Perfect Pairings: Placing The Top 10 Prospects Alongside Their Perfect PWHL Pairing

Like the perfect wine and cheese, or beer and bratwurst, sometimes things are just better together. Looking at the upcoming PWHL Draft, it's not only a thought of skill and positional need, but it's also a consideration of how each player selected will fit into the style and culture of a team. In some circumstances we've already seen those connections. In others, we can only predict how it will play out. Here's a look at some pairing we already know go perfectly together, and others that look like they'd be a match made in heaven between PWHL Draft prospects, and players already in the league.

Flash back to Rivalry Series games, and USA's 2023 World Championship gold medal winning team and the combination of Megan Keller and Cayla Barnes on USA's blueline was formidable. The duo balanced each other out, physically pushed play, and quite simply made each other better. After Boston traded Sophie Jaques away, they'll be looking for another top end blueliner to step in, and this is a match the hockey world knows works.

Like a pair of magicians at a kids party, this duo would leave the crowd saying "wow" and wondering how they just did what they did. Heise and Bilka played on a line at the 2023 World Championships, and their creativity, skating, and styles were a match. It's difficult to find players who can not only think at the pace Heise and Bilka do, but then who can execute those thoughts. This duo would be almost impossible to defend as they weave through the zones, break away with speed, and react to defenders driving seams and creating.

Pejsova could compliment a dozen players in this league, but we know there's chemistry and comfort between the 21-year-old blueliner and her Czechia captain Aneta Tejralova. In terms of mentorship, and combining a pair of players who have lined up beside each other often on the international stage, it's a perfect opportunity for Pejsova to enter the league with comfort and confidence. 

The line of Julia Gosling, Kristin O'Neill, and Danielle Serdachny was regularly Canada's best at the 2024 World Championships. O'Neill thrived after struggling offensively in the PWHL, and it jumpstarted the finish of her year. Gosling and Serdachny were integral in that, pairing their size and willingness to get to the net with O'Neill's pace driving, puck possession. It was a fantastic line, and although it's highly unlikely Montreal gets both of these players, they could conceivably get one.

Thompson and Ambrose were partners at the 2023 World Championships, Thompson's last real game action before a long hiatus she's looking to end. Thompson, who spent most of her life playing center, is a free skating defender who likes to join the rush. There's a need for someone who can play the responsible side of a pairing like that, and Erin Ambrose is a perfect match in the fact she can be that defender who handles the defensive side, but can also control possession along the offensive blueline at regular strength and on the PP beside a player like Thompson. For similar reasons, Ronja Savolainen would also make a nice partner alongside Ambrose. She likes to activate into the rush, but also would add some snarl and is capable enough in her own end to trade off opportunities with Ambrose. It's highly likely Montreal selects one of these two in the opening round.

You might think these two roles should be reversed where Kessel is the player on the roster and the younger Roque is the pick, but Kessel took a year off and is coming back for the second season of the PWHL. The duo were part of USA's top line at the 2023 World Championships, and the played off each other well. By bringing in Kessel, likely at 7th overall, to play alongside Roque, it would give New York two legitimate scoring lines, especially if Sarah Fillier goes first overall. At the Olympics, there were times when Roque, Kessel, and Alex Carpenter formed a line, and it could be reunited in New York.

In a perfect world, Daryl Watts keeps her spot on the opposite wing to Brianne Jenner with Katerina Mrazova down the middle. If Watts walks and Fillier doesn't go first to New York (those are a couple of big ifs), Filllier and Jenner have plenty of national team experience playing on the same line. They won't have Marie-Philip Poulin down the middle, but they are certainly a pairing who can feed off each other and will cause defensive systems to spread themselves thin. 

Boston simply does not have enough speed up front, and no matter what way you slice it, they also didn't have enough speed down the middle. In particular the pairing of Hannah Brandt and Hilary Knight struggled with the pace at times. Both however, are highly capable players, with the right combination, a factor Boston couldn't find for Knight all season. Noora Tulus has speed to burn, and can be relentless in pursuit of the puck. It's playing alongside players like Tulus internationally where Knight has thrived. Tulus has great separation speed and would be happy to be the playmaker of any line, and clean up the leftovers. It would not be surprising to see Boston swing for Tulus in round two, especially with fellow Finn Susanna Tapani also in the lineup.