Last season, Sarah Fillier was the runaway winner of the PWHL's Rookie of the Year Award. If Gwyneth Philips had been Ottawa's starter from day one, the Goaltender of the Year nominee and Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP would have pushed her way deeper into the conversation.
Other players including All-Rookie Team members Cayla Barnes, Anna Wilgren, Jennifer Gardiner, and Britta Curl-Salemme were in the conversation, but in the end it was Fillier, who shared the PWHL scoring lead that took the honor.
In 2025-26, another wave of talent is set to descend on the PWHL with a slew of possible standouts among the rookie crop. Of course the focus will be on first round picks like Kristyna Kaltounkova, Haley Winn, Casey O'Brien, Nicole Gosling, Rory Guilday, Kendall Cooper, and Jenna Buglioni (seventh overall pick Michelle Karvinen is not eligible for the PWHL's Rookie of the Year award). There are other players who, given the opportunities they will find in their markets, could also challenge for the award.
Several first-year players including Karvinen, Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova, and Sara Hjalmarsson are ineligible for the award due to their age.
Here's a look at the top contenders for the PWHL's 2025-26 Rookie of the Year.
1. Kristyna Kaltounkova, New York Sirens
She's big, physical, and a pure goal scorer. There's a chance some of the more impactful things Kaltounkova does, like her two-way game, could be overlooked by those who simply vote based on points. Watch for how Kaltounkova impacts New York's game in more subtle ways to go along with her goal scoring prowess.
2. Haley Winn, Boston Fleet
Winn could conceivably lead the Boston Fleet in scoring as a rookie defender. It's more likely that nod goes to Alina Müller or Susanna Tapani, but she's that good. Winn will boost the Fleet in every aspect of their game, and while defenders are often overlooked in this conversation, Winn will likely force her way into the consciousness of everyone following the league next year.
3. Casey O'Brien, New York Sirens
It's completely plausible that O'Brien leads the New York Sirens and all rookies in scoring. She produces at a rate few can, she's aggressive and relentless on the puck, and whether she's the goal scorer or the playmaker, O'Brien elevates those around her. This award could easily be hers.
4. Nicole Gosling, Montreal Victoire
Gosling is a former NCAA Defender of the Year and has a World Championship gold medal. Her impact in Montreal might be more subtle than other defenders when it comes to offense, but she will contribute not only on the scoresheet, but in facing top matchups and helping the Victoire exit their zone.
5. Emma Gentry, Toronto Sceptres
This will completely depend on whether Toronto plays Gentry in a top-six role, or buries her like they did with Julia Gosling last year. Gentry is a quintessential power forward who has the toolkit to burst onto the scene and succeed from day one in the PWHL.
6. Rory Guilday, Ottawa Charge
While she won't set the world on fire offensively, Guilday could have one of the more significant impacts on her own team of any rookie. Ottawa's blueline was gutted for parts in expansion, and Guilday will have a lot of the lost responsibility placed directly on her shoulders. Luckily, it's a load she can handle.
7. Ella Huber, Boston Fleet
Need a sleeper pick for this award? Ella Huber is going to get every opportunity to play in Boston's top six night in and night out. With the offensive talent they lost in Hanna Bilka and Hilary Knight, Boston needs to find someone who can step up and produce, and Huber will get that opportunity alongside either Müller or Tapani.
8. Kendall Cooper, Minnesota Frost
Replacing Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques comes as a tall order, and Kendall Cooper won't be able to do it all, but Minnesota has shown they're okay with having offensive blueliners who join the rush, or lead it. Cooper can do just that. She's more likely an All-Rookie team candidate than Rookie of the Year, but she has a ton of upside.
9. Anne Cherkowski, New York Sirens
You never know who's going to click on a young team like New York. Cherkowski might get lucky and get easier matchups, or she might find herself shifted to the wing with two top players like Kaltounkova and Fillier. However it plays out, she's going to get a long leash to stay in the Sirens' top six.
10. Natalie Mlynkova, Montreal Victoire
Like Jennifer Gardiner before her, there's a realistic chance Natalie Mlynkova finds herself on the wing with Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey. If that's the case, production will follow.
11. Abby Hustler, Minnesota Frost
Should Hustler find herself on Minnesota's top line, her production could be significant. prompting consideration for the award. Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield need a running mate with Michela Cava gone, and Hustler could be the answer.
