Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
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If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn.
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With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate?
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Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
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And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback.
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As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5.
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'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.'
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Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day.
Article content
In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks.
Article content
After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens.
Article content
'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick.
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Toronto Sun
4 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
NBA draft will have tons of international talent, which is to be expected
Published Jun 23, 2025 • 3 minute read FILE - Duke center Khaman Maluach (9) reacts during the second half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arizona, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP There's no Victor Wembanyama in the class headed to the NBA draft this week. There's no Zaccharie Risacher, either. For the first time since 2022, the first pick in the draft will not be someone from France. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Wembanyama had that title in 2023. Risacher had it last year. This year, Duke's Cooper Flagg is almost certain to go No. 1. That doesn't mean there isn't going to be a ton of international representation in these 59 picks. Far from it. It's not outside the realm of possibility that somewhere around a third of the picks called on Wednesday and Thursday will be players who either originally or currently hail from outside the United States — from the Bahamas, South Sudan, Russia, Canada, China, Australia, Lithuania, Spain, Israel, France and more. Some went to college in the U.S., others will be looking to come play in this country (or Canada, if the Toronto Raptors come calling) for the first time. 'The guys who came before us, these are guys that kind of created a path, like prepared the NBA to welcome Europeans and to make life easier for us,' said Stanford centre Maxime Raynaud, a first-round prospect from France. 'And I think the best way to pay respect to that is just coming in with the hungriest mentality and the best work ethic possible.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Read More The one-third estimate — if it works out that way over the draft nights — might sound like a lot, but it isn't. It actually is consistent with where the game is now, considering that roughly 30% of the players in the NBA this past season were born somewhere other than the U.S. Some are names that are known in the U.S. from playing in college: Baylor's VJ Edgecombe hails from the Bahamas and almost certainly will be a top-five pick, and Duke centre Khaman Maluach — originally from South Sudan, and someone still learning the game — is a top-10 candidate. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'If you told me three years ago, I didn't think I would be sitting here,' Maluach said. 'But I knew one day I would be sitting here.' A few stories from the international perspective to watch on Wednesday and Thursday: Noa Essengue, France He is a 6-foot-10 power forward who plays for the German club Ratiopharm Ulm. He is going to be drafted and almost certainly as a lottery pick. Whether he gets to the draft is anyone's guess; his team is still playing in its league championship series, so getting to New York might be tough. It could clinch Tuesday, so a Wednesday arrival isn't entirely impossible. Joan Beringer, France At 6-foot-11 with a wingspan of about 7-foot-4, Beringer — who played professionally in Slovenia — is intriguing because of his combination of size, footwork and high-level knowledge of how to play defence. Expect him to go somewhere around the middle of the first round. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He debuted with Real Madrid in 2023 and long has been considered someone who'll lead the next wave of players on Spain's national team. That is extremely high praise for the 6-foot-6 wing. Nolan Traore, France A very intriguing point guard, the 6-foot-3 (but very slender) teenager should be a first-rounder, but where he actually will land is a bit of a mystery. It's not going to be a surprise if he's one of at least three Frenchmen in the first 20 or so picks. Hansen Yang, China The inevitable Yao Ming comparisons will follow Yang into the NBA, but a solid showing at last month's draft combine have the Chinese centre — who stands 7-foot-1 and still may be growing — listed by many as a serious first-round prospect. He has excellent footwork and passing ability, and he knows he can still get much better. Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Maple Leafs Television World
Ottawa Citizen
4 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
Article content If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn. Article content With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate? Article content Article content Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content Article content And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback. Article content As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5. Article content Article content 'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.' Article content Article content Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day. Article content In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks. Article content After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens. Article content 'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick.
Calgary Herald
4 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Could Ottawa Charge trade up in PWHL draft that GM expects to get 'six terrific players'?
Article content If the Ottawa Charge had first pick in Tuesday's Professional Women's Hockey League draft, the decision would probably come down to University of Wisconsin centre Casey O'Brien and Clarkson University defender Haley Winn. Article content With the New York Sirens choosing first, does coach Greg Fargo urge them to take Kristyna Kaltounkova, who played four seasons for him at Colgate? Article content Article content Since consensus No. 1 pick Abbey Murphy opted out to put off a pro career to finish her collegiate playing days at the University of Minnesota, O'Brien, Winn and Kaltounkova could very well be the first names called when the league holds its third draft at Ottawa's Hard Rock Live inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Article content Article content And it's also quite likely Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld, the PWHL's most active trader, has inquired about moving up from fifth in the draft order to fill a glaring hole by taking O'Brien, who scored an NCAA-leading 88 points in 41 games last season to win the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female player in the United States, or Winn, the best defender in the class of '25 who could answer Ottawa's need on a depleted blue line and, with 14 goals and 46 points in 38 games for the Golden Knights in 2024-25, for a power play quarterback. Article content As it stands, Hirshfeld will have to broaden his scope at No. 5. Article content Article content 'We're looking at all options,' he told reporters attending a media availability Monday at TD Place. 'To be honest, we have a lot of spots to fill just because expansion really thinned us out. So I think we're looking at defenders and forwards. I can tell you we're not looking at a goalie.' Article content Article content Star puck-stopper Gwyneth Philips might be relieved to be reminded that the blue line has been a priority for the Charge on draft day. Article content In 2023, Ottawa's first three picks were defenders, and, last season, Hirshfeld focused on the position with three of seven picks. Article content After losing four defenders in the off-season — Ashton Bell and Aneta Tejralova through the expansion draft and Zoe Boyd and Jincy Roese to free agency — the Charge signed two in the last few days: Norway's Emma Bergesen and Brooke Hobson, who spent the past two seasons with the Sirens. Article content 'Emma was someone we looked at in last year's draft,' said Hirshfeld. 'We felt like she had a little more maturity in her game, and I think (last) year in Sweden, playing consistent minutes and the top line pairing was really good for her. When we look at this year's draft, I don't think it's quite as deep as last year's, and we have a third-round value on Emma for this year's draft, so the opportunity to sign her ahead of time really gives us another extra third-round pick.
