Expansion Draft Announcement
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has unveiled the list of players safeguarded in the upcoming expansion draft for the new teams in Seattle and Vancouver. This announcement, made on a Tuesday, reveals that each of the league’s six pre-existing franchises was allowed to shield three players from being chosen in the draft or being signed during a designated pre-draft signing period.
Protected Players Criteria
Only players who are under contract until the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season, or whose rights are retained by their current team, could be included on this protected list. Importantly, players nearing the end of their contracts are exempt from being picked.
Draft Details
Beginning Wednesday, both Seattle and Vancouver will have a five-day opportunity to recruit a maximum of five players. This window allows them to target any unprotected player, which includes those on contracts that are about to expire. As the expansion draft approaches on June 9, both clubs are mandated to select a minimum of seven players to form a roster of 12. Should either of the new teams enter the draft with a lesser number of contracted players from their recruiting period, they will receive extra slots to ensure they reach the required total.
Impact on Established Teams
During this transition period, each of the PWHL’s six established teams will lose a total of four players from their 2024-2025 lineups. Below is a breakdown of the players who have been protected:
Protected and Available Players
- Protected: Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F), Ann-Renée Desbiens (G)
- Available: Renata Fast (D), Blayre Turnbull (F), Daryl Watts (F)
- Protected: Emily Clark (F), Ronja Savolainen (D), Gwyneth Philips (G)
- Available: Taylor Heise (F), Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Lee Stecklein (D)
- Protected: Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), Alina Müller (F)
- Available: Sarah Fillier (F), Ella Shelton (D), Micah Zandee-Hart (D)
Conclusion
The upcoming expansion draft marks an exciting chapter for women’s professional hockey, providing fresh opportunities for expansion teams and fostering competitive dynamics as players shift between franchises.
