey was selected by Montreal. The 32-year-old has spent her entire career in the city from Harvard, to the CWHL's Boston Blades, to the PHF's Boston Pride, the team she captained for six straight seasons. She's the NWHL / PHF's all-time leading scorer, and wherever she lands in Montreal's lineup, she will contribute. It would be interesting to see Kori Cheverie start her alongside the national team stars she signed and selected to see what kind of chemistry can be built, because Dempsey's skill set certainly holds up.

It's hard to predict how Miller's game will transfer to the PWHL season, as the PWHL Toronto selection enters her sixth professional season, but first in North America. Miller is a unique player, having two U-18 World Championship gold medals with Canada, and then last year helped China earn promotion at the World Championships being named the tournament's Best Forward in 2022. Miller has scored at every level, and could be a late round steal. She definitely won't be out of place in a bottom six role, but could surprise everyone by climbing into a scoring role with Toronto.

Lonergan is 40th all-time in NCAA scoring, and among the 10 players directly below her on that list include Loren Gabel, Grace Zumwinkle, Emma Maltais, Gabrielle Hughes, and Maureen Murphy. Every player listed there went significantly higher in the draft than Lonergan, but that's not to say the 26-year-old won't step into an equally impactful role. Lonergan had a strong rookie season with the PHF's Connecticut Whale last season, and could be poised for bigger things again this year. Given Ottawa's situation up front, Lonergan will get plenty of looks alongside other potential hidden gems like Daryl Watts and Audrey-Anne Veillette.