If the movement already witnessed to the PHF this offseason is any indication, next season could prove monumental as the contracts of Europe's top players begin to expire.
If the movement already witnessed to the PHF this offseason is any indication, next season could prove monumental as the contracts of Europe's top players begin to expire.
When the PHF announced their salary cap increase, and watched an influx of young NCAA talent sign with the league, one group was left out: Europeans.
The main reason is that most of the SDHL's top players were signed through next season, and some through the season beyond. When the upcoming campaign ends however, the floodgates of talent who can come to North America will begin to open. In terms of creating the top worldwide league, this could be the final step in the process.
Luleå has been the top team in Europe in recent seasons, but following next season, many of Luleå's stars will have a decision to make. With Finnish legends in Noora Räty and Susanna Tapani guiding the way to the PHF, Finnish standouts including Noora Tulus and Ronja Savolainen could be prime targets from Luleå. The PHF has already become the primary league for Czechia's national team, so it will be interesting to see if Czechia's top young defender Daniela Pejsova follows her teammates to North America. Luleå also features top Swedish players Anna Kjellbin, Emma Nordin, and Lisa Johansson, all who are about to begin the final season of their contracts.
While Luleå's 2023-2024 expiring contracts are impressive, the trio of Petra Nieminen, Viivi Vainikka, and Jenni Hiirikoski, three of the best Finnish players in the world, are all under contract through 2024-2025. There will be a draw for players to stay and play alongside this trio, particularly Hiirikoski who will be 38 when her contract is finished. Vainikka and Nieminen would be game changers for any North American league, as would Hiirikoski, although her playing future will certainly be in question when her contract is up.
Moving to the SDHL's runner up from the past two seasons, Brynäs, with Austria's Theresa Schafzahl signing in Montreal this year out of the NCAA, Anna Meixner, who was named the SDHL's MVP this season is a candidate to join her Austrian national program teammate. Klára Peslarová is one of the top netminders in the world, and as another Czech player, the path is paved for her to join her national teammates in the PHF. The same could be said for Sara Cajanova. Two players many thought would sign in the PHF this season coming out of the NCAA, Jenniina Nyland and Sini Karjalainen, both signed one-year contracts with Brynäs but will again be free agents following this season. A pair of Swedes round out Brynäs group of expiring contracts in Maja Nylen Persson and Hanna Thuvik.
Other players across the league likely to draw North American interest include a group of North American's in Nara Elia (Linkoping), Brooke Hobson (MoDo), Lindsay Agnew (Frolunda), and Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout (Frolunda). In past seasons, these players have either participated with the Canadian national program, or been at selection camps.
Lina Ljungblom who had a spectacular women's World Championship is another player to watch on an expiring contract with MoDo.
Following the 2024-2025 season, if would not be surprising to see one or both of Michelle Karvinen and Hanna Olsson (Frolunda) look to North America.
As the PHF's international content continues to grow, the league continues to get stronger at the top, and deeper.
Following next season, that process will accelerate as more European players complete their current contracts.