The now eight team PWHL exists, currently, only in markets that also house an NHL team. From Boston's pair that will almost certainly miss the playoffs, to strong pairings in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, it's a mix of who will crack a playoff spot and who won't. Combining the strength of both the PWHL and NHL team in each of the eight shared markets, here's an offseason power ranking of the top PWHL/NHL tandems. 1. MONTREAL VICTOIRE AND MONTREAL CANADIENS Both the Victoire and Canadiens had strong offseasons. After the expansion process, soon-to-be Hall of Fame builder Daniele Sauvageau [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/other-news/botterill-decker-sauvageau-hockey-hall-of-fame-to-welcome-three-women-for-first-time-ever] found veterans across the board bringing in Hayley Scamurra, Shiann Darkangelo, Jade Downie-Landry, Maggie Flaherty, and Jessica DiGirolamo, and drafting Nicole Gosling. They also made a trade acquiring Abby Roque. It's an immediate impact group that makes the Victoire harder to play against, and keeps them competitive with the expansion teams. The Habs made a blockbuster deal to bring in Noah Dobson adding to an exciting young blueline that also includes Calder Trophy winner , and flipped the problematic Logan Mailloux to St. Louis for up and coming forward Zachary Bolduc [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/new-canadiens-forward-is-sneaky-good-addition]. They also signed Kaapo Kahkonen for solid goaltending depth. Both the Victoire and Canadiens look like playoff teams in 2025-26. 2. PWHL VANCOUVER AND THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS Vancouver's PWHL entry carries this torch proudly as the projected top team in the league as the offseason hits the heart of the summer. They loaded up at every position pillaging PWHL rosters in expansion including adding Sarah Nurse, Jennifer Gardiner, Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques, and Emerance Maschmeyer, who are all Team Canada members. They continued that trend in free agency adding Hannah Miller, Michela Cava, and Tereza Vanisova among others, and put the icing on the cake at the draft acquiring Kristen Campbell and selecting Michelle Karvinen. This roster is loaded from top to bottom. The Canucks made a bizarre decision in committing what they did to Evander Kane, and truly, if it weren't for the strength of their PWHL counterparts, Vancouver might not have finished atop this combined ranking. At least the Canucks were able to keep Brock Boeser [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/players/vancouver-canucks-2024-25-report-card-brock-boeser], but it might not be enough to flip them back into a playoff spot after missing by six points last year. 3. TORONTO SCEPTRES AND TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS The Toronto Sceptres were hit hard in the expansion process losing Nurse, Miller, Julia Gosling, Megan Carter, and Izzy Daniel, before trading away Kristen Campbell. The team however, was able to land Ella Shelton in a blockbuster deal giving them what could be the best blueline in the league with Shelton, PWHL Defender of the Year Renata Fast [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/pwhl-hands-out-annual-awards-marie-philip-poulin-named-league-mvp], Savannah Harmon, Kali Flanagan, and Allie Munroe all on board. It's depth like few teams can boast. The Leafs finally said goodbye to Mitch Marner, even though he was far from their issue, and his departure makes Toronto a decidedly worse team. They did manage to bring in Nicolas Roy to help bolster their forward depth, and perhaps this will be a case where chemistry with less talent trumps talent with less chemistry. It wouldn't be surprising for Matthew Knies to take another big step this season, and the Leafs remain a firmly entrenched playoff team. 4. MINNESOTA FROST AND MINNESOTA WILD The back-to-back Walter Cup champions have squeaked into the playoffs in both seasons before grinding their way to a title. It's highly unlikely it happens again after losing Thompson, Jaques, Brooke McQuigge, Denisa Krisova, Michela Cava, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Maggie Flaherty, and Liz Schepers. In their place, Minnesota's rookie GM Melissa Caruso managed only a single signing bringing in defender Sidney Morin, and using their first round pick on blueliner Kendall Cooper. They maintained one of the better forward groups following expansion, but everything that followed was underwhelming. Don't count out the Frost, but they are weaker than they've been the last two years. The Wild will need to find ways to score, but will hope Marco Rossi steps forward, and that they can squeeze veteran production out of new acquisitions Vladimir Tarasenko and Nico Sturm. It's hard to look at the Wild, who were never in doubt of a playoff spot last season and see a weaker roster. Both teams that will play at the newly renamed Grand Casino Arena [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/minnesota-frost-s-arena-to-be-renamed-for-next-season] look like middle of the pack playoff teams, but neither is a lock. 5. OTTAWA CHARGE AND OTTAWA SENATORS Neither general manager in Ottawa made much of a dent this offseason to help their teams. The Ottawa Charge saw the exit door propped open as many of their top players walked. The team is banking on the idea that the PWHL's first pair of Russian players - Anna Shokhina and Fanuza Kadirova - can pick up the lost offense [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/the-ottawa-charge-go-big-at-2025-draft-will-the-gamble-pay-off]. They're also hoping that free agent signing Elizabeth Giguere can reclaim her Patty Kazmaier winning form in a new market, and that fifth overall pick Rory Guilday can play significant minutes. Ottawa's blueline is a glaring weakness. Thankfully they have playoff MVP Gwyneth Philips in net. Ottawa Charge first round pick Rory Guilday The Senators have crease questions, although Leevi Merilainen could be all they need behind Linus Ullmark. Still the adds of Lars Eller and Jordan Spence make this a deeper roster [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/why-senator-newcomer-jordan-spence-makes-a-fine-insurance-policy-on-ottawa-s-blue-line] filled with budding stars. The Senators are, on paper, the stronger of Ottawa's teams at the moment, but the Charge have proven they can surprise. 6. PWHL SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE KRAKEN Unfortunately the Seattle Kraken are dragging this pairing toward the bottom. Truthfully, after a mind blowing expansion haul including one of the most talented top six forward groups you'll find in any league in the world, PWHL Seattle didn't do as much in free agency or the draft to ensure they'll be the PWHL's top team. Still, with Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter, Jessie Eldridge, Danielle Serdachny, Julia Gosling, and Hannah Bilka up front, this team will score. They have a defensively adept group that should enable the team to win without scoring in bundles. Either way, this is a playoff team that will challenge for a Walter Cup. PWHL Seattle is the real deal. Kraken fans likely hope the franchise had followed the Vegas Golden Knights' expansion plan rather than the path Seattle took. They made some healthy cap room and used it well this offseason [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/latest-news/kraken-sign-ryan-lindgren-to-a-four-year-contract], but it's not enough to put them in Cup contention, or even playoff contention for that matter. 7. NEW YORK SIRENS AND NEW JERSEY DEVILS The Prudential Center will be rocking this season. While the Devils look like they will be in contention for a playoff spot yet again, it could take another year of building for the New York Sirens to do the same. Despite that, the Sirens are going to be a fun and exciting team to watch with three of the game's brightest young stars in first overall picks Sarah Fillier and Kristyna Kaltounkova [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/new-york-selects-kristyna-kaltounkova-first-overall-in-pwhl-draft], and third overall pick Casey O'Brien up front. Their blueline is solid, but their crease is a question. If the Sirens' young forwards can gel quickly, this team could surprise. The Devils added solid depth up front which could help tip the scale toward a playoff spot. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are another exciting young trio, and locking in trade deadline acquisition Cody Glass was another savvy add. Both New Jersey based teams have unquestioned upside, and could be rapid climbers on any future combined power ranking once the puck drops. 8. BOSTON FLEET AND BOSTON BRUINS There's a lack of star power in Boston outside of Alina Muller, Charlie McAvoy, David Pastrnak, Megan Keller, and Aerin Frankel. What both general managers did this offseason was make the best of bad situations adding a haul of free agents to fill their rosters, including solid depth for both. The Fleet could reap the reward of betting on Chloe Aurard up front, and they added star defender Haley Winn who should be among the PWHL's top scoring defenders [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/haley-winn-s-the-answer-to-the-boston-fleet-s-questions] as a rookie. The Bruins added several forwards, but without much top end impact. Hockey fans in Boston can likely book their spring vacations now as it's a long shot to expect either team to make the playoffs, and if either sneaks in, it won't be a long run. Auston Matthews, Daryl Watts, Marco Rossi, Taylor Heise, Lane Hutson, and Erin Ambrose of Toronto, Minnesota, and Montreal [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/16d184de-b962-4b26-b80e-5287bbb375f6.jpeg] Auston Matthews, Daryl Watts, Marco Rossi, Taylor Heise, Lane Hutson, and Erin Ambrose of Toronto, Minnesota, and Montreal
