Sophie Jaques went through a stretch that caused many to question her future in the PWHL, but since her trade to Minnesota she's steadily progressed, and in the playoffs has arrived as a current and future star.

Rewinding to the weeks leading up to the 2023 PWHL Draft, there was a lot of excitement surrounding incoming NCAA players. That list included Taylor Heise, Alina Muller, Emma Maltais, Grace Zumwinkle, and Sophie Jaques. 

Jaques was coming off a Patty Kazmaier Award winning season, where she was the first defender to win the award since Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Angela Ruggiero in 2004. She was the WCHA Defender of the Year, and an Ohio State Buckeyes record holder. 

Then, she struggled. Jaques struggled to find her way at Canada's Fall selection camp. Those struggles were multiplied in a disastrous Rivalry Series debut. And then she didn't register a point in her first seven games in the PWHL, resulting in an early season trade sending the defender, who had signed a coveted three-year guaranteed contract with Boston to Minnesota in exchange for Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook. 

No points through that stretch for a rookie defender may have been acceptable for another player, but this was Sophie Jaques, the NCAA star who held the WCHA goal scoring record by a defender, and was Ohio State's all-time leading scorer from the blueline. In her final two seasons in the NCAA, Jaques played 79 games and recorded 107 points in that span. By all accounts, she was expected to produce.

But that's the problem with the PWHL's current model. There is no where for young players to develop, except for on the job. And some, like defenders or goalies can't get that development away from high risk situations facing the best forwards on the planet. 

When Jaques arrived in Minnesota following her February 2024 trade, she was immediately paired with defensive stalwart Lee Stecklein, and her game flourished under not only he tutelage, but also under the guidance of Minnesota head coach Ken Klee, who spent 14 seasons playing the position in the NHL.

In 15 regular season games in Minnesota, Jaques recorded 10 points. And despite giving the rest of the league a seven game head start, Jaques finished 7th in league scoring among defenders, and was the top scoring rookie blueliner.

Jaques finished the season averaging 22:25 in ice. In the post season, that number has jumped to 25:30. 

She's also upped her offensive output sitting tied for the PWHL playoff points lead with five points in seven games. While fans saw Jaques progress throughout the season, the PWHL playoffs have been her true arrival moment as not only a future star, but a current star in the league. 

That status was punctuated by her two goal performance in game two of the PWHL finals leading Minnesota to a shutout win over Boston. 

The hockey world knew it was coming, and now that's she's arrived, it's clear that Sophie Jaques was worth the wait.