Kelly Pannek is proving that old habits—and old talents—never really fade away.

During her college days, Pannek made a deliberate choice: sacrifice offense to become a shutdown specialist. That decision turned her into a fixture on the U.S. national team, a three-time Olympian starting in 2018, and one of women's hockey's premier defensive forwards. But eight years later, as the Minnesota Frost prepare to defend their Walter Cup title, Pannek has rediscovered the scoring touch she once set aside—and she's now leading the entire league.

In a PWHL packed with offensive firepower like Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, and her own teammates Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield, Pannek has risen above them all. Heading into Saturday's playoff opener against Montreal, the two-time defending champion Frost are powered by a player who leads the league with 16 goals and a record-setting 33 points. She's also just one assist shy of completing a rare hockey triple crown—a feat rarely seen in the men's or women's game.

"I think more than anything, it's reassuring and confidence-building to know that I used to be someone who was often relied on to provide offense for teams, and I still am that player," Pannek said. "I just needed to kind of re-find it, I guess."

Her 33 points in 30 games this season have already surpassed her combined total from her first two PWHL seasons (7 goals, 27 points in 54 games). And here's the remarkable part: her offensive surge hasn't come at the expense of her defensive game. Pannek finished sixth in the league with a plus-13 rating and won 59.3% of her faceoffs (341 of 575), ranking third among players with 200 or more draws.

Frost coach Ken Klee admits he didn't see this coming—at least not at this level. "From the beginning of the year, she seemed different," Klee said. "Our very first coach's meeting, we had her in the office, and she just seemed lighter, she seemed more energetic. I really think she just said, 'Hey, I'm going to play free, and if it's time to play offense, I'm going to play offense.'"

For Pannek, the journey back to the scoresheet has been a reminder that versatility is its own kind of weapon. As the Frost chase a third straight Walter Cup, that rediscovered offensive flair might be the edge they need to keep their dynasty alive.