The 2024-25 season was a difficult second campaign for many. It was also a bounce back year for several including Hilary Knight and Jesse Compher who struggled in their first year in the league. Others however, had a sophomore slump and will look for a rebound of their own.

Here's a look at a group of players who struggled in year two but will look to become bigger pieces to the puzzle in 2025-26.

Natalie Spooner, Toronto Sceptres

From an unstoppable force that carried Toronto, to human. An ACL surgery and lengthy recovery will do that. Now the 34-year-old is coming off a long offseason of training, and into a new two-year contract. The league will be thrilled to see her return to form, but also terrified. Spooner is the only player in the PWHL's two season history to score more than a point per game over the course of a season. If she can come anywhere close to that in year three, it will be a tremendous bounce back season, and crucial to Toronto's success. She went from 1.125 points per game down to only .357. Time for a rebound from one of the best in the game, who was the inaugural PWHL.

Nicole Hensley, Minnesota Frost

Hensley's numbers all slipped with her save percentage dropping from .919 to .900 and her GAA climbing from 2.19 to 2.53. The result? Hensley lost her starting position, the Frost signed Maddie Rooney long term, and Hensley found herself off Team USA's roster. This season is big for Hensley, not just to reclaim her reputation as an elite netminder in the game, but also because she's on an expiring contract and will be looking for a new starting role. Watch for a team like New York to follow her closely. 

Grace Zumwinkle, Minnesota Frost

Zumwinkly scored nine fewer points in two fewer games. She was the inaugural PWHL Rookie of the Year and had sky high expectations heading into year two. Her stock fell so far that both expansion teams passed on her, and Minnesota didn't look to protect her in the process. Injuries have played a significant role in this and saw Zumwinkle miss eight games last season. Expect the bounce back to happen.

Hayley Scamurra, Montreal Victoire

Perhaps one of the players who struggled the most last year, Scamurra recorded seven fewer points than in her first season. Scamurra didn't register a point for the first 14 games of the season, and it took her until the 21st game of her year to score. A new team, with stronger offensive depth should help.

Savannah Harmon, Toronto Sceptres

She played 24 games and scored 12 points in year one, and only recorded six points in 30 games in year two. It resulted in a trade from Ottawa after six games without a point. She didn't register an assist until her 15th game of the year, and went 30 games without scoring a single goal after recoding three in year one. When you're an offensive defender, you need to produce. Harmon is in a position where there is a deep blueline.  

Maureen Murphy, Montreal

From 16 points in 24 games to only six in 28 games, it was a -10 point swing and a -8 turn in +/- on a first place team. She saw her ice time decline my a minute and a half per game and far less time alongside Montreal's top players and on special teams. Murphy has the talent to be a top six forward in this league and Montreal will look at her in that role again. 

Kristin O'Neill, New York Sirens 

She dropped four points in seven additional games, and saw herself go an additional -11 +/- swing on a first place team. Her ice dropped by 1:15 a night, and by seasons end she couldn't find her way out of Montreal's bottom six.  A new start in New York will give her every opportunity to play alongside elite scorers and as a veteran, she'll be counted on in many ways.

Kelly Pannek, Minnesota Frost

She saw a five point drop in six extra games, but what she did in the final stretch shows things might turn in a big way for her. After the World Championships where Pannek notched eight points in seven games, Pannek followed it with five points in eight playoff games. Her playoff output of .625 points per game was a significant improvement from her season output of 0.366 points per game. Watch for a bounce back.