9 compelling storylines entering the 2024-25 PWHL season

The 2024-25 PWHL season is just eight days away as the puck drops Nov. 30.

The first season was a hit as the league set women's hockey records and gained notable buzz despite being put together in just a handful of months. Teams now have names, logos, and distinctive jerseys, and a superb draft class increases the talent level even more.

With another great season of hockey ahead, here are nine compelling storylines for Year 2 of the PWHL.

How does Spooner's injury impact Toronto?

League MVP Natalie Spooner starts the season on long-term injured reserve as she recovers from ACL surgery after injuring her left knee in the playoffs against Minnesota.

"It doesn't do us a lot of good to necessarily talk a whole lot about Natalie Spooner right now," Sceptres head coach Troy Ryan told theScore about the PWHL's reigning leader in goals (20) and points (27). "Natalie Spooner is doing everything she can do to get back in. She's gonna be a big part of our team. So whether we have success or not early on, Natalie's gonna be part of that."

Toronto signed marquee free agent forward Daryl Watts in the offseason, a move that mitigates the loss of Spooner out of the gate. Still, there's no replacing Spooner, and there's no timeline for her return either.

Can Ottawa overcome losing Watts?

Watts delivered down the stretch for Ottawa. She registered 15 points in her last 15 games, showcasing the skill and offensive flair that made her one of the most prolific players in NCAA history.

Her selection in the sixth round of the 2023 draft turned into a steal by the end of last season as she transformed Ottawa's offense. But Watts' one-year deal let her test the market in the summer, and she opted to return home to Toronto.

The Charge added second overall pick Danielle Serdachny, who helps make up for Watts' departure, but every team drafted a top player. Whether Ottawa can remain a top-two offensive team without Watts will be key to watch in the early going.

Will Minnesota go back-to-back?

Minnesota slumped into the playoffs with five consecutive losses and benefited from Ottawa's loss on the final day of the regular season. Top-seeded Toronto then chose Minnesota as its semifinal opponent.

After upsetting Toronto, Minnesota defeated Boston to win the first Walter Cup. The stunning dismissal of general manager Natalie Darwitz followed the team's triumph - a decision the public still has little information about - and left Minnesota in a weird place.

The Frost moved forward with new general manager Melissa Caruso and look to defend the Walter Cup with a similar group as last season. Minnesota only added players through the draft and didn't sign any free agents from other PWHL teams.

It will be a tall task to repeat in such a competitive league. But as we saw in the playoffs, Minnesota has the players to go on a run and win a championship.

Are the Sceptres the team to beat?

Toronto enjoyed an 11-game win streak in just a 24-game schedule and was the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, losing in the semifinals after star forward Spooner went down in Game 3 of the best-of-five series.

The Sceptres boast an array of Canadian national team players, coaches, and management. Toronto lured the top free agent, Watts, from Ottawa back to her hometown. As beloved as the Sceptres are in Toronto, they're as hated elsewhere.

Toronto became the team to beat last season. The Sceptres start the campaign with a target on their backs, but another team - say the defending-champion Frost or revamped Montreal Victoire - could easily step into the role.

Will the 'No Escape Rule' be a success?

The PWHL introduced another innovative rule ahead of the 2024-25 campaign Tuesday, nicknamed the "No Escape Rule." When a player takes a penalty, her teammates who are on the ice when play is stopped must remain on until after the ensuing faceoff. If that's confusing, it will look similar to what occurs after an icing.

The change could trap a tired quartet of players on the ice to commence a penalty kill. It could also create power plays that start by facing three forwards and one defender.

Power plays converted at 17.3% in the regular season and only 7.8% in the playoffs. NHL power plays, by comparison, clicked at 21% last year, and the rate remained nearly identical in the playoffs.

Some are fully in favor of the rule. Ryan "loves" the new rule. Others, such as New York Sirens forward Abby Roque, are intrigued by the potential offense it will generate but wonder how it will impact players.

"I'm excited to see it work. I get we're innovative, we wanna take the next step and see things," Roque said, adding there could be a downside for players with penalty-killing roles.

Can Fillier help the Sirens take a significant step?

Sarah Fillier is an MVP-level talent from Day 1. The first overall pick arrives in the PWHL with three World Championship gold medals, an Olympic gold, and an MVP title at the 2023 Worlds on her resume.

The 24-year-old joins a New York Sirens team that finished last but still boasts MVP finalist Alex Carpenter, Defender of the Year finalist Ella Shelton, and Goaltender of the Year finalist Corinne Schroeder.

New York has elite talent to surround Fillier. The Sirens also have a new coach, Greg Fargo from Colgate, and they supplemented drafting Fillier by adding Finnish national team forward Noora Tulus and top Swedish defender Maja Nylen Persson.

The Sirens have the pieces to not just compete for a playoff spot but legitimately contend for the Walter Cup.

Does Knight's production bounce back?

Hilary Knight is the face of U.S. women's hockey. There's no denying her immense impact on the game and her place among the all-time greats.

That's why her lack of scoring last season was so surprising. Knight led Boston in goals, but she only had six. She had 11 points in 24 regular-season games and then none in Boston's run to the Walter Cup Final.

Knight remained her typical self on the world stage with the United States, so there's a lot left untapped by the Fleet.

"Her leadership in our locker room was second to none," Boston head coach Courtney Kessel said. "I don't think we would've created the culture that we have without her in there, and I think her voice and just her presence alone shows these young players what it looks like to be a professional athlete, to be an Olympian, to be successful. Obviously, we wanna see her put a few more points on the board. But I couldn't be happier with her leadership for us last year, and (I'm) really looking forward to that this year."

Do the Victoire believe in their depth?

Montreal defender Erin Ambrose played more than an hour (61:33) of the 111:44 triple-overtime loss to Boston in Game 2 of the semifinals. Kristin O'Neill led Montreal forwards at 52:44. In total, five skaters played more than 50 minutes in the match.

On the flip side, defenders Madison Bizal and Brigitte Laganiere played less than one minute. Fourth-line center Jillian Dempsey was on the ice for a measly 1:37. Six of the team's 19 skaters played less than 10 minutes in a game that went more than five-and-a-half periods.

Needless to say, an overhaul of the team's depth was necessary as head coach Kori Cheverie didn't trust all the players Montreal had to actually play when it mattered most.

General manager Daniele Sauvageau got to work, and six forwards and four defenders are new to the Victoire's roster in camp. If Cheverie grows comfortable with her depth, it will allow her to better manage her top players and get the best out of the entire team.

Expansion for 2025-26?

Amy Scheer, the PWHL's senior VP of business operations, announced earlier in November that the league has started the expansion process for as early as 2025-26.

Where new teams could be located is a wild card. The PWHL remains a single-entity league, owned and operated by the Mark Walter Group. You won't see NHL owners making plays to own a PWHL team, for example. Where the PWHL expands will be decided by the league, then owned and operated by the league.

After playing neutral-site games in Detroit and Pittsburgh last season, the PWHL is bringing its 2024-25 Takeover Tour to nine cities: Buffalo, Denver, Detroit, Edmonton, Quebec City, Raleigh, Seattle, St. Louis, and Vancouver. Expansion locations will likely come from these 10 cities.

"I think wherever women's hockey is gonna thrive and people are gonna respect our game and wanna come and watch, (I) don't care (where the league expands)," Minnesota Frost star Taylor Heise said. "And I will travel anywhere to do that."