Every pick in the 2025 PWHL Draft will be important. Each of the PWHL's original six teams will need to attempt to replace the four players they lost in the expansion process. It includes superstars like Hilary Knight, Sarah Nurse, and Emerance Maschmeyer, and 2024 first round draft picks like Danielle Serdachny and Cayla Barnes.
For many, it will be impossible for teams to come even remotely close to replacing their lost talent. Every existing team will be significantly weaker in year three than they were in year two.
To help mitigate the impact, there's a chance teams could stray from their previous draft strategies and take more risks on veteran international players.
Here's a look at six international players whose PWHL Draft status has likely benefitted from the PWHL expansion process.
1. Anna Shokhina
Shokhina led Russia's ZhHL in scoring by a landslide recording 30 goals and 73 points in only 42 games. there's a chance Shokhina actually goes higher. Internationally, Shokhina has represented Russia at three Olympics, multiple World Championships, captained Russia's U-18 national team, and won three gold at the Universaide. At only 27, Shokhina has a wealth of experience, and has produced consistently for more than a decade. There's no telling what Shokhina can accomplish once she gets up to speed in North America. She even outscored Hannah Miller by a mile while they were both in Russia's top league.
2. Sara Hjalmarsson
The 27-year-old loves to play a physical style, has North American experience scoring 44 points in 37 games in her senior season with Providence, and has put up back-to-back quality seasons in the SDHL captaining Linkoping. Hjalmarsson has also continued to take on a larger role with Sweden's national team. Worst case scenario, Hjalmarsson can play third line minutes making her new team harder to play against. Best case scenario, she finds success in a familiar net front role on a power play and contributes offensively from day one.
3. Alexandra Huszak
Yes, she'll be 30 by the time draft day rolls around, but even if you're picking Huszak knowing she'll be able to play a depth role leaning on an abundance of international experience, that's not a horrible option. She is a high pace player who likes to attack laterally through the neutral zone and on entires to the offensive zone.
4. Lucia Haluskova
At only 24, Haluskova has a lot of hockey in front of her. If the PWHL had a formal development league or agreement, Haluskova would be a prospect that would never slip through a draft. She has excellent hands and sees open ice and finds her teammates consistently in attack. The physicality will be a challenge, but the skill set is hard to ignore. A star in the EWHL, Haluskova is a member of Slovakia's senior national team. Physically she might not be there yet, but the tools are there, the brain is there, and the upside is evident.
5. Michelle Karvinen
Likely to be the first international player off the board in the PWHL Draft, Karvinen, 35, is a veteran and potential Hall of Famer. She'll be highly sought after as teams will know she has the ability to be a top six contributor from day one. She is so smart, and knows all the tricks of a cagey veteran. She's also played in the SDHL where body checking is legal for multiple seasons. Karvinen is a potential first round pick for a team looking to get help now.
6. Fanuza Kadirova
The other Russian born player yet to compete in North America, Kadirova was a surprise declaration. One of the ZhHL's top scorers in recent seasons, and one of Russia's top players internationally at both the Olympics and World Championships, Kadirova sees the ice extremely well. She's got good hands, and offensive instincts. The only knock is he size. In Hannah Miller's final season in Russia, Miller had 48 points..Kadirova that season? 49.