There will be certain home runs in the 2024 PWHL Draft, but depending on the scouting various PWHL teams were able to do, there are also a number of hidden gems in the league who could surprise as sleeper picks in the draft or free agency.
There will be certain home runs in the 2024 PWHL Draft, but depending on the scouting various PWHL teams were able to do, there are also a number of hidden gems in the league who could surprise as sleeper picks in the draft or free agency.
We all know NCAA players like Sarah Fillier, Danielle Serdachny, Hannah Bilka, and Cayla Barnes are going to come into the PWHL next season and make an impact. They made not be immediate stars, but they'll be good pros. The same goes for European veterans like Noora Tulus, Daniela Pejsova, Ronja Savolainen, Anna Meixner, and Maja Nylen Persson. Then there are returning pros like Amanda Kessel and Claire Thompson. They all feel like safe picks.
What we don't know is, how will that players from powerhouse Ohio State of Wisconsin stack up when they're regularly facing stiffer competition? Or how about that star player from a weak program? Or what about U Sports players and European players outside the top five?
It will be interesting to see how teams prioritize their picks, particularly in the second half of the draft. Will teams look to safe picks from known programs? Or will they swing for the fences on players who could see the most improvement?
Here's a look at some of the sleeper picks who could become steals in the league.
Most Of The U Sports Prospects
It's hard to imagine big blueliner Rylind MacKinnon or Concordia star Emmy Fecteau slipping through the draft. People don't value U Sports the way they do the NCAA, but the truth is, programs like Concordia and British Columbia could compete in the NCAA. They wouldn't win a national title, but they could compete. MacKinnon has been on Hockey Canada's radar for years, and Fecteau is one of the most complete players, on and off the ice, in the league who will add immense locker room value to a team. Emma Bergesen is a back-to-back U Sports All-Canadian and the former World Championship Best Defender helped Norway shock the tournament and earn promotion to the top division next year. She's smooth and has great vision. She could have some of the highest upside of any defender outside the first four rounds. Continuing the U Sports trend, Waterloo's Leah Herroft is another player to watch. She started in the NCAA before moving to U Sports during the pandemic. She can flat out score, and could prove a player along the lines of Jade Downie-Landry. Similarly, defender Kelly Ann-Nadeau could surprise. Add in Lillian George, Katie Chromiak, Rosalie Begin-Cyr and towering defender Kara den Hoed, and there's some space for surprises out of U Sports.
European Players
This is where it gets a little complex, because players are coming from vastly different levels, and there is a discrepancy in the number of defenders with upside in this draft, compared to forwards. There are far more defenders capable of cracking the league in this draft, but most of them have a low ceiling projecting as bottom pair blueliners. Forward depth in the league was a significant issue for some teams this season, and there are players available who could surprise in those roles, particularly coming from overseas. Two clear examples of this are Swedish veteran Michelle Lowenhielm and German Laura Kluge. Beyond this duo, who can both thrive up and down a lineup, players like Alexandra Huszak, Mathea Fischer and may draw similar attention for similar reasons. On the blueline, this list jumps to players like Lotti Odnoga.
Perhaps there's no more intriguing name in the draft than Russia's Ilona Markova. Only 22, Markova was Russia's U-18 captain twice earning U-18 All-Star honors and played with Russia in their last World Championship in 2021. She was slated to play at the 2022 Olympics, but tested positive for COVID only days before. Speaking to one scout, they see her as a top 20 player in the draft. If a team takes her, it will likely be late given the uncertainty surrounding Russian players.
NCAA Players
Flash and dash is fine, but this league will also need role players who have the ability to check, kill penalties, and compete in tight games. Beyond the obvious players like Dara Greig who will likely go before this in question area of the draft, late round interest could bring players like Brooke McQuigge, Manon McMahon, Katy Knoll and Reece Hunt into the discussion. On the blueline, it's easy to look at stat lines, it's harder to look for players who know their position well. How many defenders does a team need who are rovers? While they won't draw the same excitement at the top, defenders like Chayla Edwards and Maggie MacEachern could pan out being more valuable in the long run to a team. Mariah Keopple was the star to emerge from nowhere in the NCAA last season, and that could be a player like Rae Breton or Rachel Teslak.
Back From The Beyond
Amanda Kessel and Claire Thompson are back from the beyond, but there are many players in the 2024 PWHL Draft who did not play this year...or in some cases for several years. Shannon MacAuley stands out as a player who has been away from the game for years, but probably sits in better shape than she was when she walked away after captaining Clarkson and playing for Canada's national development team, along with spending one year in the CWHL. The closest returnee might be former Ohio State standout Gabby Rosenthal. She was one of the top players in the NCAA two seasons ago, and many thought she would enter the 2023 draft, but didn't. She's back looking to play, and could be a sleeper pick, or a savvy free agent invite.
North Americans In Europe
Shae Demale is one of the best shooters in the draft. Abby Moloughney is an exceptional defensive forward. Anneke Linser adds size and presence similar to Abby Boreen. Theresa Knutson and Shay Maloney have interesting offensive upside, and Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout is a well rounded player to watch. Throw in Victoria Klimek, Tatum Amy, Taylor House, and Naomi Rogge and there are a number of players with upside, who unlike their counterparts who stayed in North America this year to play fourth line minutes or reserve roles in the PWHL, they played top end minutes and continued their progress as players in Europe. A few of these players will certainly land in the league whether it's through the draft or free agency.