PWHL free agency is starting to slow down, but after days of fast and furious signing, PWHL rosters are becoming far clearer. At the top, the stacked PWHL Seattle from expansion has now been surpassed by the depth and versatility of PWHL Vancouver. The two remain the offseason favourites. It's going to take a strong draft from some of the original six to remain in the hunt, and right now, whatever playoff format the PWHL devises for 2025-26, it will be a battle among original six teams for the final spots in the postseason. Here's our pre-draft PWHL power rankings. We'll update again next week after the draft is complete. 1. PWHL VANCOUVER When you exit the first week of free agency with six of the league's top 20 scorers, you've done well. Last year the Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost had the most top 20 scorers with five. Three of those players - Michela Cava, Sophie Jaques, Claire Thompson - now belong to Vancouver. The Toronto Sceptres were second with four players in that tier, but with Hannah Miller now in Vancouver as well, they're down to three. The Ottawa Charge had only two last season, and they lost one of those players, Tereza Vanisova to...yes, Vancouver. Vancouver has 17 players signed including six defenders and 10 forwards entering the draft. They are strong at the top, and deep. 2. PWHL SEATTLE Seattle's signing period and expansion draft success gave them the best top six in the league. That's now in question with what Vancouver compiled, but they remain strong. In free agency they added Mariah Keopple to give them six experienced defenders, and also added to the middle of their lineup at forward inking Lexie Adzija, Mikyla Grant-Mentis [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/seattle-signs-mikyla-grant-mentis-to-two-year-contract], and Natalie Snodgrass. They've got work to do in the draft to catch Vancouver in the depth department, but remain stronger than the original six in all categories. One thing Seattle has is size. It's a factor in their build that will make them a unique roster to face. 3. MONTREAL VICTOIRE None of the original six did as much to refill their roster as the Montreal Victoire. Their blueline is still a work in progress, but it won't be after Montreal grabs either Nicole Gosling or Rory Guilday at fourth overall. At that point, Montreal will have a deep and experienced top nine up front, and be five strong on the blueline. They are one of only three teams in the league with a tandem in place in net as well. The additions of Hayley Scamurra, Shiann Darkangelo, and Jade Downie-Landry [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/jade-downie-landry-lands-at-home-in-montreal] up front, along with the re-signing Catherine Dubois make Montreal more physically imposing than they were last year, and deeper up front. They also signed Jessica DiGirolamo and Maggie Flaherty [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/two-time-walter-cup-champion-maggie-flaherty-signs-in-montreal], and re-upped Kati Tabin to give them four capable blueliners. Montreal will be able to hang with the West Coast, and that in itself is impressive. 4. MINNESOTA FROST While they lost Cava, Mellissa Channell-Watkins, Liz Schepers, and Maggie Flaherty, Minnesota's top six is still strong, and will be completed at the draft. They remain solid in net re-signing Maddie Rooney for three years, and still having Hensley for another. The pool of local talent capable of filling out Minnesota's forward corps is strong, even after the draft. Their blueline is a concern, but adding Sidney Morin was a significant pick up. Minnesota will need to find free agents from Europe and draft for their blueline, but in their current draft slot, there likely won't be a defender available in the first round without passing on one of the top players overall. Minnesota looked like one of the strongest original six teams exiting expansion, but general manager Melissa Caruso struggled in her first true test of free agency. 5. TORONTO SCEPTRES What Toronto manages was to not lose much of what remained. Inking Kali Flanagan gave Toronto a top four that also features Renata Fast, Savannah Harmon, and Allie Munroe, capable of playing significant minutes against the league's top teams. Up front, they still have Daryl Watts, Emma Maltais, Natalie Spooner, Jesse Compher, and Blayre Turnbull. It's definitely not a roster to sneeze at. Toronto can still make a significant impact, particularly with the third overall pick in the draft. With a strong draft, Toronto could easily pass Minnesota on this list. 6. BOSTON FLEET Boston didn't get back what they lost, but Danielle Marmer did a commendable job at finding solid pros with upside to fill her roster with as much experience as she could before grabbing some high end talent in the first two rounds of the draft. The pick up of Chloe Aurard could turn into a significant win if she can re-ignite her chemistry with Alina Muller that the duo had in college. Laura Kluge and Liz Schepers make Boston a tougher team to play against and give them solid depth. Boston's blueline remains a work in progress, but the additions of Zoe Boyd and Rylind MacKinnon will help, especially if they get the expected leap forward from Daniela Pejsova. Boston will also be able to add an elite defender at second overall. 7. OTTAWA CHARGE Ottawa's free agency didn't go as planned, but all is not lost. They still have a solid top six up front and one of the best goaltenders in the league. Their blueline still needs serious help, but Ottawa is in a good position in the draft to grab a few notable defenders to round out their core. Defending will need to be a team effort regardless of what happens in the draft, and Ottawa needs to take some chances on high end skill when they can in hopes of finding a draft day steal up front. Sadly following the opening week of free agency, Ottawa was trending down. Elizabeth Giguere could prove to be a huge steal [https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/ottawa-charge-sign-former-patty-kazmaier-winner-elizabeth-giguere] up front, and Brooke Hobson will have a renewed chance to prove herself playing an increased role with Ottawa. 8. NEW YORK SIRENS Aside from the signing of Jincy Roese, which gave New York seven defenders, the team watched an exodus. It's a very difficult market to attract players to. There just aren't the local connections any other market boasts, nor is there the same allure for players to play in Newark, New Jersey. New York consistently outbid teams across the league offering on several top players. They got nibbles, but no bites. Following the loss of Alex Carpenter, Corinne Schroeder, Jessie Eldridge, and Gabby Rosenthal in expansion, New York also watched Jade Downie-Landry, Chloe Aurard, Elizabeth Giguere, and Brooke Hobson leave in free agency. New York has the first pick in the draft, and it will be their biggest chance to fill the voids. New York is at the center of trade talk as well.
