PWHL Trade Targets: 10 players who could be on the move before the deadline
Just when you thought the trade deadline madness was finished…it’s PWHL Trade Deadline Week!
The deadline for the top women’s league in the world is March 13 at 2 p.m. ET, and there is still a lot of business to be done before the roster freeze the following day. While talks have been quiet due to the unknown of roster configurations with potential expansion, teams are certainly going to try to bolster their lineups in hopes of making a deep run in the postseason.
Here 10 players to keep an eye on between now and Thursday afternoon.
1. Abby Roque
Forward, New York Sirens
Age: 27
Stats: 21 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: Let’s start with a bang, shall we? Yes, you might think it’s crazy for general manager Pascal Daoust to part with one of his best players, but with the Sirens spiraling once again, he’d be crazy not to answer the phone if someone calls him up about Roque.
The former U.S. National Team member’s game fits this league perfectly. Skill, with some bite that makes her difficult to play against. Her ability to be a menace is perfect for the playoffs. For a team like the Toronto Sceptres, who don’t really have that physical presence up front. I’ve heard she has quite the cap hit, so Toronto would have to make some room in order to complete any deal. Yet, teams like the Boston Fleet or Minnesota Frost probably wouldn’t mind having Roque in the lineup.
2. Denisa Křížová
Winger, Minnesota Frost
Age: 30
Stats: 22 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: Early on in Minnesota’s inaugural season, Krizova was an integral part of the team’s offense. However, with names like Kendall Coyne Schofield, Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle in the lineup, and with the emergence of Britta Curl-Salemme, it’s been hard for Krizova to find consistent minutes to show her stuff.
While I’m not sure if she can find a top-line spot on a contender, the Czech forward can fit into a secondary scoring role admirably, and be needed offensive threat come playoff time.
3. Noora Tulus
Winger, New York Sirens
Age: 29
Stats: 21 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: Another player on the Sirens that I wouldn’t be surprised to be on the move. Tulus came to the PWHL after accomplishing just about everything she could with Luleå HF. However, she has not been able to get comfortable in New York. It makes you wonder if a different system might give her the confidence to find her scoring touch that led to her posting 61 points last season in the SDHL and made her a mainstay on the Team Finland roster.
Teams like the Charge or the Fleet, who could benefit from a little more scoring, would love to have Tulus flourish on their rosters.
4. Loren Gabel
Forward, Boston Fleet
Age: 27
Stats: 12 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA
Scoop: I’m beginning to feel like my MVP prediction before the league’s first season was a little bullish. Gabel has not been able to take the scoring prowess we saw in the PHF and NCAA ranks to the PWHL. Sure, she didn’t have a bad 2024 season, but she hasn’t earned head coach Courtney Kessel’s trust to play up in the lineup like she did last season. She missed a few games earlier this year, but I still think there is that offensive touch that she can bring to a team needing some depth scoring with the postseason in sight.
5. Jade Downie-Landry
Winger, New York Sirens
Age: 29
Stats: 21 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA
Scoop: It’s crazy to think that, at this time last year, Downie-Landry was one of the top scoring threats on the Sirens roster. However, with the emergence of Sarah Fillier, she’s been pushed down the lineup, going from playing close to 15 minutes a game to under 10 most of the season. Her production has taken a hit as a result. After eight goals and 13 points in 24 games in year one, the former USports star has just three points in 21 appearances thus far.
With the knowledge that she can play at a high level, Downie-Landry could be a huge asset to a team looking to add some secondary scoring if given the proper role. I’m not sure what the Charge is willing to give up these days, but if the right pieces came together, I think Downie-Landry can give Ottawa some punch up front.
6. Emma Maltais
Winger, Toronto Sceptres
Age: 25
Stats: 22 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pts
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: I don’t believe that the Sceptres are shopping around Maltais. However, if the team were looking to add another big-time forward for the postseason run, you know that the Ohio State product will have to be part of the deal.
There is a lot to like about Maltais’ game. She really showed up during her rookie season on a very good Toronto squad, and still has the ability to score big goals. However, her 200-foot game might be her best asset, which would make her an intriguing candidate for another contender.
7. Daniela Pejsova
Defender, Boston Fleet
Age: 22
Stats: 20 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 Pts
Contract: 2 years remaining
Scoop: Given the fact that Boston traded up to take Pejsova in the second round of last year’s PWHL Draft and signed her to a max three-year contract, I’m kind of shocked how they’ve deployed her this season. She’s been scratched from the lineup and hasn’t been put in situations to allow her to make a difference the way she had with Luleå.
I know that an expansion draft might make teams hesitant to go after Pejsova. However, with term on her contract, it might not hurt to take a swing at the rookie. Who knows? It might work out similar to when Boston traded Sophie Jaques to Minnesota after she struggled early on last year.
8. Klára Hymlárová
Winger, Minnesota Frost
Age: 26
Stats: 21 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pt
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: For a player who was taken in the third round, similar to Tulus, Hymlarova hasn’t really been able to do much since coming to Minnesota. Like in Krizova’s situation, too many cooks in the kitchen have led to the fellow Czech getting buried down the lineup, not allowing Hymlarova to showcase her talents.
The issue here is that Hymlarova isn’t going to be a player that other teams are going to be willing to “buy.” Especially with the unknown of what a potential expansion draft might look like, Hymlarova would be an asset added to trade featuring a few players. That said, if a team wants to take a chance on a player with a reasonable upside, Hymlarova can provide that secondary scoring for a team that needs it.
9. Anna Wilgren
Defender, Montreal Victoire
Age: 25
Stats: 22 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 Pts
Contract: Pending UFA
Scoop: The other rookie on this list, Wilgren has played beyond expectations in her freshman campaign in Montreal. She wasn’t the biggest prospect earlier in her college career, but people were able to see her potential after she transferred from Minnesota State to the University of Wisconsin. Wilgren is someone who can play in all situations, especially on the penalty kill.
With the fact that quality rentals are at a premium, Wilgren might not be a bad add for a team looking to bolster its depth on the blue line.
10. Nicole Hensley
Goaltender, Minnesota Frost
Age: 30
Stats: 3-2-1, 3.56 GAA, .866 SV%
Contract: 1 year remaining
Scoop: I had to throw one goaltender on this list, and since the contending teams like the Sceptres, Victoire and Fleet have No. 1 goaltenders, Minnesota could use the longtime U.S. National Team star as leverage to acquire a little more talent up front as they try and secure a playoff spot.
Hensley is obviously having a rough season, losing the starting job to Maddie Rooney. However, a team like Boston, who clearly doesn’t have faith in any of its goaltenders other than Aerin Frankel, could probably give Hensley a change of scenery and utilize her as a capable backup.