Ranking The Impact Of PWHL Ottawa's Players So Far

PWHL Ottawa has turned the corner toward the playoffs. Chris Sinclair looks at the team's most impactful players this season.

Each PWHL team will have only five games remaining on their schedule upon their return from the international break, so this is a great opportunity to take a look at the top 10 most impactful players for Ottawa as they look to continue their momentum and challenge for a playoff berth.

Watts started the season slowly, but one could see that the dam was going to break and it did so in spectacular fashion with her hat trick against Toronto, which helped to propel them to the win and breaking Toronto’s 11 game winning streak in the process. Watts sits ninth in the league in scoring with 13 points in 19 games and while others on this list sit higher than she, it’s undeniable that Watts can take over a game with her great speed and lethal shot. While many were disappointed to see her left off of Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming Worlds, that will change moving forward, as she’s put Canada’s brass on notice with her play this season.

Mrázová may not be among the big names mentioned around the league, but that will change, as she sits fourth in league scoring with 17 points in 19 games, putting her right alongside the legendary Marie-Philip Poulin. She is ranked second in the league, behind only Claire Dalton in Montreal in shooting percentage at 24.0% and has one of the most deceiving shots in the league and isn’t afraid to drive the net. Mrázová has looked great on the top line alongside Watts and Brianne Jenner which has helped to change the scoring troubles the team has had at times this season.

Jenner has been everything you could have asked for in a captain and has brought her unique skill set to the Nation’s Capital. Jenner sits sixth in league scoring with 15 points in 19 games and has showcased her competitive nature on every shift. She’s also shown what a true leader means by, for example, giving up the chance to score another goal in their most recent game against Toronto, instead electing to pass it to Watts to help her secure the hat trick. Jenner’s signing with the club in free agency was an incredibly big moment for Ottawa and it’s paid off in droves. If Ottawa makes the playoffs, Jenner will have been a big part of that and would take it to another level on a long playoff run.

Maschmeyer has played in all but one game this season and has been really solid in most of those games. Ranked eighth in the league with a 2.33 goals against and ninth in the league with a .911 save percentage, she has shown that despite the heavier workload, she’s more than capable of handling it and keeping her team in games. She’s shown her incredible athleticism, glove hand, and how good she can be in challenging the plays. There’s a reason she’s one of the best in the world.

Harmon may not be a name that jumps out at people, unless you’ve seen her play. She’s consistently been Ottawa’s top defender and with good reason. She’s reliable, has great cap control and foot speed, and can be an offensive spark for the team, as she ranks fifth in league scoring for defenders. Ottawa elected to go heavy on drafting defenders in the first three rounds of the draft and choosing Harmon fifth overall helped to establish a top tier backend.

Clark is the type of player every team would love to have: unafraid to drive to the net and to be physical, but also gifted with an incredible shot. She is also able to move up and down the lineup, as she’s done throughout this season but has developed great chemistry on her line alongside Gabbie Hughes and Hayley Scamurra. Clark ranks 12th in the league with 12 points in 19 games and is a threat to score every time she steps on the ice. Having her as a part of the core of this team is something most teams could only dream of.

Tejralová is another name on this list that most people outside of the Ottawa market would be surprised to see here, as she’s a player who just quietly goes about having great games. She ranks seventh in league scoring for defenders but more than that, she brings veteran leadership, as she'll serve as Czechia's captain at the upcoming World Championships, and won back to back bronze medals with her nation. Tejralová brings a calmness to the backend and can create effective outlet passes which help to create really good scoring chances, and she does so with ease.

Hughes is another player, much like Clark, that every team covets, as she’s strong on the puck and has great hockey IQ. Hughes isn’t afraid to drive to the net, to be physical and has a great scoring ability. She's ranked 23rd in the league with nine points in 19 games. Hughes has a bite to her game and it drives opponents crazy, which will come in handy for a playoff push and a potential playoff series.

Scamurra’s name may not jump out on the scoresheet, but her deceiving shot might suggest that will change, and soon. She has developed great chemistry on her line with Clark and Hughes and is unafraid to drive opponents crazy with her physicality. She’s effective in all situations, isn’t a defensive liability and is a really fun player to watch throughout a game.

Vanišová came to Ottawa via trade, as the team sent defender Amanda Boulier to Montreal and, while she remains scoreless in the two games she’s played with Ottawa heading into the international break, she had 10 points in the 17 games she played with Montreal. She is a player who’s consistently been a contributor throughout her career, but also brings an edge to game to match. Vanišová is a player who can score on every shift and is someone you want on your team for a playoff run.