Concerns Mount Over PWHL San Jose's Offense Ahead of Debut Season

PWHL San Jose heads into its inaugural 2026-27 season with a real question mark up front, and a new breakdown from The IX Hockey lays out just how stark the gap is.

According to the analysis, San Jose's 11 currently rostered skaters, seven forwards and four defenders, combined for just 20 goals and 43 assists across 288 games played last season. That works out to 0.22 combined points per game, well below the other three 2026-27 expansion clubs. Detroit's returning players averaged 0.37 points per game last season, Hamilton's averaged 0.33, and Las Vegas came in at 0.31.

The piece points to a lack of proven scorers as the core issue. San Jose's top returning point producer from last season is forward Natálie Mlýnková, who tallied 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) for the Montréal Victoire. Forward Maddi Wheeler, formerly of the New York Sirens, also reached 10 points last season. Those two are the only players on the roster who hit double digits in points a year ago.

Head coach and general manager Troy Ryan, who took on both roles for San Jose after three seasons behind the Toronto Sceptres bench, has signed players including Anne Cherkowski, Kristin O'Neill, Maggie Connors, Rory Guilday and goaltender Corinne Schroeder as the team builds its roster ahead of its first season.

The analysis credits the team's draft class, led by Laila Edwards, along with Sloane Matthews, Lily Shannon and Reichen Kirchmair, with offering long-term upside, but notes that outside of Edwards, none of San Jose's incoming rookie skaters arrive with senior international experience.

San Jose's roster also skews young, a factor the analysis says could mean growing pains offensively as the team opens its first PWHL season.