PWHL expansion teams secure initial roster spots as Phase 3 concludes

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has completed Phase 3 of its multi-phase expansion roster-building process, marking a significant structural milestone in the league’s growth. The eight existing teams were permitted to protect three additional players during the window that concluded on Friday, bringing their total protected list to six players per franchise. Any free agents required to be protected had to be signed during this specific window, ensuring that the core of each existing roster is now firmly established.

Simultaneously, the four expansion teams—Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose—were permitted to sign up to three more players to their inaugural rosters over the three-day signing window. This move allows the new franchises to secure foundational talent before the next phase of roster construction begins. The league’s structured timeline ensures that both existing and new teams are operating within defined parameters to maintain competitive balance as the league expands.

The next step in the process occurs on Sunday at noon ET, when expansion teams can continue filling out their rosters to reach the target of 10 players. This deadline is critical for Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose as they finalise their initial squads. The phased approach allows for a controlled expansion, ensuring that each new team has a viable roster capable of competing in their inaugural seasons.

While the focus remains on the structural completion of rosters, the list of available talent highlights the depth of the league. Key players such as Abby Roque, Jessica DiGirolamo, Amanda Boulier, Natálie Mlýnková, and Catherine Dubois remain available, alongside others like Blayre Turnbull, Emma Maltais, Allie Munroe, Clara Van Wieren, and Elaine Chuli. The availability of these athletes underscores the competitive landscape as expansion teams look to fill their remaining spots.

Other notable players still on the market include Ashton Bell, Tereza Vanišová, Abby Boreen, Nina Jobst-Smith, and Gabby Rosenthal, as well as Michela Cava, Emma Greco, Brooke McQuigge, Kateřina Mrázová, and Peyton Hemp. The continued availability of talent such as Jessie Eldridge, Jamie Lee Rattray, Ella Huber, Daniela Pejšová, and Liz Schepers suggests that expansion teams still have significant options to consider before the Sunday deadline.

Further down the list, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Natalie Buchbinder, Abby Hustler, Katy Knoll, and Klára Hymlárová are among those available, as are Paetyn Levis, Elle Hartje, Allyson Simpson, Denisa Křížová, and Emmy Fecteau. The pool of free agents includes Aneta Tejralová, Lexie Adzija, Jenna Buglioni, Theresa Schafzahl, and Emily Brown, providing expansion franchises with a wide range of choices to finalise their rosters.

The completion of Phase 3 sets the stage for the final push to fill the remaining spots on the expansion teams' rosters. With the deadline approaching on Sunday, the league’s governance structure ensures that the expansion process remains orderly and transparent, allowing for a fair distribution of talent across the newly formed franchises.