Muller Candidate For Break Out In Season Two

Alina Muller was already a star in season one of the PWHL, but she might be destined for more come season two. There are many factors that could impact this, but it's a safe bet she'll continue to move forward in the world ranks.

It's a talent that future Hockey Hall of Famer Hilary Knight has seen both as an opponent on the international stage, and now as a teammate with PWHL Boston.

"The way she sees the game is just incredible," said Hilary Knight of Alina Muller. "It's like one to three steps ahead of anyone's one step ahead. It's truly sort of a special budding talent that (Muller) has. She's also an awesome room person and really fun to be around."

"Wants to grow, wants to learn, wants to get better every single day, is like a sponge soaking everything up," Knight added about Muller.

Muller led PWHL Boston in points this season scoring 16 in 24 games on an offensively starved Boston club.

There's a good chance however, that Muller will see a marked uptick in offensive output next season, particularly if she gets moved to the center ice position in Boston, the same spot she played during her five seasons at Northeastern University where she filled her resume with individual and team accolades.

Last season Muller spent significant time on the left wing, but Boston is thin down the middle, and after drafting Hannah Bilka fourth overall in the PWHL Draft, Boston now has a dynamic scorer to take a spot on their left side. They also drafted highly touted Russian prospect Ilona Markova who could slide onto either wing. Couple that with the fact their defensive depth is stronger with the addition of Daniela Pejsova and Sydney Bard who will help activate the attack from the back end, and Boston's all around offensive game is set to improve. It could pay dividends for Muller and her Boston team, who fell in game five of the PWHL finals to Minnesota.

Muller had some impactful moments this season, including scoring the overtime winner for Switzerland to keep them in Group A at the World Championships, and also scoring the game four overtime winner for Boston in double overtime of a 1-0 game to keep their hopes alive.

Her efforts in year one earned Muller a nomination for the PWHL's Rookie of the Year honors. In years to come, she could be challenging for the league's Best Forward or MVP awards. That process could begin during the 2024-2025 season as Alina Muller looks poised to take a leap forward as one of the PWHL's biggest stars.