The PWHL is ready to drop the puck on the final games of the season. Playoff spots and the first overall pick are still on the line, and the time the league had off during the IIHF World Championships was used to continue working on items behind the scenes.
The PWHL is ready to drop the puck on the final games of the season. Playoff spots and the first overall pick are still on the line, and the time the league had off during the IIHF World Championships was used to continue working on items behind the scenes.
We're back! The PWHL season is about to jump into the final weeks of the year, with a lot on the line. The final playoff spot is not decided, although the top three look relatively safe, and Ottawa has put five points between themselves and Boston. The Gold Plan will kick in soon for New York or Boston, who will need the final game or two of the season to win the first overall pick in the draft. And we've now crossed the final international break of the season. Here's what we're hearing and seeing from across the PWHL.
Big Wave Of European Players Incoming
There was skepticism to start, but it looks like the bulk of Europe's available players will be heading to the PWHL immediately. That list has grown to include Finland's Noora Tulus, Ronja Savolainen, Sini Karjalainen, and Jenniina Nylund, Czechia's Daniela Pejsova, Klara Peslarova, and Noemi Neubauerova, Sweden's Anna Kjellbin, Maja Nylen Persson, and Michelle Lowenhielm, and other international players including Anna Meixner (Austria), Kayleigh Hamers (Netherlands), and Mathea Fischer (Norway). Sweden's Lina Ljungblom who was drafted last year is also on her way to the league. Similarly, it's expected North American players who have been in Europe including Lindsay Agnew and Anneke Linser, among others, are set to declare, and that European's playing in North America like Emma Bergesen and Klara Hymlarova will also stay on the continent. The IIHF World Championships was an opportunity to confirm this group. Beyond this season, it's expected players like Finland's Viivi Vainikka and Sweden's Hanna Olsson will also join the PWHL at the expiration of their contracts.
Regret On Three Year Contracts?
Speaking with staff (and players) across the PWHL, there's general consensus that the three-year guaranteed contracts mandated for the league's inaugural season in the CBA were a mistake that's going to become an issue for teams and players. Team officials feel handcuffed by the contracts, especially seeing players who are outperforming those on the three-year deals, recognizing many players have earned raises they just won't be able to provide, and acknowledging that many players in this year's draft cohort will not be eligible for better contracts despite their skill and impact. Of the more than 140 players who have appeared in a PWHL game this season, less than 40% were voting members of the PWHPA at the time of ratifying the eight year collective bargaining agreement that guides the working conditions for all players, which was noted by team officials. Four current players, all signed to guaranteed three-year deals negotiated the contract. PWHL team staff believe that the majority of players on three year contracts, particularly those making more than $110,000 will need to take pay cuts following the expiration of their deals in order to accommodate incoming talent and provide fair compensation to more players.
Popular Rule Could Go Global
Speaking with members of the IIHF Council, the world's governing body for ice hockey will test the PWHL's "jailbreak" rule in Europe next season in some aspect of women's hockey competition. The IIHF hopes to secure a more universal rulebook in the future, and although the "jailbreak" may remain a solely PWHL rule, the IIHF enjoys the rule and how it has been implemented in the PWHL this season, prompting further discussion and examination of the rule internationally.
We Won't Have Another Lina Ljungblom
Lina Ljungblom did nothing wrong declaring for the 2023 PWHL Draft, and PWHL Montreal did nothing wrong selecting the talented Swedish forward. That doesn't mean the PWHL and IIHF intend to see more players currently contracted by other nations drafted. It seems like a strange hill to fight for considering NHL teams regularly draft players from the KHL and SHL who have contracts. The issue is however, there is currently no formal transfer agreement in place, and no compensation structure from the PWHL with other top women's leagues, and the IIHF (and PWHL) don't want to see players jumping from league to league while under contract. To avoid this, the IIHF will involve their legal counsel to ensure that PWHL teams are not drafting players currently contracted by SDHL, SWHL, EWHL, Naisten Liiga, or DFEL teams. This will likely take the form of a pre-draft screening by the IIHF of all players who have declared for the draft. While this is the IIHF's standpoint, we'll need to see how it plays out in practice. One name to watch is Sara Cajanova, who it was originally reported wanted to join the PWHL next season, but then announced a two-year contract with Brynas. Some teams may still build in out clauses in European leagues, but most European GMs have said they will not offer these provisions. Conversely, this information has not been communicated by the PWHL to agents, many of whom have already started negotiating contracts with European teams for players.
Are there any lingering injuries from the World Championships?
The biggest PWHL impact could be in the form of the league's fourth leading scorer, Katerina Mrazova. Mrazova received plasma injections to help speed recovery after a collision in a pre-tournament game kept her sidelined for the duration of the tournament, but it wasn't enough to get her back in the lineup. Carla MacLeod, head coach of both Czechia and PWHL Ottawa said Mrazova was being monitored and an "abundance of caution" was being taken for her recovery. No other PWHL player left the tournament without returning, but there were moments that looked like they could impact players even if it was in wear and tear, like Kendall Coyne Schofield's semi-final crash into the end boards that sent her to the locker room before she returned.
Aurard, Baker, Schafzahl Headed To Worlds
According to France and Hungary's national team rosters for the upcoming IIHF Division IA World Championships, PWHL New York will be losing a pair of players for at least three of their final five games. Defender Taylor Baker is listed on Hungary's national team roster, while Chloe Aurard is listed on France's roster. Austria's Theresa Schafzahl, who plays for PWHL Boston, will stay also attend the tournament, although she may miss the opening game. Next year when the tournaments run synchronously, this issue will no longer exist.