We hope everyone enjoyed their one PWHL-free week, because there's no rest for the weary as expansion means we head straight into offseason hot stove time. Team protected lists are due to the league by Tuesday at 12 PM Eastern. Expansion teams have a five-day exclusive signing window that starts Wednesday, June 4 at 9 AM Eastern and ends Sunday, June 8 at 5 PM Eastern.
The can sign a maximum of five players in that window and there is no required minimum. Any unprotected player or any player on an expiring contract is eligible to be signed.
The expansion draft is one week from today - Monday, June 9 and 8:30 PM Eastern. Seattle and Vancouver will select until each has reached a 12-player roster. Players eligible to be selected in the Expansion Draft consist of unprotected players under contract for the 2025–26 season or those whose playing rights are held through the 2025–26 season.
It's time to let all the speculation begin and we decided to make both lists of who we think each team will protect and which players we think they'll lose either through free agency or the expansion draft.
You could say we each had a different approach to making our lists...
Nicole Haase: Whew this was hard. It’s really difficult to keep this strictly need- and stat-based and not let sentimentality play into it.
Liz Koetting: I’m letting sentimentality play into it because I don’t care about reality. Heh.
Sam Gray: I chose based on vibes, players I like and how cool their names are.
... though we mostly ended up with the same picks in the end.
We didn't pick a fourth protected player because so much of what else happens in free agency and the expansion draft mean there are too many variables.
There's plenty to argue here and I'm guessing at least one team will surprise us, but the lesson in making these lists was that every team is going to lose at least a player or two we can't imagine wearing any other jersey.
Boston
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Aerin Frankel Hilary Knight Alina Müller | Aerin Frankel Hilary Knight Alina Müller | Aerin Frankel Hilary Knight Alina Müller |
Players They’ll Lose to Expansion | Hannah Bilka Klára Peslarová Megan Keller | Jamie Lee Rattray Hannah Bilka Megan Keller | Megan Keller Jamie Lee Rattray Hannah Bilka |
Minnesota
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Taylor Heise Lee Stecklein Sophie Jaques | Kendall Coyne-Schofield Taylor Heise Sophie Jaques | Taylor Heise Sophie Jaques Lee Stecklein |
Players They’ll Lose to Expansion | Grace Zumwinkle
Claire Thompason
Michaela Cava | Maddie Rooney Michela Cava Claire Thompson | Brooke McQuigge Claire Thompson Michaela Cava |
Montréal
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Marie Philip Poulin Ann-Renée Desbiens Erin Ambrose | Ann-Renée Desbiens Marie-Philip Poulin Laura Stacey | Marie-Philip Poulin Ann-Renée Desbiens Erin Ambrose |
Players They’ll Lose to Expansion | Laura Stacey
Cayla Barnes Abby Boreen | Jennifer Gardiner Erin Ambrose Cayla Barnes | Laura Stacey Jennifer Gardiner Cayla Barnes |
New York
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Sarah Fillier Alex Carpenter Ella Shelton | Sarah Fillier Alex Carpenter Ella Shelton | Sarah Fillier Ella Shelton Alex Carpenter |
Players They’ll Lose to Expansion | Jessie Eldridge
Maja Nylen Persson
Abby Roque | Jessie Eldridge Abby Roque Micah Zandee-Hart | Jessie Eldridge Corinne Schroeder Paetyn Levis |
Ottawa
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Gwyn Philips Emily Clark Gabbie Hughes | Emerance Maschmeyer Emily Clark Gabbie Hughes | Emily Clark Emerance Maschmeyer Gabbie Hughes |
Players They’ll Lose | Ronja Savolainen
Danielle Serdachny
Tereza Vanišová | Gwyneth Philips Tereza Vanišová Ronja Savolainen | Gwyneth Philips Tereza Vanišová Kateřina Mrázová |
Toronto
| Nicole | Liz | Gray |
Players They’ll Protect | Blayre Turnbull Daryl Watts Renata Fast | Daryl Watts Renata Fast Blayre Turnbull | Renata Fast Daryl Watts Blayre Turnbull |
Players They’ll Lose | Hannah Miller Sarah Nurse Savannah Harmon | Hannah Miller Sarah Nurse Jesse Compher | Hannah Miller Sarah Nurse Izzy Daniel |
