PWHL Boston Trades Up To Select Czechia's Daniela Pejsova 7th Overall

PWHL Boston traded up in the PWHL Draft to select Czech defender Daniela Pejsova 7th overall.

Daniela Pejsova will likely be the youngest player selected in the 2024 PWHL Draft, but she could also end up being the best defender in the draft. Her future will play out with Boston after they traded up to select her 7th overall.

The pick was originally slated to be PWHL New York's, but Boston traded up to select Pejsova.

The 21-year-old from Teplice, Czechia has won two bronze medals with Czechia at the World Championships, including being named the 2022 Best Defender and tournament All-Star. Her skill set stood out again this year in Czechia's fourth place finish.

“Challenges as the best skating defender in the draft," the PWHL's hockey operations department said of Pejsova. "A strong defender and steady contributor offensively, she transitions effectively with a pass or with her skating and handles physical play with ease.”

Pejsova has six seasons of experience in Sweden's SDHL playing against the best competition in Europe, including the last two with Lulea, considered the best team on the planet outside of North America. She won two straight SDHL titles with Lulea after leaving MoDo, where she spent the first four seasons of her SDHL career.

According to PWHL Ottawa head coach Carla MacLeod, who has coached Pejsova with Team Czechia, "She's a young defender, so she's still learning a ton, but you look at her physicality and strength it resonates in the game. She's got an incredible shot and she enjoys the offensive side of the game as well."