The 2025 PWHL Draft order is set with the original six teams picking first, followed by PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle.
The draft order features New York picking first, followed by Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Minnesota, Vancouver, and Seattle. Following the expansion process, PWHL teams across the league found themselves with positional needs which could also how selections go in the opening rounds.
With a talent laden group at the top of the 2025 PWHL Draft, here's how the first two rounds of PWHL selections could play out. You can also view The Hockey News' final PWHL Draft rankings here.
1. New York Sirens - Kristyna Kaltounkova
The powerful forward is not only a pure goal scorer, but she's also a two-way force who plays with an edge. Alongside Sarah Fillier, Kaltounkova will give New York a one-two punch that could form the foundation of the franchise for years to come. After losing Carpenter and Eldridge up front, Kaltounkova is the logical pick for New York, especially given the fact she's comfortable with her former coach Greg Fargo at the helm.
2. Boston Fleet - Haley Winn
Boston general manager Danielle Marmer said it in her regular season exit meeting: her team's biggest need was a puck moving defender. After losing Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka, that may have changed, but Winn is too good to pass up. Not only that, Winn will make every forward in front of her better and is capable of generating a chunk of offense herself. The Clarkson grad and Team USA stalwart will give Fleet fans hope after seeing the heart of their team ripped out in expansion.
3. Toronto Sceptres - Nicole Gosling
Truthfully, the Toronto Sceptres need more help up front than they do on the blueline, but the ties between Toronto's staff and Team Canada members has been tight from the beginning. There were fractures in this belief this season which could start to see Toronto shift away from past and present national team members as their core. Gosling is a two-way force who plays steady minutes. If Toronto can keep Kali Flanagan, this pick might flip to be Casey O'Brien. After losing Julia Gosling in expansion, Toronto could bring in her cousin in round one.
4. Montreal Victoire - Casey O'Brien
If you thought Jennifer Gardiner was dangerous with Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, Casey O'Brien would be downright lethal. O'Brien topped the NCAA in scoring this season by a mile and creates offense in a variety of ways. Montreal needs scoring help. They also need defenders. It's a coin flip here, but if O'Brien remains on the board, she'll be hard for any team to pass on.
5. Ottawa Charge - Rory Guilday
It might feel like Natalie Mlynkova is the pick here given Ottawa's ties to players from Czechia, but they need help on their blueline. If Ottawa can make a trade leading up to the draft, or ink a significant blueliner, Mlynkova might still be the pick, otherwise Guilday fits Ottawa's plans in a lot of ways. She's big and will make this team more difficult to play against. Guilday is like a "Lee Stecklein-lite" and we all saw how valuable Stecklein was in playoffs.
6. Minnesota Frost - Natalie Mlynkova
Like many teams, the Frost need blueline help, so if any of the top three defenders remains available, they'll be the pick here for the Frost. Otherwise, grabbing Mlynkova who played for the University of Minnesota last season would be a big addition rounding out Minnesota's top six, which is the best remaining group of the PWHL's original six. Her two-way game and puck skills would fit right in, especially if Minnesota needs to replace Michela Cava.
7. PWHL Vancouver - Anne Cherkowski
Why not grab a talented home grown British Columbia product with a strong two-way game and top six potential. It also would not be surprising to see Vancouver reach here for Michelle Karvinen to bring in a veteran up front. Cherkowski feels like a fit however given the group Vancouver has already assembled, and assuming they'll add 1-2 more forwards in free agency.
8. PWHL Seattle - Kendall Cooper
The Quinnipiac connection feels too right to pass on for Meghan Turner. Cooper is a skilled two-way defender who likes to join the rush and plays with an edge. They have a strong defensive group already and Cooper would complete their group allowing Seattle to turn their focus to forwards and perhaps another goalie as the rounds go on.
9. New York Sirens - Michelle Karvinen
There's no better scenario for the Sirens than getting Kaltounkova and Karvinen. Karvinen would be a logical linemate for Noora Tulus and the two could be a surprisingly good tandem. She's an older player, but what we've seen in the PWHL is that you can't look beyond the two year window where own a draft picks rights. Plus her age would make her less of a target in future expansion. She's also the type of positive leader New York wants.
10. Boston Fleet - Jenna Buglioni
It's a tough ask to replace the forwards Boston lost, but Buglioni has a ton of positive attributes on both sides of the puck, and comes with a winning resume from Ohio State.
11. Toronto Sceptres - Ella Huber
Toronto needs offensive talent and Huber can bring that. She has ties to Toronto and would bring speed, hockey sense, and two-way awareness to the Sceptres.
12. Montreal Victoire - Nina Jobst-Smith
In the first positional reach, Nina Jobst-Smith is a defender who could help replace the lost talent on Montreal's backend, and who has enough upside to play a top four role in Montreal. They might be able to find a blueliner later, but Montreal needs help here, and Jobst-Smith is the best option, and feels like the type of bold pick Montreal would make, and look good for later
13. Ottawa Charge - Sara Hjalmarsson
It's perhaps another reach, but stylistically, Hjalmarsson is exactly what the doctor ordered in Ottawa, especially if the team loses Shiann Darkangelo. She's big, physical, and loves to play a net front role. She'll make Ottawa harder to play against in tight checking games.
14. Minnesota Frost - Vita Ponyatovskaya
Given the premium on defenders, teams will need to continue to pick blueliners earlier than they'd likely go based on the talent available up front. Losing Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques, Minnesota might be intrigued by the offensive upside of Ponyatovskaya. She's a mobile puck mover who can lift you from your seat.
15. PWHL Seattle - Kiara Zanon
It's robbery to believe Seattle can continue to stock up on offensive riches, but if Zanon is still on the board, the Ohio State forward has outstanding analytics, and should be able to make Seattle's third line threatening. Has experience with USA's collegiate select team and in the Rivalry Series.
16. PWHL Vancouver - Abby Hustler
Top six forwards? If Vancouver takes enough cracks at them, they'll find their answers, and Abby Hustler is an understated player in this draft who could come with a huge return. It would not be surprising to see these picks flip and Hustler go to Seattle to re-unite her with Julia Gosling, as the duo were a nearly unstoppable pair at St. Lawrence. If not, Vancouver could add the powerful forward to their second or third line.