The inaugural PWHL season is a quarter of the way through. Here's a look at 15 rookies who have stepped up so far.
The inaugural PWHL season is a quarter of the way through. Here's a look at 15 rookies who have stepped up so far.
Coming into the PWHL season, the conversation surrounding rookies was almost exclusively restricted to Taylor Heise and Alina Muller. The duo has not disappointed, but there's a large group of rookies who have made an impact immediately. Here's a look at the PWHL's top rookies so far.
1. Alina Muller, Boston - There are only two players scoring more than a point per game in the tight scoring PWHL right now. One is New York's Alex Carpenter, the other is Alina Muller. Muller has two goals and nine points in six games this year, leading the league in points per game. On a Boston team that has at times struggled to score, Muller has been consistent. She's an elite playmaker who crosses lanes to make space for herself and open up space to find her teammates. In her last two games, Muller started shooting more, and found the back of the net twice.
2. Taylor Heise, Minnesota - Her highlight reel goals say it all, but her six points in eight games actually underrepresent Heise's impact for Minnesota. She commands immediate respect every time she's on the ice showcasing her speed and puck skills. Heise pushes defenders back, and when she gets space, Heise is dangerous.
3. Grace Zumwinkle, Minnesota - A bull with the puck, Zumwinkle loves to drive the net, scoring goals in the fashion of pure power forward. Zumwinkle currently leads the league in shots on net, and is tied with Marie-Philip Poulin for most goals.
4. Maureen Murphy, Montreal - Overlooked in this conversation, Maureen Murphy is quietly putting together a stellar season. Part of Northeastern's three-headed monster last season, Murphy is third in rookie scoring with seven points in six games. She's got excellent vision, and is improving exponentially as she continues to get reps alongside Marie-Philip Poulin
5. Lexie Adzija, Ottawa - Five points in six games, Adzija has made a name for herself in the league both on and off the ice. She's a big body who plays a powerful game on the rush, and wreaks havoc as a net front presence. Ottawa has received timely scoring and boosts of energy from Adzija.
6. Maggie Flaherty, Minnesota - She plays hard. Flaherty is a physical presence on Minnesota's back end, and is showing why GM Natalie Darwitz jumped at Flaherty as early as she did in the draft. She can help offensively as well, but in a league with a new level of physicality, Flaherty is punishing opponents.
7. Zoe Boyd, Ottawa - On a blueline with Savannah Harmon, Ashton Bell, Jincy Roese, and Aneta Tejralova, Boyd has worked her way into top four opportunities, and shown she can play alongside those teammates who've all spent time with their national teams. Boyd could get a look from Canada at some point given her ability to contend with top lines.
8. Emma Maltais, Toronto - She hasn't broke out offensively yet, but Maltais continues to drive play and bring energy to Toronto. She's played a physical game, generating chances and issues off the forecheck.
9. Ashton Bell, Ottawa - Bell is a gifted skater and puck handler. She is never afraid to join the rush or carry the puck herself. If she can find consistency in decision making with that puck, and not hold the puck as long at times, she'd become even more dominant. Bell has likely played her way back onto Team Canada with her PWHL play.
10. Gabbie Hughes, Ottawa - Hughes is a ball of energy on and off the ice for Ottawa. Hughes is highly competitive and thrives in the corners and in a net front role. She'll only get better as the season progresses.
11. Theresa Schafzahl, Boston - Schafzahl has performed in Boston, picking up timely goals, on a roster so loaded with offensive talent that few knew how much she'd play and what chances she'd get. Schafzahl can score.
12. Chloe Aurard, New York - Her team has looked inconsistent, but a game does not go by when Aurard catches your eye. She plays with pace getting into lanes and not shying away from the corners. Where Aurard really stands out as a distributor.
13. Maggie Connors, Toronto - Connors is progressing. She started slow, but has found her groove over the last week and a half. Using her speed, Connors is becoming one of Toronto's more consistent forwards.
14. Jesse Compher, Toronto - Through the first two weeks of the season, Compher was almost invisible. The jitters looked present, but she's becoming more of a regular threat now.
15. Sophie Shirley, Boston - Shirley is fast, and is an excellent passer. BOson still looks to be shuffling lines, but she's going to end up in Toronto's top or middle six given the unteachable assets she possesses.