Previewing the PWHL Season: Top Rookies

One storyline to watch in the PWHL this season, each day this week!

Preparations are in full gear for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s sophomore season, which kicks off this weekend. On Tuesday night, the league released its waiver-eligible list, a small group of players who had not made any of the six final rosters or been signed as reserve players.

Here’s the list of players who were waiver-eligible on Tuesday night and able to be signed by any of the other teams prior to Wednesday’s 5 p.m. deadline:

Boston: Cami Kronish (G), Ilona Markova (F), Maude Poulin-Labelle (D)

Minnesota: Lauren Bench (G), Sydney Brodt (F), Kaitlyn O’Donohue (F)

Montreal: Marlène Boissonnault (G), Sarah Bujold (F), Tricia Deguire (G)

New York: Madison Bizal (D), Alexa Gruschow (F), Savannah Norcross (F)

Ottawa: Alexandra Lehmann (G), Audrey-Anne Veillette (F), Madeline Wethington (D)

Toronto: Laura Kluge (F)

Note: Laura Kluge has to return to Germany to fulfill her required military service as part of the German Armed Forces’ Sports Promotion Program, or work on potentially getting a release.

As of writing, we’re now awaiting the PWHL’s official release on the final rosters, which can include up to 23 active players signed to Standard Player Agreements, plus up to three players signed to Reserve Player Contracts. Players on long-term injured reserve, like Toronto Sceptres forward Natalie Spooner, do not count toward the limit.

Which brings us to today’s question: With an influx of newcomers into the PWHL this season, who are the rookies to watch?