The 2025 PWHL Draft isn’t as deep as last year, and certainly won’t feature the talent of the 2026 draft, but there are 3-4 rounds of players who will fight for roster spots immediately in the league. Here’s a look at the top 20 prospects for the 2025 PWHL Draft.
- Abbey Murphy, RW, 2002, Minnesota / USA – She won’t decide whether or not to declare until after her season with Minnesota concludes. The deciding factor is expansion. If she declares, she’s the consensus top pick.
- Krystina Kaltounkova, C, 2002, Colgate / Czechia – Her physical game is built for the PWHL. It’s been hard to assess the impact players might have until the style of the PWHL was established. Now that we know, “Kalty” looks like a match made in heaven.
- Casey O’Brien, C, 2001, Wisconsin – Finding a scorer like O’Brien to impact your top six will be harder as the years go on in this league. She finds ways to score and elevate those around her. Could go first without Murphy in the mix.
- Haley Winn, D, 2003, Clarkson / USA – A smooth blueliner who can generate offense from the back. There’s a premium on defenders in this draft so any team looking to bolster their blueline won’t wait long.
- Nicole Gosling, D, 2002, Clarkson / Canada – Does all the little things right. She’ll quietly contribute 20-minutes a night in the PWHL with ease.
- Natalie Mlynkova, LW, 2001, Minnesota / Czechia – A two-way standout, Mlynkova used her graduate year in the WCHA to take her game to a new level in preparation for the pros.
- Lacey Eden, RW, 2002, Wisconsin / USA – Will she declare? She should. Eden is often overlooked offensively because of her ability to play energy minutes in a checking role. Her versatility will be welcomed by a PWHL club.
- Rory Guilday, D, 2002, Cornell / USA – Adding a 5-foot-11 defender who is a national team stalwart in a league where size and physicality will continue to play a larger role has obvious upside.
- Viivi Vainikka, C, 2001, Lulea / Finland – As the gap between the PWHL and European league’s gets larger, it’s also becoming harder to rate the top European players. Vainikka is certainly the top European in the draft, and she’s more physically willing to engage than past European prospects. Could be a steal.
- Anne Cherkowski, C, 2002, Clarkson – She’s a versatile forward would could play a third line checking role, and as easily slide into a top six scoring role like Jennifer Gardiner did this year.
- Michelle Karvinen, F, 1990, Frolunda / Finland – North America wants to see the legendary Karvinen come to the PWHL….even for a season.
- Kendall Cooper, D, 2002, Quinnipiac – Mobile, plays with an edge, a tough competitor, and likes to transport the puck.
- Abby Hustler, F, 2003, St. Lawrence – Excels as a playmaker and has good size. She could slide due to the fact she’s never been considered for any national program.
- Ella Huber, C, 2002, Minnesota – Plenty of speed and sees the ice really well. Raised her status at the Six Nations tournament.
- Sara Hjalmarsson, C, 1998, Linkoping / Sweden – Forget that she looks a bit awkward in her skating. Hjalmarsson gets where she’s going and arrives with an edge. Her physicality will make Hjalmarsson a contributor whether it’s on the scoresheet or how she battles.
- Michaela Pejzlova, F, 1997, Ambrì-Piotta / Czechia – Pejzlova needs to come to North America the day the PWHL announces expansion. She has the potential to play a top six scoring role, but like other Europeans, the transition will be very steep. It’s a risk versus reward gamble.
- Andrea Brandli, G, MoDo / Team Switzerland – It’s not likely a team goes in this high for a goaltender unless there’s expansion. If there is we’ll see a run on the top goalies outside the league by teams who lose a netminder.
- Jenna Buglioni, C, 2002, Ohio State – She’s smart, she moves the puck well and can keep up at the PWHL level. Can she handle the physicality?
- Jenniina Nylund, LW, 1999, Brynas / Team Finland – Don’t expect Nylund to come in and claim a top six role, but she can come in and play important depth minutes with the potential to contribute secondary scoring.
- Sanni Ahola, G, 2000, St. Cloud State / Finland – Could easily be a starter in the PWHL for years. Like all goalies, there might be a transition, but Ahola has proved herself internationally and in the NCAA and her teammates love her.
