2024-25 PWHL Season Ice Garden Nontraditional Predictions Roundtable

It’s that time of year again: the season is about to start, training camps are well underway, and it’s time to start wondering what’s about to happen.

The first season of the PWHL was certainly a roller coaster ride where the highs just kept getting higher. With the first season in the books that means we finally have records to be beaten and standards to compare to. While The Ice Garden is eventually going to come out with a more classics prediction roundtable with things like awards, standings, and milestones, I thought we might start off a little differently.

Natalie Spooner scored 20 goals in 24 games last season. Do we see anyone scoring at that same pace (0.833 goals per game) this season, and if yes, then who? 

J: That’s funny, no. I expect that record to stand for a while.

Mike: I agree with J, that Spooner’s performance was outrageous and will not easily be repeated. That season almost felt like destiny – Spooner was a force of nature.

Maya: The goaltending is so strong in this league, I really can’t see this happening again, and I don’t think the hockey gods should allow it. 

Elisha: I also do not see this happening again, but if I had to pick a player I think it would be Marie-Philip Poulin.

Geremy: If the league average SV% drops from the 0.921 it was at for the 2024 season there’s a chance someone can match the goal scoring pace Spooner was on last season. Is it likely? I don’t think so. For as good as the goal scoring talent is in the PWHL no one had over even a 0.500 goals per game last season EXCEPT for Natalie Spooner. She didn’t even lead the league in SH% either. I’m going with J, Mike, and Maya here. Spooner is going to hold onto this record for a while. 

The league average SV% last season was 0.921. Why do you see it being higher or lower or even unchanged this season? 

J: I think this may lower slightly as teams settle in a little more and build more chemistry. On the whole though, nothing has changed much to affect this, and I don’t expect it will shift significantly until expansion happens.

Maya: I only see it changing if teams rotate through goalies more! We’re seeing pretty much the same goaltenders as last year so I don’t think it will change that much. I would like to see some of the new goalies (Philips, Kirk) get a chance to play. 

Elisha: I think it will be around the same this season. Teams will have more chemistry this year however the goalies in this league are fantastic and hard to beat.

Geremy: Last season was very rushed for everyone: the coaches, the players, the general managers, etcetera. When faced with a league full of players capable of playing defence along with some of the best goalies in the game, it’s going to be hard to score. I think this year we’re going to see teams be able to implement better offensive systems and allow players to develop more chemistry in the OZ. We’re not going to see a huge dip in the league average SV% but we’re going to see some dip. 

Boston and Minnesota made the first trade in PWHL history. What team looks poised to be a part of the first PWHL trade for the 24/25 season? 

Mike: Perhaps the New York Sirens? I’m not saying it will happen, but it would be something if there’s a Sarah Fillier blockbuster moving her to a Canadian team. 

J: After the Tapani-Jaques trade, last year the trades we saw were motivated by injuries, so that’s hard to predict. Maybe one of the teams with a less secure defense would look to trade a scoring forward? So that’s a second vote for New York.

Maya: I’m not really sure because as J said, it was generally dictated by injuries or players not performing as well as expected. I think the teams are pretty well equipped, but I’d like to see some movement in the middle of the season to try and get some players going! I guess if I had to pick the most likely one, I’m thinking Abi Boreen ends up back in Minnesota where she played last year. 

Elisha: I wouldn’t be surprised to see a deal between Ottawa and New York. I think Emily Clark and Jamie Bourbonnais will end up on the same team at some point. I just don’t know what Ottawa is willing to give up to acquire Jamie.

Geremy: Ottawa and Boston were the most active in the trade market last season and I think that carries over to this season as well. Boston especially is obviously very comfortable making trades, as they made two in-season trades plus one at the draft. Often the biggest predictor of the future is the past, so following that line of thinking, I believe Boston makes a move first. 

What do you think the biggest difference is going to be between last season and this season in terms of on-ice play? 

Mike: I expect special teams numbers to be a lot less extreme than we saw last season. We saw some wild numbers on both ends of the spectrum and I would have to imagine that levels out here in season two.

J: Between their incoming class of elite veteran ‘rookies’ and their new head coach, I’m expecting New York to look different. They could still miss the playoffs, or they could lead the league, I’m not sure, but I’ll put my money on ‘different.’

Maya: I’m ready for the ‘rookies’ from last season to be a lot more successful this year. I think a few of them took a bit of time to warm up from the jump from the NCAA to the PWHL. Players like Adzija and Watts will have taken a few steps forward this season from last. I also agree with Mike about the penalties, I think things will even out. Hopefully we’ll see fewer injuries too, especially if we can get some checking camps in before the season begins. 

Elisha: I think this season will be even more physical than last. The players saw how physical they could be, and teams like Ottawa leaned a lot toward physical play when deciding on their draft picks. I also hope we see more consistent on-ice officiating this season, as I felt last season needed to be more consistent.

Geremy: I alluded to my answer in the last question but I’ll be clear here: I think we see a league that’s gotten even faster. With the players having a season under their belts, an influx of even higher-end talent, and longer training camps, we’re going to see plays happen faster. Last season was a lot of grinding and we didn’t see the puck movement necessary for consistently high scoring chances. That’s going to end here. 

The PWHL is adding two expansion teams for the 25/26 season. What are two cities you’d like to see get those teams? 

Mike: Let’s do Pittsburgh and Chicago.

J: Mike took my picks. I’ll go for Winnipeg and D.C.

Maya: Calgary and Denver (even though this won’t happen because they are too far West right now. A girl can dream!!)

Elisha: Detroit and Québec City.

Geremy: Québec City is begging for a professional hockey team, and with the support the Remparts of the QMJHL get, it feels like a good fit. Hard time picking team number two but I think I’m going to land on Pittsburgh. They are begging for a team and with the Penguins about to go through some rough years, the fans there would really enjoy a competitive team. 

To finish us off, here’s a fun one. When do we see the first goalie goal and who is scoring?

Mike: Klara Peslarová. Does she have a contract right now? I don’t care. I’ve seen her handle the puck and I believe she can make it happen.

J: Abbey Levy, your time is now.

Maya: The GOAT, Ann-Renée Desbiens.

Elisha: The only goalie with a primary assist last season, Emerance Maschmeyer.

Geremy: Maya stole my pick, but I don’t care, so I’m still going with Ann-Renée Desbiens. With how often she leaves her net to play the puck, you figure at some point it’s going to work out for her in terms of a goal.