<p>We are just weeks away from PWHL training camp and the buzz is building. Between the Minnesota Frost’s quest for a threepeat, the Canada-US tensions in an Olympic season, and the debut of two new West coast expansion franchises, we’re in for great hockey and high drama this year.</p>



<p>With camp rosters released this week, let’s have some fun and break down how each team is shaping up heading into the season using a comparable NHL franchise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Minnesota Frost – Florida Panthers</h2>



<p>This one’s easy. Both the Panthers and the Frost enter their respective seasons coming off back-to-back league championships, hungry for a third. At the same time, both will be doing it with notable absences. For Florida, that comes in the form of injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. For Minnesota, it’s key players like Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson that they lost to expansion. Still, these two tough, physical teams know how to grind out wins. Players like Britta Curl and Sam Bennett play dirty, but play skilled. They can’t be counted out to get the job done when it counts.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vancouver – Edmonton Oilers</h2>



<p>Expectations are high for PWHL Vancouver’s inaugural season. Just like the Edmonton Oilers, they look primed to be an all-around offensive powerhouse, with Canadian legend Sarah Nurse leading a team that includes two top goalscorers in Hannah Miller and Tereza Vanisova, and offensive defenders Jaques and Thompson. In between the pipes, Emerance Maschmeyer and Kristen Campbell are reminiscent of Stuart Skinner: goalies with high ceilings that are somewhat inconsistent. In their first year of play, can PWHL Vancouver overcome the hurdle the Oilers haven’t been able to and win it all?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New York Sirens – San Jose Sharks</h2>



<p>The New York Sirens are in the midst of a soft rebuild, if you can even call it that two years into franchise history. This summer, they traded defender Ella Shelton to add another first-round pick, selecting the top two forwards in the draft with Kristyna Kaltounkova at first overall and Casey O’Brien at third. The pair join 2025 PWHL Rookie of the Year Sarah Fillier, and just like the San Jose Sharks, now boast a trio of burgeoning offensive talent. In between the pipes, both the Sharks and the Sirens have a 23-year-old goaltender poised to become one of the top tenders down the road. In the NHL the future may be teal, but in the PWHL, it’s turquoise.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="211"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Montreal Victoire – Dallas Stars</h2>



<p>On paper, the Montreal Victoire should probably have a Walter Cup by now, or at least have come a little closer to one. They’re led by a mix of star veteran offensive pieces and young guns, and have one of the best goalies in the game. But just like this iteration of the Dallas Stars, they keep stalling in the playoffs. Inevitably, the age of these teams’ leaders will soon show. Can they get the job done before that happens?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toronto Sceptres – New Jersey Devils</h2>



<p>The Toronto Sceptres are an exciting, if undeniably messy team to watch. Just like the New Jersey Devils, they have a strong forward group and offensive-minded defenders with the potential to put on a show on a given night. But in the crease, they’re entering the season without a tested number one goaltender. Similar to the Devils, the Sceptres could face some issues on the back-end this season that may hurt them come playoff time.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ottawa Charge – Nashville Predators</h2>



<p>Just like the Nashville Predators, it’s hard to know what to expect from the Ottawa Charge this season. After the Charge’s roster was gutted in expansion and free agency, they’re left with strong veteran presence, a top offensive piece in Emily Clark, and a rising star goaltender in Gwyneth Philips. Will it be enough to rise above some of the league’s other strong rosters, or will they suffer a similar fate to that of the Predators’ last season?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seattle – New York Rangers</h2>



<p>Just like Vancouver, Seattle stole a whole lot of talent this summer. Washington state’s newest franchise boasts veteran talent in Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, and growing offensive pieces like Hannah Bilka, Danielle Serdachny, and defender Cayla Barnes. Add to that an A+ starter in Corinne Schroeder, and it’s clear this roster is stacked. Like New York, Seattle brings size, strength, veteran presence, and high compete from front to back. They should be an exciting team to watch this season.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="158"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boston Fleet – Calgary Flames</h2>



<p>After missing the playoffs last season and losing Knight in expansion, the Fleet are left with aging forwards and a young defensive group, with their blue line led by a big, strong player in Megan Keller, just like Rasmus Andersson in Calgary. Most importantly, like the Flames have in Dustin Wolf, the real star of the show for the Fleet is 26-year-old American goaltender Aerin Frankel. With her backstopping this team, they are capable of stealing wins and surprising teams, even if they don’t have the strongest roster to boast in front of her.</p>



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