The 2024 World Championships was the first ever international event featuring the world's best players that also doubled as a scouting event for the PWHL. Here's a look at the 2024 PWHL Draft prospects who helped and hurt their stock.
The 2024 World Championships was the first ever international event featuring the world's best players that also doubled as a scouting event for the PWHL. Here's a look at the 2024 PWHL Draft prospects who helped and hurt their stock.
The IIHF World Championships remain the top showcase for international talent, but with more interest than ever in the PWHL among European players, the Worlds may turn into a larger and larger scouting event each year. This year, representatives from every PWHL team were in the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York watching potential players for the 2024 PWHL Draft. Some have stood out and boosted their draft stock, while others haven't done much to help their case. Here's a look.
PWHL Draft Risers
Daniela Pejsova, D, Czechia - Probably no player has stood out more in terms of the value she'll bring to a PWHL team in this tournament than Pejsova. She's big, plays physical, and is a great skater. She's been matched up against USA and Canada's top lines and handled herself well against the best of the best, leading Czechia in ice time playing 23:12 a night. Pejsova can contribute offensively, but it's her ability to take care of her own zone, and quickly move pucks up and out of her zone that stand out. At 21-years-old, there's also the bet she's still getting better. Looks like a first round pick, and anything after that will become debate for draft day steals in the future.
Sara Cajanova, D, Czechia - Until this tournament, Cajanova wasn't on many radars, partly because it was not known she planned to declare, and second because the focus from Czechia was on other players...but that's all changed now. Cajanova intends to declare for the PWHL Draft, and the smooth, almost effortless skater looks like a sneaky under the radar pick who is quickly putting herself on the radar. She trailed on Pejsova in time on ice for Czechia playing 22:49 per game. She's not flashy, but also has offensive potential which she showed with Brynas in the SDHL this season. At 21-years-old like Pejsova, she's a defender teams will grab knowing the her upside is only beginning to show.
Klara Hymlarova, F, Czechia - She saw time on Czechia's top line as a center, takes reps on the wing, and at St. Cloud State this season spent five months on the blueline. With no prospect pools, a player like Hymlarova is enticing to any PWHL team for her versatility. She can score, but is also a responsible two-way player, and she's beloved by her teammates as a positive presence on and off the ice.
Laura Kluge, F, Germany - There's no word if she will declare for the draft, but Laura Kluge looks like a player who could steal a roster spot in the PWHL. She's a big forward who is good on draws, wins 50/50 battles, and is responsible in her own zone. Some teams in the PWHL look monotone in their forward groups this year without players who can adapt to being moved down the lineup. Kluge would be a dream third or fourth line center for a team looking to change the look of their roster.
PWHL Draft Fallers
Britta Curl, F, USA - Curl didn't do damage to her draft position, but instead perhaps gave more clarity on the type of role she'll fit into in the PWHL. At no point in the tournament has Curl looked like a player who will come into the PWHL and contribute on a top line, at least not immediately. What she looks like is a perfect checking line winger who will make teams harder to play against. Question marks remain on how her open transphobic online activity will impact her draft positioning, but it's a point teams are considering.
Jenniina Nylund, F, Finland - Nylund, like Curl, will be drafted, and she will make an impact in the PWHL. But it now looks like it could be in more of a depth role if her best-on-best play at Worlds is an indication. Nylund looked better among Finland's top players, but hasn't been able to repeat her offensive output like she did last year against weaker competition in Group B. She saw her role with Finland diminish throughout the tournament and didn't register a point, while sitting tied for second worst on Finland at -5, trailing only Jenni Hiirikoski who was tasked with top lines all tournament.
Noemi Neubauerova, F, Czechia - Like the above, it's not as much a hit to Neubauerova's play as it is that teams looking for scoring will probably pass on Neubaueova until later rounds. She remains a fantastic prospect in the middle to late rounds who will make teams harder to play against. She has a physical element and likes to engage with her body. As a third or fourth line player, Neubaeurova is going to be valuable, but she's not going to steal a spot in the first few rounds unless someone believes they have all the scoring they need and just want to get more abrasive lower in their lineup.
Holding Steady
Sarah Fillier, Hannah Bilka, and Noora Tulus didn't have significant offensive tournaments. Fillier and Tulus were threatening throughout, and Bilka showed her dazzle in puck possession, but the trio didn't step up and show the world they're untouchable in their draft order. All are certain top 12 picks, and all will be immediate impact players in the PWHL. Their 2024 World performances thus far have been neutral. Danielle Serdachny and Cayla Barnes may have helped themselves nominally. Both looked exactly as they should, with Serdachny showing more offensive upside than some of her more highly touted peers, and Barnes showcasing her all around impact. Klara Peslarova did all she needed to show teams she can handle the best shooters in the world and make the saves she should and some she shouldn't, while Ronja Savolainen played exactly as expected as a big, physical, offensively engaged defender. Similarly, Anna Kjellbin played a steadying game for Sweden that should entice a mid-late round selection to bolster a PWHL blueline.
Question Marks
Neither Maja Nylen Persson nor Michaela Pejzlova gave a hard no when asked about joining the PWHL next season. Neither, however, said it was in their plans either. Nylen Persson is the more likely of the two to declare, and should she make that decision, she will join the conversation for a top 10 position. Pejzlova would follow shortly behind, and both would immediately thrive in the PWHL.
Next Year Will Be Special
Next year the PWHL Draft will not only have a double cohort of fourth and fifth year players exiting the NCAA, but more European contracts will expire. From this tournament, Czechia's Natalie Mylnkova and Germany's Nina Jobst-Smith both took leaps and bounds forward in the eyes of scouts. As well, the veteran group of Viivi Vainikka, Hanna Olsson, Pejzlova, Nylen Persson, and Sara Hjalmarsson showed why the PWHL is only going to get better and better.