Top 10 PWHL Rookies of the 2025–26 Season
The 2025–26 PWHL season delivered some truly remarkable first-year talent. From goal-scoring sensations to shutdown defenders, and players who can quarterback a power play, this rookie class has set the bar high. Here’s our countdown of the top 10 rookies of the season — starting at #10 and working our way up to the best first-year player in the league.
#10 — Maddi Wheeler | F | New York
29 GP | 3 G | 7 A | 10 PTS
Maddi Wheeler rounds out our top 10 with a quietly impressive rookie campaign in New York. The forward showed strong instincts as a playmaker, racking up 7 assists across 29 games and proving she belongs in the PWHL’s top forward groups. Wheeler’s ability to generate chances and contribute in all situations gives New York plenty of reason to be excited about her future.
#9 — Natalie Mlynkova | F | Montréal
30 GP | 5 G | 5 A | 10 PTS
Natalie Mlynkova played every single game of the season for Montréal, finishing with an even 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points. Her consistency and reliability made her one of the most dependable rookies on the team. Mlynkova’s all-around effort throughout the full 30-game schedule signals a player who can be counted on night in and night out.
#8 — Kristyna Kaltounkova | F | New York
21 GP | 11 G | 1 A | 12 PTS
The most prolific pure scorer among all PWHL rookies this season, Kristyna Kaltounkova is nothing short of remarkable. In just 21 games — the fewest of anyone in this top 10 — she buried 11 goals, a staggering rate that outpaces every other rookie in the class. If she stays healthy and plays a full season next year, Kaltounkova could easily challenge for league-wide rookie honours.
#7 — Abby Hustler | F | Minnesota
30 GP | 4 G | 9 A | 13 PTS
Abby Hustler played all 30 games for Minnesota and did exactly what her name implies — she worked for every single point. Her 9 assists speak to a forward who reads the ice well and makes those around her better. Hustler’s complete-game play and steady production throughout the season made her an important piece of the Minnesota lineup from day one.
#6 — Sarah Wozniewicz | F | Ottawa
30 GP | 7 G | 6 A | 13 PTS
Sarah Wozniewicz was a bright spot for Ottawa in a full 30-game season, posting 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points. Her balanced offensive game — equally comfortable finishing and setting up — made her one of the most well-rounded forwards in this rookie class. Wozniewicz brought energy and production to the Senators’ lineup every time she stepped on the ice.
#5 — Abby Newhook | RW | Boston
29 GP | 7 G | 7 A | 14 PTS
A standout on Boston’s wing, Abby Newhook delivered a perfectly balanced debut season with 7 goals and 7 assists in 29 games. That symmetry tells the story of a forward who does everything right — she can finish, she can set up, and she never disappears. Newhook’s 14-point rookie campaign cements Boston as a team with serious forward depth for years to come.
#4 — Kendall Cooper | D | Minnesota
30 GP | 2 G | 17 A | 19 PTS
Kendall Cooper was the assist queen of the entire rookie class, leading all first-year players with a jaw-dropping 17 helpers in 30 games. The Minnesota defender showed elite puck-moving ability and hockey sense far beyond her years, quarterbacking the blue line and triggering Minnesota’s offence game after game. Her 19 points as a rookie defenceman is a genuinely elite number — Cooper is the real deal.
#3 — Nicole Gosling | D | Montréal
30 GP | 3 G | 16 A | 19 PTS
Nicole Gosling rounds out the podium with an outstanding full-season performance for Montréal. Playing all 30 games, she compiled 3 goals and 16 assists for 19 points — exceptional production for a rookie defenceman. Gosling’s ability to drive play from the back end and find teammates in prime positions made her one of the most impactful first-year blueliners in the PWHL. The future is very bright on the Montréal blue line.
#2 — Haley Winn | RD | Boston
30 GP | 5 G | 14 A | 19 PTS
Haley Winn had an incredible debut on Boston’s blue line, finishing the season with 5 goals and 14 assists for 19 points in all 30 games. What makes Winn’s campaign especially impressive is her goal total — 5 goals from a rookie defenceman shows a willingness to jump into the play and a lethal shot to match. Combined with her playmaking ability, Winn is one of the most complete rookie defencemen the PWHL has seen and a cornerstone of Boston’s back end for years to come.
#1 — Casey O’Brien | F | New York
28 GP | 7 G | 15 A | 22 PTS
There was no question who the top rookie in the PWHL was this season — Casey O’Brien was in a class of her own. The New York forward put up a stunning 22 points (7G, 15A) in just 28 games, leading all first-year players by a considerable margin and posting a points-per-game rate that had everyone talking. O’Brien’s combination of goal-scoring, elite playmaking, and hockey sense made her look like a five-year veteran from puck drop. The PWHL has a superstar on its hands, and New York fans are very lucky to watch her play.
Casey O’Brien is your 2025–26 PWHL Rookie of the Year.