PWHL Draft Rankings: Top 36 Coming Into View

The 2024 PWHL Draft will be the first time teams can alter the shape of their rosters from outside the existing player pool. The list of impact players available is deep enough to make an immediate impact in the league. Here's a look.

With the NCAA and European leagues entering the postseason, the time to assess players is rapidly shrinking. The NCAA Frozen Four in New Hampshire from March from March 22-24 and the World Championships in Utica this April will be hotbeds for PWHL staff to finalize their draft boards. Across the league, there will certainly be different approaches this season, but speaking with general managers across the league, there's a belief there may only be 24-36 players across the world who can step into the PWHL immediately. Who those players are however, remains a question as some, like Petra Nieminen, have re-signed in Europe, and others, like Lara Stalder are committed to the growth of the sport in their home nations. Other players not planning to come to North America next season, unless something drastic changes include Andrea Braendli, Haruka Toko, Sara Hjalmarsson, and Anna Shibanova. 

Speaking with European players to begin measuring interest, our draft board has changed. It's not just "best available," it's best available blended with "most likely to come" to North America. We also partnered up with PWHL Report this go around.

Here's a look at The Hockey News' 2024 PWHL Draft February Rankings:

1. Sarah Fillier, C, Princeton, NCAA (2000, Canada)
Her performance internationally has set Fillier in a class of her own. She'll be an instant addition to a top line in the PWHL. She can score in a variety of ways utilizing a strong shot and seems to always find space. Fillier is never shy to take the puck to the middle of the ice.

2. Hannah Bilka, LW, Ohio State, NCAA (2001, USA)
Bilka has been one of USA's most consistent threats and play drivers at recent international competition. She already plays like a veteran, but with the energy of a rookie. An intelligent player, Bilka is no straight line player, using her crossover and edges to change the angle of attack and evade defenders. She's equal parts playmaker and scorer, flashing her hands and creativity at will. There's a chance to goes #1.

3. Cayla Barnes, D, Ohio State, NCAA (1999, USA)
In a defensively starved league, Cayla Barnes will be a hot commodity. She can play a shutdown role using her on ice tenacity and sky high compete level. Barnes also has considerable offensive upside and isn't shy to use her shot from the point, or to find lanes to slide into as an extra attacker. She's on the smaller side, but plays physical, and is hard to push off a puck.

4. Danielle Serdachny, C, Colgate (2001, Canada)
Returning to Canada's national team lineup in the December Rivalry Series, Serdachny looked great, driving play for Canada. led the NCAA in scoring last year and sits among the top five in scoring again this year. She's most adept as a playmaker, but can also finish utilizing her frame to help protect pucks and drive the net.

5. Maja Nylén Persson, D, Brynas, SDHL (2000, Sweden)
"If" Nylén Persson wants to come to North America next season, and it's still an "if", she'll be a player teams will scramble to select. She's got years of professional experience in the SDHL under her belt, producing at or above a point per game for Brynas. She also emerged as Sweden's top puck transporter and a power play threat for the nation at the World Championships. She has the potential to emerge as one of the top defenders in the league in short order. Unlike many other top end players however, she's made no indication of her intent, so she could disappear from this list altogether by the spring.

6. Noora Tulus, F, Lulea, SDHL (1995, Finland)
A member of Finland's top line, Tulus continues to show she's one of the world's most dangerous offensive forwards. She's allusive with the puck, utilizing good feet and hands to create separation. She can do it all in tight spaces, and along with a pinpoint shot, she is a talented playmaker, and dangerous on the power play. Tulus' passing skills are all-world. She's planning to join the PWHL, and will be a player every team wants.

7. Ronja Savolainen, D, Lulea, SDHL (1997, Finland)
Savolainen is big, can contribute offensively, and has a world of international experience with Finland. She has a cannon of a shot and given space loves to not only jump into the rush, but at times lead it. At 26, she's in her prime, and the 5-foot-10 left shot blueliner has already expressed her interest in playing in the PWHL. The opportunity to add a defender who is ready to contribute in all situations doesn't come around often.

8. Julia Gosling, C, St. Lawrence, NCAA (2001, Canada)
Big and powerful with a penchant for scoring. That's an accurate description for Gosling, who looks poised to grab a spot on Canada's national team. As a net front presence, and in puck battles, few are as effective as Gosling. She could become the next version of Natalie Spooner for Canada and in the PWHL.

9. Daniela Pejsova, D, Lulea, SDHL (2002, Czechia)
Pejsova hasn't produced like she usually does this season, but plays beyond her years, and has fine tuned her game with Europe's best team. A strong puck mover, Pejsova is a modern blueliner, and given the Czech influence on the league already, Pejsova will likely feel the North American pull. She's expressed interest in the PWHL, and at only 21, she will certainly get better and better in the league.

10. Michaela Pejzlova, C, HIFK, Naisten Liiga (1997, Czechia)
A larger wave of Czech players will certainly be headed to North America including Pejzlova at some point. She's one of the few European players who have yet to declare her intent, which slid her down our list a bit. Pejzlova has lit Naisten Liiga on fire in recent seasons, but the Finnish league is weaker than the NCAA or USports hockey. Still, she scores at will, and has been able to transfer that play to international competition with Czechia. There will be an adaptation to the depth of the PWHL, but given her skill set, it shouldn't take long for Pejzlova to find her way into a scoring role.

11. Elisa Holopainen, F, KalPa, Naisten Liiga (2001, Finland)
The 21-year-old is one of the best young players in the world, and should be a talent the PWHL focuses their recruitment efforts on. It sounds as though Holopainen has interest in the PWHL, whether it's next year or in the near future. Similar to Pejzlova, Holopainen is just too good to stay in Naisten Liiga. At 21, any PWHL team that takes her can expect that the best is still ye to come. Holopainen sees the ice well, and loves to have the puck on her stick. If she choose to come, there will be a market for the talented Finn.

12. Britta Curl, LW, Wisconsin, NCAA (2000, USA)
Curl opened her final NCAA season on a tear, and was one of the most visible players for USA in the Rivalry Series openers. The puck seems to find her, and when it doesn't, Curl can be found in hot pursuit. It will be interesting to see how the league deals with Curl's support for transphobic messaging as it will significantly isolate a large number of fans, and risk a public relations nightmare for the league. She can certainly play, and would be an excellent on-ice addition to a middle six in the league, with the potential to develop into a top six mainstay as early as next season.

13. Anna Meixner, F, Brynas, SDHL (1994, Austria)
The reigning SDHL MVP battled injuries early this season, but upon her return, would fit into any PWHL team's middle six with the ability to contribute on and off the puck. She again was injured at the end of the campaign, but it's not been a trend in her career, so it likely won't stop PWHL teams from pursuing the quick and intelligent forward. Meixner has stated her interest in exploring the North America route. The Austrian captain is on the small side, but has separation speed and great edges.

14. Allyson Simpson, RD, Colgate, NCAA (2000, USA)
If you're looking for a solid two-way contributor on the back end, Simpson could be it, and she'll be coming for someone's job in the PWHL next year. A steady force on Colgate's blueline, Simpson can defend with the best of them, and finds ways to contribute offensively, without the risk. She got the call to the December Rivalry Series and did not look out of place among the best players on the planet.

15. Izzy Daniel, RW, Cornell, NCAA (2001, USA)
A Patty Kazmaier favorite, Daniel is scoring at will in the NCAA, but hasn't received any love from USA Hockey in her career. Great puck skills and slippery under pressure, Daniel sees the ice well. In fact sometimes when she's playmaking she looks like she's got eyes in the back of her head.

16. Jennifer Gardiner, LW, Ohio State, NCAA (2001, Canada)
One thing that has set Gardiner apart in the first half of this season is her ability to step up in big games. Facing top teams, Gardiner is at her best using her game breaking abilities.

17. Klara Peslarova, G, Brynas, SDHL (1996, Czechia)
A lot of teams will be taking a long look at their crease as the best goaltender in the world outside the PWHL has made it clear she wants to play in North America. In 2022, Peslarova was named a tournament All-Star at the World Championships...and Olympics...and was the SDHL goalie of the year. She's Czechia's starter, a former Best Goaltender at the U-18 World Championships, and the list could go on and on. Aside 3-4 goalies in the league, no one's job is safe. There's a legitimate chance she goes higher if a team wants a 1A / 1B situation.

18. Anna Wilgren, LD, Wisconsin, NCAA (1999, USA)
Wilgren is a good decision maker on the ice and has bobbed in and out of USA's national program. Healthy again after playing only 19 games over the last three years, Wilgren is on an upward arc. A full season and a strong performance at the Rivalry Series will do wonders for her draft stock, because there's still risk with her selection until she proves she can withstand the grind.

19. Casey O'Brien, C, Wisconsin, NCAA (2001, USA)
She's a player who has displayed flashes of offensive brilliance across her career and is regarded as a prospect for USA's senior national team. Once of the most consistent scorers in the NCAA over the past three years, PWHL teams will be interested to see how high O'Brien can climb in their lineup. She's not the biggest player, and will need to double down on the defensive side of the puck, but the potential is all there.

20. Elle Hartje, F, Yale, NCAA (2001, USA)
An intelligent forward who's good in the face-off circle, Hartje is a bit of a sleeper in terms of hype as she's not a regular in discussion for Team USA, but perhaps she should be. Hartje plays an smart two-way game, distributes pucks well, and sees lanes. She's been the driver of a Yale program that's been strong in recent seasons and is the type of player who could flourish professionally.

21. Gwyneth Philips, G, Northeastern, NCAA (2000, USA)
The reigning NCAA Goaltender of the Year, and a finalist again this year, what Philips lacks in size she makes up for with quickness and working her angles. With Peslarova and Braendli choosing to stay in Europe, options for an upgrade in net are limited, and Philips is the best of the bunch. Expect Toronto to take a run at Philips.

22. Megan Carter, D, Northeastern, NCAA (2001, Canada)
Carter has been the backbone of Northeastern, and following the loss of their front line talent to the PWHL this season, if not for Carter, things could be a lot worse for the Huskies. She's a steady defender who isn't going to score many, but more importantly, she's not going to cost her team anything as she defends the rush well and has strong d-zone positioning.

23. Stephanie Markowski, LD, Ohio State, NCAA (2001, Canada)
Markowski knows when to pick her spots to jump into the offense, but never at the expense of her own zone. She gets pucks through traffic, and is a solid distributor. Perhaps one of the more underlooked blueliners in Canada's national system.

24. Sini Karjalainen, D, Brynas, SDHL (1999, Finland)
Karjalainen's offense dropped off this year from her NCAA career, but she's still one of the best puck moving blueliners, who brings good size, outside North America. Karjalainen has played important minutes in Brynas this year, which for a defender is always important to development. She should fit well in a 4-5 role next season in the league, and has expressed interest in exploring this route.

25. Klara Hymlarova, F, St. Cloud State, NCAA (1999, Czechia)
Hymlarova brings the traits many who have played under Carla MacLeod for Team Czechia bring: solid two-way contributions, responsible in her own zone, and a high compete level. She's a bottom or middle six player to start, but has upside and can be an upgrade for teams.

26. Jenniina Nylund, F, Brynas, SDHL (1999, Finland)
Nylund could be playing in the PWHL right now. Nylund has been one of the more consistent scorers of the last year from the NCAA, to the World Championships, and now more than a point per game in the SDHL. She's turning into one of Finland's better contributors internationally, and should draw interest to bolster a middle or bottom six in the league.

27. Anneke Linser, F, Djurgardens, SDHL (1999, USA)
Linser could have made a PWHL team this season as a bottom line or reserve player like others in her situation did. Instead, she chose to go to Sweden and has played top line minutes all season, contributing in all situations as Djurgarden's best player. She's set herself up to not just squeak onto a bottom line, but challenge for middle six minutes next year from day one.

28. Skylar Fontaine, D, ZSC Lions, SWHL (1998, USA) 
In terms of positional needs, defenders will be coveted in this coming draft. There are several defenders who could steal immediate playing time, and Fontaine is one. Fontaine can play in the league, but there's significant doubt around her intent to leave Switzerland, which is why she sits as low on this list as she does. She was a star at Northeastern, being named Hockey East's Defender of the Year three times, and earning two Patty Kazmaier nominations. Last year she was the SWHL's Best Defender. 

29. Lindsay Agnew, D, Frolunda, SDHL (1998, Canada)
At only 25, it's strange to think Agnew is already in her fourth full season of professional hockey spending three in the SDHL and one with the KRS Vanke Rays. At the NCAA level Agnew captained Boston College, and she was also Canada's captain at the U-18 World Championships. It's a nod to her leadership and team mentality that will be welcomed.

30. Noemi Neubauerova, F, Brynas, SDHL (1999, Czechia) - No one should expect Neubauerova to walk in and light up the PWHL next year, but she's got good hands, competes hard, and would be a welcomed addition to a bottom six who can still provide secondary scoring, and will provide depth punch that will continue to drive momentum. 

31. Mae Batherson, RD, St. Lawrence, NCAA (2000, Canada)
One of the top defenders available in this draft, Batherson could go much higher. A First Team CHA member last season, Batherson hasn't received a lot of attention from Canada, but that could change once she arrives in the PWHL.

32. Madeline Wethington, D, Minnesota, NCAA (2000, USA)
Wethington has put in five solid years at Minnesota, and it would not be surprising to see Natalie Darwitz take a look at keeping her in the State of Hockey. She won three U-18 World Championship gold medals for USA, and contributes at both ends for the Golden Gophers.

33. Rylind MacKinnon, D, British Columbia, USports (2000, Canada)
Sleeping on MacKinnon as a USports athlete would be a mistake. In fact, if teams have watched her enough, she could jump ten spots forward on this list. MacKinnon is big, and uses her reach and range effectively. She's also a good skater for her size and can produce offensively. At Canada's Fall Selection camp, MacKinnon did not look out of place, and at times outperformed some of Canada's more highly touted prospects. The "steal" potential in MacKinnon is huge.

34. Sydney Bard, RD, Colgate, NCAA (2001, USA)
An excellent puck mover, Bard is an undersized defender who moves the puck well and has been one of the best defenders in the ECAC for years. She should challenge for playing time on a bottom pairing immediately with potential to work her way up.

35. Alexie Guay, D, Clarkson, NCAA (2001, Canada)
A two-time U-18 World Championship All-Star, and tournament Best Defender in 2019, many thought Guay might be playing for Canada's senior national team by now. It hasn't happened, but the dynamic skill set that existed then, is still present now. She might require some seasoning, but Clarkson is known for producing elite blueliners, and Guay fits that mold. 

36. Shae Demale,, F, SDE, SDHL (2000, Canada)
Demale has a cannon of a shot and is leading SDE in scoring. To call her a surprise would be false, but players coming from USports continue to be undervalued in women's hockey despite the success we're seeing from these players in the PWHL and abroad. An All-Canadian last season, Demale has transitioned well to Sweden and could be a welcomed under the radar signing for a team.

Players To Watch

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