Like any draft, the conversation revolves around the biggest names. Heading into the 2025 PWHL Draft this conversation has revolved around Kristyna Kaltounkova, Casey O'Brien, Michelle Karvinen, Natalie Mlynkova, Haley Winn, Nicole Gosling, and Rory Guilday. Others have come into that conversation, whether it's the top goalies in the draft like Sanni Ahola and Hannah Murphy, or Russia's top player Anna Shokhina who declared this year.

Throughout the draft however, there's another group of lesser known players who will soon become the hidden gems that make a day one impact. For many of these players, it's the stylistic fit to the league that will take them out of the shadows and make them some of the most appreciated additions to the league and their new teams. Here's a look at some of the potential "hidden gems" among the lesser talked about incoming players.

Emma Gentry, F, St. Cloud State

Emma Gentry could turn into a PWHL force. She's big, standing 5-foot-11, she moves well, and she plays a powerful game. Her puck possession skills and physicality will help her succeed, and her ability to get to the net front will result in offense. While Gentry might start in a depth role, for teams looking for an immediate impact to their roster, whether it's a team like Ottawa or New York, finding Gentry higher in the draft could become a priority. Dayle Ross is another St. Cloud player who fits this idea. Tough, wins puck battles, simplifies the game, good skater, and strong on her feet.

Maddy Samoskevich, F, Quinnipiac

Maddy Samoskevich has a great 200-foot game. It probably comes in part from being transitioned from defence to centre this year, but Samoskevich shows a high hockey IQ and on ice awareness that makes her value supersede the scoresheet. Samoskevich knows where to be on the ice, and she's fearless in taking the puck to the middle of the ice. A great motor that as a bottom six forward will serve her well, but Samoskevich can also impact the game in the face-off dot, along the walls, and in forcing momentum shifts with her energy.

Laura Fuoco, F, Dartmouth

It's unclear whether Laura Fuoco will hear her name called in the 2025 PWHL Draft of not, but if she doesn't, teams looking for depth with upside should be making the call and making their offers soon after. The 5-foot-11 Fuoco is another player with size and character. Coming from a weaker Dartmouth program, Fuoco's offensive numbers don't reflect what she brings fully. Her power and drive, including a willingness to go straight to the net and straight through anyone who gets in her way, should make Fuoco a standout in a bottom six. If you look back in history, there's another notable Dartmouth alumni in the PWHL who never hit a point per game in the NCAA, and Laura Stacey has done ok for herself since. 

Mackenzie Kordic, F, British Columbia

Not much has been said about U Sports players heading into this draft. There's a few, like Leah Herrfort and Chanreet Bassi who have rightfully earned attention, and Mackenzie Kordic sits in that grouping as well. Playing with a mean streak, the 5-foot-11 forward would make any fourth line more imposing. She is hard on pucks, wins battles, separates players well, and is difficult to handle down low on the cycle along the boards. There will be an adaptation, particularly as Kordic catches up on the foot speed of the PWHL, but she has intangibles you can't coax out of others, and in a league where the physical grind gets tighter as the year goes on, she has value.