There will be an abundance of players changing teams in the PWHL this offseason. Most will come through the expansion draft which will see 24 players plucked from current rosters heading to Vancouver and Seattle.
With so much change to rosters involuntarily, there will also be a group of players looking to jump to new locations for fresh opportunities as free agents, and still others who could perhaps see their rights traded.
Here's a look at six PWHL players from 2024-25 who could benefit from a change of scenery this offseason.
Maggie Connors
After a strong rookie campaign with PWHL Toronto, Maggie Connors saw her minutes decline in year two with the Toronto Sceptres after they added more depth via the draft and by signing free agent forwards Daryl Watts and Emma Woods. Connors was still noticeable when she got on the ice, and Toronto may have benefitted in the postseason from giving more opportunity to their depth players. Connors will have multiple opportunities across the league to find a good fit. Two that make a lot of sense are Vancouver and New York. PWHL Vancouver general manager Cara Gardner Morey was Connors' long time Princeton coach, and the familiarity and trust already established there will likely earn Connors consideration there. On a similar note, Connors and Sarah Fillier had established chemistry as linemates at Princeton. For New York, who will be looking for new combinations up front to benefit their depth scoring, giving Connors a long look alongside Fillier seems like an obvious place to start.
Dominika Laskova
Laskova missed more than a year due to injury. She didn't look out of place upon her return, but also found that she was pushed out of a key role in Montreal and landed well down the Victoire's depth chart. Montreal will likely make a pitch to return Laskova knowing she can do more considering there's a legitimate chance they'll lose both Cayla Barnes and Erin Ambrose in expansion, and could also lose another defender like Anna Wilgren. But Montreal won't be alone in wanting to give Laskova a fresh start. It would be shocking if Ottawa doesn't make a pitch for her given Carla MacLeod and multiple Czech's calling Ottawa home.
Elizabeth Giguere
One of two former Patty Kazmaier winners on this list, Giguere is big, sees the ice well, and has all the puck skills necessary to score. She struggled in the high speed PWHL during year one, and never found chemistry in New York. Finding the right combo for Giguere could unleash her offensive potential. She'll need speed and physicality on her line to help entice it out. She was a star in college, and a star in the PHF. It's all about finding the right spot for Giguere in this league. She could be a bargain this year.
Loren Gabel
The other former Patty Kazmaier winner, Gabel struggled early adjusting to the physicality, and the reduced time and space of the PWHL. There just aren't many players in this league who can score like she does. She has a unique shot/release and can be creative with the puck. Even as a power play specialist, it was shocking to see Boston, a team that consistently struggled to score, relegate Gabel to the fringe of their roster. This is one of the most prolific college scorers in this league who was the top player in the PHF prior to the launch of this league. Finding a coach and system who can help Gabel locate soft spots in the offensive zone and break coverage, as well as guide her into better absorbing the pounding she'll take as a goal scoring threat, should help her find the net more consistently. There's an abundance of offensive potential waiting for the right situation in Gabel.
Noemi Neubauerova
Neubauerova was the type of player the Toronto Sceptres needed in their playoff loss. She's full of energy, plays a simplified game, gets to the hard areas, and loves to battle. Don't expect her to light up the scoresheet all year, but she'll have her moments where a big goal comes from going into the dirty areas and competing at net front. Ottawa might be interested, but Toronto may also try to retain her as they own her rights. She'd fit a depth role on pretty much any team in this league, and sooner or later, the teams with the biggest names are going to learn it's depth that wins championships in this league. The superstars can do heavy lifting too, but overuse has proven the downfall of teams in year one and year two.
Noora Tulus
Noora Tulus can be a contributing middle six player in this league. New York has been a production killer for many players who went their and looked like they entered the Bermuda triangle of hockey, never to be seen again. Tulus came with big expectations, and rightfully so. Her skill set and intrinsic talent did not disappear by coming to North America. There was likely a bigger adjustment than she expected, something many of the European players who have not spent time in the NCAA have experienced, but this is more about a player who can be a second or third liner, that when it didn't come immediately, got buried. New York desperately needed Tulus, and should have given her more than they did. Some of the players New York elevated in their roster just don't have the upside to play scoring line minutes, but Tulus does. She can also be an effective third line checker who chips in offensively. It's likely there were trade talks involving her name this season, but the market for players on the Sirens' roster had to be thin given their struggles beyond the Sarah Fillier, Alex Carpenter, Jessie Eldridge trio, which the Sirens will be hard pressed to keep together following expansion. Tulus is rumoured to be exploring a return to Europe if she can get out of the second year of her contract. Otherwise, a change of scenery could have the desired impact as well.