Canadian cricketers win second game in a row at ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualifier
KING CITY — Kanwarpal Tathgur scored 53 not out as Canada defeated the Cayman Islands by 59 runs Monday for its second win in as many matches at the Americas Qualifier for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The Canadian men downed Bermuda by 110 runs Sunday.
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The Caymans won the toss at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground and elected to field Monday. Canada finished at 162 for five in its allotted 20 overs with the Caymans restricted to 103 for nine in response.
Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands are competing in an eight-day double round-robin format that will see the group winner advance to next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Canada made its T20 World Cup debut last year, failing to advance out of the group stage after beating Ireland and losing to Pakistan and co-host U.S. A match against India was abandoned due to inclement weather.
Canadian opener Aaron Johnson did not make it out of the first over Monday, failing to score before being caught with just two runs on the board. No. 3 batsman Pargat Singh was out leg before wicket for one run, lasting just two balls.
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Opener Yuvraj Samra and captain Nicholas Kirton put on a 47-run partnership, with Samra finishing on 28 runs and Kirton on 42. Tathgur hit four fours and two sixes in his 32-ball knock.
Openers Jermaine Baker and Akshay Naidoo led the Cayman Islands with 30 and 24 runs, respectively. There was little resistance further down the batting order, however, with the Caymans crumbling from 70 for two to 97 for nine.
Shivam Sharma led the Canadian bowlers with three wickets.
Canada faces the Bahamas on Wednesday, Cayman Islands on Thursday, Bahamas on Saturday and Bermuda next Sunday.
The Cayman Islands and Bahamas were recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier.
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Canada is ranked 19th in T20 play by the International Cricket Council, compared to No. 27 for Bermuda, No. 41 for the Cayman Islands and No. 52 for the Bahamas.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025
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New York Times
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- New York Times
Maple Leafs depth chart 1.0: How Knies, Tavares decisions will affect the offseason
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Locking Knies down for the long haul brings a higher price tag in the short term and less money to spend this summer. The upside, though, could be huge as the cap continues to rise, and more so if Knies becomes a bona fide star. Say the Leafs signed Knies to a seven- or eight-year deal, with a cap hit of $8 million — today's equivalent of Matt Boldy's seven-year, $49 million deal with Minnesota in Jan. 2023. By year three of the deal, when the cap is expected to reach $113.5 million, Knies would be making last season's equivalent of $6.2 million on the cap. Were he to blossom into a 70- or 80-point all-situations power forward by then, the Leafs would have a real bargain on their hands. The Leafs wouldn't be reaping much, if any, value in the near term on a long contract. They would be more or less paying Knies his present-day worth, and maybe even a little more. A short-term deal, on the other hand, would present slightly more flexibility today and allow the front office to make the roster a smidge deeper in the next couple of seasons. The downside of a short-term deal would almost certainly come on the back end when the salary cap is a lot higher than it is today, and all the more so if Knies leaps into stardom. Sign Knies to a two-year contract now, for instance, and he'll be in a position to negotiate again in the summer of 2027 when the cap has risen approximately $18 million from where it is today. That would likely mean Knies pulling down a cap hit in double figures on what would be his third NHL contract. Advertisement Would the two sides meet in the middle, with something like the five-year deal at $8.4 million AAV Wyatt Johnston signed with the Dallas Stars this spring? (The fact that Johnston is a centre who has scored 30 goals or more in back-to-back seasons skews the comp somewhat. He's also a little younger.) The Leafs played their last game over a month ago and still haven't come to terms yet on a new deal for Tavares despite mutual interest. (And it's not close, according to the latest reporting from The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.) It feels a bit like a game of chicken is going on between the two sides. The Leafs know Tavares doesn't want to continue his career anywhere else, and Tavares' camp knows the Leafs (sort of) need him back, given their limited options this summer. Matt Duchene's four-year deal with Dallas with a cap hit of $4.5 million is probably a strike in the Leafs' favour, while Brock Nelson's three-year deal with Colorado with a cap hit of $7.5 million is one Tavares' camp might point to for comparison (especially after he out-produced Nelson last season). Duchene and Nelson were also two theoretical alternatives, which — coupled with Sam Bennett's apparent desire to stay in Florida — leaves little in the way of free-agent recourse for the Leafs if Tavares doesn't stick around. How badly do the Leafs want to keep him if a three-year deal with a Nelson-like number is what it takes? The Leafs may want to sign Tavares to the same kind of long-ish deal as Chris Tanev last summer (six years, $4.5 million cap hit). Tavares gets his money in that case and the Leafs bring down the cap hit. However, Tavares might look around and see Brad Marchand on the verge of another rich deal at age 38 and wonder whether he might land one more sweet contract himself after this one. Advertisement Sign Tavares and the Leafs wouldn't technically have to land another centre, though rolling back the same look down the middle that failed in each of the past two seasons would be a mistake. (And there are reasons to move off Tavares as the No. 2 centre regardless.) 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Technically, that gig could simply go to William Nylander, who played frequently there over the years, just not last season under Craig Berube, who was resistant to the combination. (He should reconsider that stance moving forward.) Brad Marchand obviously wouldn't bring Marner-like skills to Matthews' line, but he does have the tools and experience to be a good fit there. Anthony Beauvillier could bring a brasher dimension to Matthews' wing, if nothing near Marner's skill. Patrick Kane would have been an intriguing short-term option, but he appears destined to return to Detroit. Advertisement The Leafs could look to the trade market for a skilled top-six winger, but as with the need at centre, what are they trading to get said player? (Would they consider the apparently available Evander Kane, not necessarily to play with Matthews?) 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All No. 2s, essentially. Bring one in and the Leafs would have to entrust Stolarz or Woll with a fuller No. 1 workload next season. Stolarz was excellent last season, but he's also 31, started only 33 games during the regular season and is entering the last year of his contract. (The Leafs could offer him an extension on July 1.) Woll would be the more obvious trade chip, though he's also long-term upside at the position for the Leafs and is set to begin the three-year extension he signed last summer at $3.66 million. That said, the crease was a position of strength last season. The Leafs may not be inclined to mess with it. They will need to add a No. 3 to the depth chart this summer, whether that's by re-signing Murray or bringing in someone like James Reimer, Alex Lyon or David Rittich as experienced support in his place.
New York Times
an hour ago
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Canucks offseason preview mailbag, part 1: UFA targets and Quinn Hughes' future
The next 10 days could prove to be transformative for both the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL as a whole. We're entering a new era of NHL hockey, one that will be defined by cap growth, player power and recruiting efficiency. An era in which parity, which has already died, will be formally buried six feet under. An era in which super teams will reign in low tax jurisdictions, and in which superstar players will have a greater say in determining both team composition and the outcome of games. Advertisement The ramifications of these changes will be felt severely, for both better and worse. One way or another, these dynamics will shape the future of the league and the future of the Canucks organization. As we wait for the silly season to kick into high gear, we opened up the old VIP mailbag last week and received over 100 submissions from you, our loyal readers. Over the next two days, we'll answer some of the pressing offseason questions our subscribers are pondering. Welcome to part one of your Canucks offseason preview mailbag! Note: Submitted questions may be edited for clarity and style. Why are we working ourselves up into a frenzy of anxiety over Quinn Hughes next contract? He's still a year away from being able to sign an extension, why are we all up in arms over a situation we can't even do anything about yet? — Colin F. We had a lot of mailbag submissions that strongly suggested the big Hughes question is a media creation and something we're spending too much time discussing and analyzing. While I strongly disagree that it's a storyline being trumped up without cause, because it absolutely isn't, I do tend to think the level of anxiety that surrounds the possibility is uncalled for. In particular, there's a panicky notion that perhaps the Canucks should consider pulling the cord ahead of time on this core group and beginning a rebuild now. To me, that's hogwash. Whatever Hughes decides to do next summer — whether he's willing to extend in Vancouver or not — he's the best defender in franchise history and one of the five most impactful individual skaters in hockey. No amount of futures, young players or draft picks would better position this franchise than having Hughes on its roster and in its lineup. Moreover, Hughes' value this summer — with two seasons remaining on his second contract — won't be as high as it will be next summer when the star defender can be dealt with a pre-arranged, maximum-term extension. Every team in hockey would trade a haul to land Hughes for a couple of seasons, but they'd pay even more to lock up Hughes as a long-term fit for their club. The moment Hughes becomes extension eligible, he'll gain a solid amount of power over his playing future. That's a frightening pivot point from a Canucks perspective, perhaps, but it's also an opportunity. As his leverage spikes next summer, so too will his trade value. And it makes zero sense whatsoever to consider dealing Hughes at anything less than maximum value. Advertisement So, in my view, there's no need to panic this summer. Or even worry about it. Take your absolute best shot at putting together the best team you can around the best defender this franchise has ever been fortunate enough to roster, and let the chips fall where they may. If Hughes decides he wants a new challenge, or wants to play with his brothers, that's a next-summer problem. In the short term, the organization should take its best shot with Hughes in the lineup and the fans should try to enjoy one of the greatest Canucks of all time for as long as he's playing in Vancouver. If Quinn Hughes was put on the trade market today, what is his value? Are we talking Desmond Bane 4 firsts and players or what? Any trades from the past 10 years that would be comparable for his value? — Joseph C. The history of Norris Trophy-winning defenders being traded in their primes is a brief pamphlet indeed. There are a few examples across the past 25 years that we can look at, however: the Erik Karlsson trade to San Jose, the P.K. Subban trade to Nashville and the two Chris Pronger trades (first to Edmonton, then to St. Louis). Karlsson was dealt from the Ottawa Senators to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for an absolute haul, including a 2020 first-round pick, which became the No. 3 selection (Tim Stützle), a pair of second-round draft picks, Chris Tierney, Dylan DeMelo and a couple of prospects, including a recent first-round pick in Josh Norris. I'd suggest that's the template you'd be trying to shoot for if you're Vancouver and a Hughes trade became necessary: a first-round pick, a first-round equivalent prospect, multiple young roster players and multiple additional assets carrying some level of value beneath that of a first-round pick. Honestly, in equivalent value, even without factoring in the Stützle angle, the price paid by the Sharks to acquire Karlsson is something like the equivalent of four first-rounders. Advertisement The Subban deal is a bit of an odd one in that it was a one-for-one trade featuring another elite defender, albeit it was Shea Weber who was a fair bit older than Subban. That's the other model for the Canucks to consider in a Hughes deal; targeting another comparable, elite player at the same position instead of a package of young players, picks and prospects. Pronger, meanwhile, was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers for Eric Brewer — a star defender in his own right at the time — and two prospects who'd been drafted in the first or second rounds of the NHL Draft a couple of years prior and never really became NHL impact guys. It's a deal that sort of splits the difference between what the Sharks paid for Karlsson and what the Predators gave up for Subban (in that the St. Louis Blues netted an established, Team Canada-level defender and multiple futures for their Norris Trophy-calibre blueliner). When he was dealt again after one season in Edmonton, Pronger fetched a first-round pick, an additional conditional first-round pick (which became Jordan Eberle), a promising blue-line prospect in Ladislav Smid and Joffrey Lupul who was coming off of 50-point season as a 22-year-old. So that's another template in which the Oilers were able to land an established young star player, and multiple high value futures. If we consider that Sharks deal to be something of an outlier and scale it back somewhat while considering the overall trend across the four deals this Century involving recent Norris Trophy winning defenders in their primes, we can capture something of a snap shot of what history tells us Hughes' value would be. It would start with a young, established NHL player with star potential, a first-round pick and an additional prospect (with equivalent value of a first-round pick). You'd then probably be pushing to net an additional future beyond that — either a B prospect tracking well, or an additional second-round pick — with your mileage varying based on the calibre of the young, established NHL player in the deal. Just as an exercise to try and make this feel somewhat more realistic, let's pick the Seattle Kraken as the team that Vancouver is trading Hughes too (which would never happen, but this is just for the purposes of illustration). The history of these types of deal would suggest that the Canucks would be justified in asking for one of Matthew Beniers or Shane Wright, a first-round pick, a prospect like Carson Rehkopf or Eduard Sale, and either a conditional second-round pick or a prospect like Lukas Dragicevic. How many of these assets do you expect to be traded by the end of the offseason? Jonathan Lekkerimaki Tom Willander Victor Mancini Elias Pettersson (F) Elias Pettersson (D) 2025 1st 2025 2nd 2026 1st 2026 2nd — Andy L. Andy, I expect the Canucks to trade at least two of those assets at some point this summer. I can tell you right now that Elias Pettersson, the defender, isn't a piece that the Canucks are willing to move — at all — unless an opposing team approaches them with a completely absurd, unrealistic overpay. I strongly suspect the same would apply to Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Tom Willander. Advertisement As for centre Elias Pettersson, the Canucks seem to be pretty confident of his ability to bounce back. At the very least, they expect him to be better next season, even if it takes another year for him to retrieve the form he showed before signing his eight-year mega extension with the franchise. You never say never, given the risk profile of holding his deal and how poorly he performed last season, relative to his usual standard, but I would be surprised at this point if the team were to deal Pettersson this summer. I think Victor Mancini could end up being a trade chip that the Canucks consider parting with if the value is there. Every asset they acquired from the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade, in my view, was acquired with future value in mind (and the most valuable asset was dealt that same day, as you'll recall). Mancini has performed exceptionally well for the Abbotsford Canucks in the Calder Cup playoffs and the Canucks are high on him, but so are a lot of other teams, given his traits and profile. I think he's far more likely to end up in a deal than the likes of Willander and Pettersson (the defender) this summer. We'll see if something comes together before they're on the clock, but I think we'd all be somewhat surprised if the Canucks were to make a selection with the No. 15 pick on Friday. I suspect they would be willing to deal future draft picks as well, if the right opportunity to buy came along. Ultimately, I think Vancouver will be motivated enough to add talent that it'll part with at least two of the assets you listed. The draft picks and Mancini are the trade chips we should be watching most closely. Can you give us a couple of names of players that the Canucks should be looking at, that no one is talking about yet? — Ryan D. There are a couple centre-capable forwards I like as affordable upside bets with some positional versatility to help out who at least bring some size, faceoff winning and speed to the lineup. On the high end, I'm surprised Jonathan Drouin isn't being talked about more as an offensive sparkplug option for teams like Vancouver this summer. Obviously, Drouin has been an exceptional fit in Colorado on a bargain contract the past two seasons, but I think he has more to offer than just built-in chemistry with Nathan MacKinnon, his former junior teammate. Drouin is better on the wing than at centre, but for a team in need of some creativity, he'd fit the bill in Vancouver. Jeff Skinner is another guy I'd have some interest in if I were in the Canucks' shoes. Though he was largely iced in the postseason by the Oilers, I thought his intelligence and dynamism still showed up in the offensive zone when he was in the lineup. He was a Jim Rutherford draft pick back in the day, too. Advertisement Lower down the lineup, there's a trio of bottom-six guys with middle-six potential that I quite like at the right price. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Justin Danforth is a really strong skater and decent faceoff winner who is also right-handed. I've always been a fan of Nico Sturm's physicality and overall game, and wonder if he could still have some top-nine capability despite being used sparingly by the Florida Panthers in the postseason after being acquired at the trade deadline. And Nick Bjugstad is getting a bit long in the tooth and got pushed down a pretty deep Utah Mammoth lineup last season, but is only a year removed from producing 40 points. Bjugstad has size, can win draws and may still have enough skill to contribute in the middle six and on the power play. Rolling the dice on a player (or two) from that latter bucket could pay dividends, but there really isn't much on the unrestricted free-agency market that I find especially exciting. The secondary market may offer the Canucks (and rival NHL teams) a bit more once we find out who isn't receiving qualifying offers and who is being bought out. Given the lean market on UFA centres and few trade chips to offer in trades, shouldn't the 'Nucks be re-acquiring their 3rd RND 2026 pick soon and what will it cost to do so? — Jamie V. I don't expect the Canucks to aggressively pursue the offer sheet direction as a method of landing talent this summer. Truthfully, they just don't really have the cap flexibility to go the offer sheet route and fill out their forward ranks the way their hockey operations leadership hopes to. That said, as a last resort method to graft some young talent and upside the roster, it would be excellent to have the flexibility to consider an offer sheet for a Will Cuylle type if the opportunity presents itself. So, even if the Canucks don't tender an offer sheet this summer, paying a modest premium to reacquire their own 2026 third-round pick would be worthwhile in my view. As for the cost, I'd expect Vancouver could easily send San Jose's 2025 third-round pick, which they own, to Calgary for its own 2026 third-round selection if motivated to do so. The Sharks' third-rounder is the first pick of the round this year, so it's effectively like a late second-round pick. Truthfully, that would represent a modest overpay, but depending on what the Canucks can accomplish over the next two weeks, it could be worthwhile because of the options it could open up for Vancouver in the restricted free-agent market this summer. (Top photo of Quinn Hughes: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
PWHL draft ranking 2025: Casey O'Brien, Haley Winn highlight the list
The 2025 Professional Women's Hockey League draft is fast approaching. On Tuesday night, 48 of the best available players will be selected by the league's eight teams — which now includes Seattle and Vancouver — across six rounds. Nearly 200 players declared for this year's draft, hoping to join the PWHL from the NCAA, USports, European leagues and more. Advertisement Unlike the last two years, with national team stars Taylor Heise and Sarah Fillier, the class of 2025 doesn't quite have an undisputed No. 1 pick. Instead, the draft is led by a trio of elite college players: Patty Kazmaier Award winner Casey O'Brien, U.S. defender Haley Winn and Czech national team forward Kristýna Kaltounková. The margins are razor thin between the three, and one could reasonably make a case for each to go No. 1 to the New York Sirens. The team needs a top center to replace Alex Carpenter (O'Brien), but also seems intent on building a superteam on the blue line (Winn). And we can't forget New York's head coach left Colgate — where he coached Kaltounková for four years — for the PWHL. We have our own opinion on who is the top prospect, but it's still anyone's guess what New York GM Pascal Daoust might do, which adds plenty of intrigue to draft night. Other top players include a pair of defenders in Nicole Gosling and Rory Guilday, as well as Finnish star forward Michelle Karvinen. The consensus around the league is that the draft starts to thin outside of the top two rounds. There's still talent to be had into the later rounds, especially for teams that need depth after the expansion draft, but selections will quickly come down to GM preference. The Athletic canvassed several coaches, general managers and agents from the PWHL and the NCAA when compiling this list, but the evaluations and rankings are strictly our own. Here's a look at the top 40 players available in the 2025 PWHL Draft. O'Brien was the No. 1 center on the best team in the NCAA last season and was 'the best player in college hockey,' according to Wisconsin Badgers coach Mark Johnson. She won the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award, was named WCHA Player and Forward of the Year, and led the NCAA in scoring with 88 points in 41 games, all en route to a third national championship. It was the highest-scoring season in almost a decade – since Alex Carpenter scored 88 points in 2016 for Boston College – and set a new Badgers' single-season points record, passing Meghan Duggan's 87 points in 2010-11. O'Brien is an excellent playmaker who reads the game at an advanced level and has phenomenal vision and hands as a passer – she had more assists last season (62) than most players in the country had points. O'Brien is defensively responsible, can play in all situations, is strong in the faceoff circle, and is able to make an impact on every shift. She might not have ideal size for the PWHL game, but she's a strong skater and athlete who can attack defenders with her speed and skill. Winn is the top defender available in the draft and a dynamic offensive talent. She was a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award this season and was named ECAC Player and Defender of the Year. Winn was the second-highest scoring defender in the nation — behind Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey — set career highs in goals (14) and assists (32) and led the Golden Knights in scoring with 46 points in 38 games. Winn has been a regular on Team USA's blue line over the last three years and is considered one of the top young defenders in the women's game. Winn is an excellent skater and really gifted with the puck when she makes plays on the offensive blue line. She makes a good first pass, but also carries a ton of pucks out of the zone. She likes to use her skating to activate into the rush or jump off the line into the high slot. She's not the most physical defender, but she defends with her footwork, stick and timing at a very high level. She projects as a top-four defender who can drive offense and transition play in the PWHL. Kaltounková is a physically dominant forward with the hardest shot in the draft class. She was top-10 in goals in the NCAA this season and tied for the scoring lead for Czechia in her women's world championship debut in April. Kaltounková finished her career at Colgate with program records in goals (111) and game-winning goals (19), and finished just six points shy of the record in points, which is held by Danielle Serdachny, who was drafted second overall last season. She establishes her presence over the course of a game by winning battles along the wall, playing through contact, getting her shot off from the slot and going to the net, where she has good hands and uses her frame to take away goalies' eyes. She's also a strong skater and excellent on the breakout. Kaltounková fits the pro mold and her physical style of play will likely benefit from the PWHL's rules. Gosling has been a top-pair defender at Clarkson alongside Winn, and one of the best defenders in college hockey over the last few seasons. She finished her college career as the highest-scoring defender in Clarkson Golden Knights history, and ranks second in points-per-game (.84) only behind 2024 PWHL Defender of the Year Erin Ambrose. The gap between Gosling and Winn isn't huge, as they're both elite two-way, point-producing defenders, but they go about the game a bit differently. Winn is the more dynamic skater, while Gosling plays a more cerebral, heads-up game and can control the pace of the game from the back end — similar to Ambrose. Gosling closes gaps well with her positioning and active stick, and can play with a bit of snarl and physicality when she's defending the net front or battling for pucks along the walls. She projects to be a good top-four defender in the PWHL. Guilday is an excellent defensive defender who projects to be a very good pro. As captain at Cornell last season, Guilday anchored the blue line on one of the best defensive teams in the nation (1.46 goals against). She also won three medals at women's worlds, including gold in 2024, as a member of Team USA. Guilday has good size and defends at an elite level. She plays good gaps, keeps stick-on-puck, and defends the rush well. She does well to take away time and space from opposing forwards and isn't afraid to play the body. Guilday doesn't offer a ton of offense, but moves pucks well enough and can contribute with a strong shot. Cherkowski is a versatile forward who can play center and both wings and was an impact player at Clarkson. She's a good penalty killer, could play the net front or flank on the power play and finished fifth in points among college players in this year's draft, with 45 in 40 games. Cherkowski's game does not lack dimension. She skates well and can get up and down the ice in transition. She's smart on and off the puck and can handle physicality in the tough areas of the ice. Cherkowski could be a Swiss Army Knife-type player for a PWHL team, with the ability to play a top-six role or be a reliable third-line checking center. Mlynkova is a gifted goal scorer with big-time international experience, having represented Czechia at six women's world championships and the 2022 Olympics. After four solid seasons at the University of Vermont, she transferred to the University of Minnesota for her fifth year of eligibility and proved herself at the WCHA level with 16 goals and 34 points — good for second and third on the Golden Gophers. Mlynkova and teammate Ella Huber are pretty close on the ranking, and will likely come down to a general manager's preference. Mlynkova is a talented goal scorer who is agile, slippery with the puck and can escape small areas. She's a smaller forward, but isn't afraid to go to the net and get bumped by larger defenders. She plays hard and smart off the puck and would fit well on a team that needs a top-six scoring winger. Huber is a versatile 200-foot forward and the third-highest scoring college player in the draft after scoring a career-high 48 points this season. She might not be a star herself but she can be a reliable center beside one, which she's shown over almost a decade playing beside Abbey Murphy. Huber has good speed and finish to her game and has no problem going to the dirty areas of the ice to gain possession and make plays. She's a smart player who reads the game at an advanced level and knows how to play off of her linemates. Huber is strong on faceoffs and should be able to play up and down the lineup in the PWHL. Cooper's offensive ability, at least for some teams, could push her ahead of Rory Guilday, who only scored nine points last season, but they would be giving up some size and shutdown ability in return. Cooper, the third-highest scoring college defender in the draft, isn't quite as dynamic as Winn or Gosling, but has decent individual skill, walks the line well and is willing to jump into the rush. She gets her shots through from the offensive blue line and makes a good first pass out of the zone. She can defend well and uses her stick to break up a lot of plays. Cooper projects as a solid two-way depth defender. Karvinen is one of the best European forwards of all time, and will add a (skilled) veteran presence to a team's top nine. She became Finland's leading scorer at women's worlds, ahead of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Riikka Sallinen, and remained highly productive in the SDHL with 21 goals and 35 points in 32 games this season. Where most players slow down noticeably as they get older, Karvinen skates well enough for the PWHL level, playing with pace on the forecheck and in pursuit of the puck. She's a smart, heady player with a nose for the net and good hands in tight. She could be drafted anywhere in the first few rounds as teams look to fill holes at the top of their lineup. At 35, she won't play as long as the majority of 2025 draft picks, but general managers will know exactly what they get in Karvinen, unlike some of the depth players coming out of the NCAA. Buglioni is a cerebral player and a hard-working center who can be relied upon in all three zones. She won two national championships with the Buckeyes and leaves OSU as the program's leader in game-winning goals and tied for the record in shorthanded goals. Her numbers didn't always pop on deep teams, but she broke 40 points twice and finished her college career right around a point per game. Buglioni plays with pace and is a competitor who finds ways to make things happen, despite being on the smaller side. She should be able to play up and down a PWHL lineup. Hustler was named a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award after a breakout 2024 season, where she led the Saints in goals (24), assists (31) and points (55) — and outscored Toronto Sceptres first-rounder Julia Gosling. This season, Hustler led the team in scoring by 14 points (39 to her nearest teammate's 25). She has good size, protects pucks well and should be able to play through the extra contact in the PWHL. She's got a pro shot and good feel around the net. And while she's not the quickest skater, it's not a major concern. Hustler projects as a middle-six power forward. Zanon started her college career at Penn State, where she was the 2021 National Rookie of the Year and became the first Nittany Lion to be named a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. She finished her career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning a national championship in 2024, and as a more than point-per-game player. She also played for Team USA at the December Six Nations tournament, and scored two massive goals to get to the gold medal game. Zanon is a crafty player with evasiveness on the puck and a deceptive release. And though she's not the biggest, she plays a determined game and should be able to contribute in the PWHL. Webster is easily a top-15 player based on merit, with two national championships and an NCAA tournament MVP under her belt. But she's also an elite field hockey player and a member of the U.S. National Team with her eyes on the 2028 summer Olympics. If she were to play in the PWHL, it could be for as little as one season before fully committing to field hockey training, which could move her down some draft boards. On the ice, though, Webster has high-end speed that helps her track, get to pucks, win foot races, and create off the rush. She plays on strong instincts, jumps on opportunities, works hard and can catch your eye when she's bursting around the ice. After Guilday and Cooper are off the board, there won't be a ton of top — pro ready — defenders remaining. Jobst-Smith is one of them, though, which could make her a riser on draft-day. She's a smart, well-rounded defender, puck moving defender who can skate and has top-level international experience, playing for Germany at women's worlds and Olympic qualifiers. Jobst-Smith walks the line well and can make plays on outlets or zone exits. She's not super physical but she defends hard and smart. Irving was the Huskies' No. 1 center and leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, putting together back-to-back 30-plus point campaigns. She's a strong skater with an ability to drive down the ice and attack, win races, and track pucks inside the offensive zone. She can score in the slot with a good mid-range shot and can finish plays with good hands around the net. Irving is a hard-worker and could be an elite bottom-six checking forward who could add valuable secondary scoring in the PWHL. Van Wieren is a physically imposing center, fiercely competitive and coming off a career-high 17 goals and 40 goals as a fifth-year, tying for the UMD lead in scoring. She's poised with the puck, has a heavy shot and wins a lot of puck battles. Van Wieren was a huge part of both of Minnesota-Duluth's special teams this season, and was first over the boards in moments that mattered most, playing 24 minutes a night. Her size and well-rounded toolkit gives her a solid bottom-six profile in the PWHL. Murphy has been one of the cornerstones of Colgate's program for the last four years and was named co-captain of the team this year. In her first three seasons, she challenged Kayle Osborne, who was drafted 28th overall in last year's PWHL draft, for starts and turned the depth chart into a tandem. This year, the starters crease was hers, and she was outstanding with a .939 save percentage that is consistent with Murphy's career .937 save percentage. Murphy is a good sized, athletic, and technically sound goalie who plays sharp angles, controls her rebounds well, and can go post-to-post or low-to-high with her quickness. Goalies are hard to project, but with the expansion goalie shuffle, Murphy could be a solid mid-round pick — and is our No. 1 goalie in this class. Hjalmarsson went undrafted last season, but with so many holes on original six rosters after the PWHL Expansion draft, she's more likely to hear her name called this time around. She was Linköping's captain as a rookie in 2023-24 playing to above a point per game and centering their top line. This season, she was less productive in the SDHL but had her best showing at women's worlds scoring five points in six games while wearing an 'A' for Sweden. Hjalmarsson is good at the net front with an ability to take pucks on her forehand or backhand and quickly put them upstairs. She handles and protects the puck really well for a taller player and shows good offensive instincts. Hjalmarsson should get picked up and we could see her having a good career in the PWHL. Mobley had an interesting college career. She spent her first three seasons at Quinnipiac and led the Bobcats in scoring as both a sophomore and junior. She then transferred to Ohio State, won a national championship in more of a depth role, and transferred again to play her fifth year of eligibility closer to home at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. At UMD, she led the Bulldogs in with a career-high 19 goals, which is tied for fourth (with Hustler) among college players in the draft. Mobley has good size, speed and a good shot. She wins battles and protects pucks well and could fit in nicely as a bottom-six secondary scorer. Gentry is a pro-sized two-way center with a nose for the net and a knack for banging home chances around the crease. She plays to her identity as a physical competitor, with a hard game that should be well suited for the PWHL. She gets to the net front, battles for pucks, and is a reliable defensive player who can take a lot of draws. Her feet are a little heavy but she's strong on her skates, she outmuscles opponents on the cycle, and she plays a simple, effective game. Gentry could find herself in the top-20 mix in this relatively shallow draft class, given her skillset fits a desirable depth mold in the PWHL. And if teams want someone who can bang around in their bottom-six, they probably won't find anyone better than Gentry. Hemp was a consistent top-six forward at Minnesota and a two-year captain, averaging around 30 points per season. She played all situations for the Golden Gophers and generated offense while mostly playing without the dynamic Huber-Murphy at five-on-five. Hemp is a natural right-shot, but can play both wings and take faceoffs. She's a smart player and tied with Mlynkova — a potential top-10 pick — with 16 goals last season. She played on the U.S. collegiate team and could move up closer to Tier 3 if GMs see her as a comparable forward to Buglioni, Zanon and Co. While Newhook's production at BC doesn't jump off the page, she was one of their three leading scorers in four straight seasons, was a successful linemate of Boston Fleet star Hannah Bilka early in her college career, and was a co-captain of the Eagles in her final two seasons. Newhook is a really smart player with good skill. She was a prominent penalty killer for the Eagles and plays a committed two-way game at the center-ice position, though the faceoff circle isn't a major strength. She projects as an effective bottom-sixer. Wallin is the third in a trio of forwards from UMD last season and finished tied for the team lead in scoring with Van Wieren (40 points). She might be the most natural goal scorer out of the UMD forwards, with a nice shot and ability to find pucks in the slot, but there's a bigger question mark on how she might progress at the next level than her teammates. Still, she's a good player who worked to get into her scoring positions last season and could be a pro. Upson is only 21 years old and had four very productive years at Mercyhurst, registering 147 points in 148 games. She led the Lakers in scoring with 43 points in 38 games last season, which is sixth among college players in the draft and more than Tier 3 players — such as Buglioni and Hustler — above her. The AHA conference is on the weaker side compared to the WCHA, but Mercyhurst and Penn State are solid programs, and she was one of the top players in the conference during her time with the Lakers. Upson's game is all about two-way smarts. She's excellent in the faceoff circle. She sees the ice really well with and without the puck. She's got a natural release and very good feel as a passer. She was consistent shift-to-shift and game-to-game in our viewings. She's not a burner as a skater, but she can play with pace. Neitzke put up good numbers on a bad Lindenwood team and is one of the more intriguing forwards in the bottom 15. Her 26 points in 32 games led her team in scoring by 12 points last year — her nearest teammate had just 14 points, the same number of goals she had. Neitzke can create her own offense at a high rate and has a big-time shot — and should benefit from playing with a better cast around her where she can focus on getting open and going to the net as a secondary scorer. She's also got the competitiveness and the jam needed to play in the PWHL. Ross is a good defensive defender coming out of a strong St. Cloud system that prioritizes being hard on pucks and a pain to play against. She's an ultra-competitive, physically involved and effective right-shot D who has been one of the country's top shot blockers. Ross is strong for her size and wins a lot of battles with her strength and power. She can also, at the very least, chip in on offense thanks to a very hard point shot. Ross projects as a sturdy third-pairing defender who can be relied upon in all three zones. Wozniewicz's stats don't stand up against the other NCAA players ranked here but she was one of the best checking forwards in college hockey and played that role so effectively that there's some belief out there that she can be a good fourth-liner in the PWHL — similar to Gentry but with slightly more skill. Wozniewicz can skate well and uses her size and feet to be an effective, high-energy forechecker. She wins battles, can play the physical game and has a hard shot. Wozniewicz scored the game-winning goal with 24.5 seconds left in the WCHA Finals for the Wisconsin Badgers, which proved not only her finishing ability, but also the trust her coaching staff had in her in a massive moment. Her game lacks dimension and playmaking, but she's effective at what she does and could be worth a mid-to-late-round selection. Reilly did not play hockey last year, but was one of the most productive defenders in the country in 2023-24, and was among our favorite players before realizing she didn't declare for the draft. She's in the mix this year, and should be considered now that she's ready to return to her playing career. Reilly wore the 'C' for Quinnipiac, played big minutes and scored a career-high 10 goals as the team's leading scorer in 2023-24. Her 39 points in her final year were more than double her previous career high (19) in college. So, whether it was a new trend for Reilly or just one highly productive season is a fair question. But she's a hard worker with good offensive instincts and a big one-timer, which gives her some offensive upside at the next level. Her play defensively isn't as strong as some of the other defenders in this tier and comes with some leaks. She projects as a depth defender and potential second-unit power-play type in the PWHL. Labad was a consistent producer for Quinnipiac over the last three seasons and played for Canada's national collegiate team at Six Nations. She's a good skater who is fast in straight lines and can win races and capitalize on opportunities to attack down ice. She protects pucks well and can put the puck in the net with a natural and hard release. She's probably not going to be a penalty killer at the next level and she's not a natural playmaker, so she'll have to carve out a niche as a secondary scorer if she wants to play in the PWHL. But she has the tools and the makeup to be that type of player — a bottom-six shooter who can provide depth offense as a scorer and play well off of a pass-first linemate. Brengman won two national titles with the Buckeyes and was a veteran leader on the team as a fifth-year senior after eight teammates were drafted in 2024. Brengman scored a career-best 19 points in 40 games and averaged around 24 minutes per game, including more than three minutes per game on the penalty kill, which led all Buckeyes. Brengman is a strong skater, especially going forward, which helps her get up into the play in transition. She doesn't have a ton of skill on the puck, but plays a smart two-way game that should make her a capable third-pairing D option in the PWHL. Baskin was a go-to player in all situations for the Bulldogs over the last two years. She was a top penalty killer for the team and led all UMD defenders in points as a junior and senior. Baskin is a smooth skater and comfortable puck handler who can side-step pressure and play on her toes in the offensive zone. Defensively, while she's not the strongest or most physical player, Baskin has a good stick, uses her edges to maintain a good gap and plays a smart all-around game. She should be in the mix to get picked and has several pro qualities. Lobdell leaves the Nittany Lions as the program's all-time leader in games played (168), goals by a defender (20), points by a defender (84) and penalty minutes by a defender (139). In her final year of eligibility last season, she led Penn State in plus-minus (plus-36) and blocked shots (46), and set a new career high with 21 points in 38 games. Lobdell averaged 22 minutes a night, was first over the boards on the penalty kill and contributed on the power play as the team's second-most productive D. Lobdell plays a physical, competitive, hard-nosed defensive style, playing the body and challenging opposing players in battles. She also has a hard shot and is comfortable attacking past the first layer into the zone. Her feet could stand to be a little quicker, but she's an average skater who could be a sturdy depth defender. A star in Russia, Shokhina has led their top level in scoring six times, has been named league MVP once, and led their regular season and playoffs in scoring again this season with 30 goals and 73 points in 42 games. She's a bit tricky to evaluate due to the varied quality of the ZhHL and the PWHL, so there's a question about how her game might translate to North America. She also hasn't played at a best-on-best international event since Russia's last international competition at the 2022 Olympics. Shokhina played in three U18 worlds, racking up 14 goals and 19 points in 16 games and once led the tournament in goals as a 15-year-old. But that was also 12 years ago. All that said, Shokhina looks like a skilled attacking winger, who plays quickly, skates well, has great hands and can really shoot it. Drafting her comes with some risk but her talent level makes her a worthwhile late-round bet. After four years at Bemidji, Hunt transferred to Minnesota Duluth and led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 goals and 34 points in 39 games in her fifth year of eligibility in 2023-24. She started 2024-25 on a tear with Lulea in the SDHL, ripping off five goals, 21 shots, and eight points before tearing both her ACL and MCL in just her sixth game to end her first pro season. Still, it wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a late-round flier on Hunt. She's a strong skater who can round corners quickly, attack into space, and really shoot the puck. She plays quickly and intentionally on offense and can push pace and challenge defenders. Hunt should be ready for next season and is worth a look as a potential up-and-down-the-lineup player who could be a shooter on a team's second power play and a potential contributor at five-on-five. Ahola has been Finland's No. 1 goalie at women's worlds the last few years and won back-to-back bronze medals. She looked human this year, but was unbelievable at 2024 worlds, making the third-most saves (169) in the tournament to get Finland back on the podium. She was named WCHA Goalie of the Year in 2023-24 after posting five shutouts and a .935 save percentage. Ahola had a down year at St. Cloud this season, with a .917 save percentage, but she leaves the program as its all-time wins leader and should be a solid pick for a team looking to shore up its goalie depth chart. Poniatovskaia's numbers on a low-scoring Yale team don't tell the full story of her skill level. She's an individually skilled defender who is confident with the puck on her stick, has slick hands, likes to take opposing players one-on-one, and can attack into the slot and make plays around the net. She's more of an individual playmaker than a facilitator, but she's got legit skill and offensive instincts. Defensively, she also has good size, breaks up her fair share of plays, and can move well. Her challenge at the pro level is going to come down to opportunity. She's probably not going to quarterback most teams' top power plays over the stars in the PWHL. And she's not a natural penalty-killing type, so she may just have to be a depth five-on-five defender who can make some plays with the puck. Bargman, Yale's captain this season, is a two-way forward who can be counted upon in all situations. She works, she's reliable defensively, she plays the net front well and scores a lot of goals right at the top of the crease. She doesn't have dynamic skill, playmaking or speed, but Bargman is a smart, well-rounded player who could play a bottom-six role. Segedi was captain of St. Lawrence as a fifth-year senior this season and has international experience playing for China at women's worlds and at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. She's an extremely smart center who makes her linemates better and is elite in the faceoff circle — she often took 20-25 faceoffs a game in college and won upwards of 60 percent of them. She has good hands and touch on the puck. And while she lacks size, Segedi uses her smarts to anticipate and support the play at a high level off the puck. She warrants draft consideration. After four seasons and two national championships at Wisconsin, Wheeler played her fifth year of eligibility at Ohio State and lost in the national championship to her old school. Her production in college doesn't leap off the page at you, but she has been an important player on deep teams and still finished her NCAA career with four consecutive seasons above 20 points. She played on both special teams for the Buckeyes and Badgers and was a consistent game-to-game contributor at five-on-five who logged 19-20 minutes per game as a forward. Wheeler is on the small side, but she's more skilled than her point totals indicate. She's got quick feet, she tracks pucks and she plays a smart, heady game. She could be a decent depth option worth a late-round pick. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Chris Tanouye, Gil Talbot / Getty Images)
