PWHL Power Rankings: Each team's biggest early season storyline

This is the first edition of theScore's PWHL Power Rankings for the 2024-25 campaign. Check back for updated rankings each month.

In this edition, we identify every team's biggest storyline in the early part of the season.

Jump to: BOS | MIN | MTL | NYS | OTT | TOR

1. Minnesota Frost (7-2-1, 19 points)

There's been no Walter Cup hangover in Minnesota. The Frost are atop the PWHL standings and are the only club to have beaten every team this season.

The key development for the defending champs: superb play from the first-year skaters.

Defender Claire Thompson, the No. 3 pick in the last draft, is tied for the league lead in scoring despite playing zero competitive games last season as she focused on her NYU medical school studies. However, Thompson isn't eligible for Rookie of the Year as she played two seasons in the PWHPA and is 26 years old.

Second-round forward Britta Curl-Salemme is tied with New York Sirens star Alex Carpenter for the most goals in the PWHL. Dominique Petrie looks like an absolute steal in the fifth round, too. She scored three goals in her first three pro games, but an injury has sidelined her since Dec. 19.

2. Montreal Victoire (6-2-1, 17 points)

Head coach Kori Cheverie was criticized for leaning too heavily on her top players in last season's playoff series against Boston. Erin Ambrose played over 60 minutes in Game 2's triple-overtime loss, while Montreal's third-pairing defenders played under six minutes.

Depth hasn't been an issue for the Victoire this time around. In fact, it's become a strength.

Montreal's third line of Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Alexandra Labelle, and Claire Dalton has produced excellent results at five-on-five. Recent draft picks Abby Boreen and Jennifer Gardiner have been productive out of the gate.

Looking on the back end, Mariah Keopple continues to see her role increase, while rookies Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren have made a mark in the top four.

Considering the Victoire also have defenders Amanda Boulier and Dominika Laskova on long-term injured reserve, Montreal's depth is in great shape compared to last year.

3. New York Sirens (5-3-1, 14 points)

Sarah Fillier has taken the PWHL by storm. She's got an early lead for Rookie of the Year and is a legitimate challenger for league MVP with her four goals and 10 points in nine games.

Fillier has found immediate chemistry with Alex Carpenter. We've often seen the two play on the same ice but on opposite sides as key parts of Team Canada and Team USA. We all hoped head coach Greg Fargo would load up the top line with Fillier and Carpenter, and it's been a treat to watch.

Carpenter was a finalist for MVP last season after leading New York's forwards in scoring by nine points in a 24-game campaign. The veteran was excellent but didn't have a true running mate up front to take her overall impact to the next level.

Carpenter has that now in Fillier. The two have combined to form the league's most lethal duo in the early going and are a significant reason for the Sirens' turnaround from last season's disappointing campaign.

4. Toronto Sceptres (3-5-2, 11 points)

The Sceptres are the only team with fewer than four wins, but are 2-0 against the Boston Fleet and have dismantled the Ottawa Charge twice in recent games.

Natalie Spooner's injury, and to a lesser extent Megan Carter's absence, remain the biggest storylines despite the Sceptres' on-ice woes, which include Kristen Campbell's struggles and a lack of scoring.

Spooner was by far the league's most dominant goal-scorer last season. However, the ACL injury she sustained in the playoffs against Minnesota immediately turned the tide of the five-game series and has hampered Toronto early this season. The lineup has clearly lacked Spooner's finishing ability.

Carter's lower-body injury has gone overlooked. The second-rounder would likely be playing on the Sceptres' second defensive pairing if she was healthy. Instead, Allie Munroe has been forced back into the top four, and an all-rookie third pairing of Rylind MacKinnon and Lauren Bernard has seen limited usage.

Spooner and Carter have been skating for weeks but remain without a timeline for return.

5. Boston Fleet (4-4-2, 12 points)

Hilary Knight recorded 11 points in 24 games last season. In the playoffs, she had zero points and was a minus-6. Seeing an icon of the women's game struggle the way Knight did was confounding, especially considering she notched 10 points at the world championship.

Knight's resurgence this season has been vital for Boston. She has four goals and eight points through 10 games and has played over 20 minutes in every contest. Knight didn't reach her current point total until her 22nd game last season.

Rookie Hannah Bilka has sparked Knight offensively in the way all of the Fleet's staff hoped she would when the club drafted her in the first round. Scoring remains an issue for Boston as they average the fewest goals per game this campaign, but Knight isn't at the center of those problems.

6. Ottawa Charge (4-4-2, 14 points)

The Charge would be in a rough situation in the standings if not for their star netminder. Emerance Maschmeyer has found another level, as she's not only the early favorite for Goaltender of the Year but also a legitimate MVP candidate.

Maschmeyer sports a .933 save percentage in eight starts and has been in the crease for all four of Ottawa's wins. Her best performance of the campaign came on Dec. 31 against the Toronto Sceptres. Maschmeyer made 37 saves as the Charge picked up a key regulation win despite being outshot 38-13.

The veteran netminder has masked some concerning shots against totals and kept Ottawa in close games, even though the Charge have yet to score more than three goals in a contest.