PWHL releases – The PWHL has released protection lists for Phase 1 of its expansion process, with Seattle’s Hilary Knight, Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield, Boston’s Alina Muller, and Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner among the standout players eligible for the league’s four new tea
Seattle’s Hilary Knight didn’t just make her case on the ice—she made it on a list.
On Wednesday. the PWHL released its Phase 1 protection player lists. and Knight. along with Minnesota’s Kendall Coyne Schofield. Boston’s Alina Muller and Ottawa’s Brianne Jenner. now sit among the names available for the league’s four expansion teams to pursue. The next steps kick off fast: the four new markets—Detroit. Las Vegas. San Jose and Hamilton. Ontario—begin a three-day Phase 2 starting Friday. where they will sign five players each to foundational contracts.
The league’s existing eight teams have a hard limit during this phase: they can lose no more than three players each. Each of those teams had until Wednesday to set their three-player protection lists, including decisions around re-signing players on expiring contracts.
While the expansion draft window opens for some stars, others are staying put.
Minnesota secured Kelly Pannek and Taylor Heise with three-year contracts, protecting a key part of the Frost’s offense. Pannek. 30. led the PWHL this season with 16 goals and 33 points and is one of three finalists for the Billie Jean King MVP award. alongside Ann-Renée Desbiens and Aerin Frankel. Heise, 26, finished second in the league with 30 points and tied for fourth last season with 13 goals.
Seattle chose its own balance of continuity and risk. The Torrent protected forwards Alex Carpenter and Hannah Murphy and defender Anna Wilgren. leaving Knight on the available list after she agreed to leave Boston for Seattle as league expansion approached. At 36. Knight—USA Hockey’s most decorated player—said the Milan Cortina Games gold medal in February was her fifth and final Olympic appearance. She intends to keep her PWHL career going. and the league’s closest market to her Idaho offseason home gives her a potential home-field factor.
Minnesota’s Taylor Heise and Kelly Pannek may be safe for now. but the Frost’s other big decision leaves room for movement. Kendall Coyne Schofield’s three-year stint in Minnesota could end with her set to be available for expansion-team interest. The Frost captain. though from the Chicago area. is married to Michael Schofield. a former NFL offensive lineman who played professionally with the Lions and collegiately at Michigan. Minnesota, for Phase 1 protection, kept goalie Maddie Rooney instead of protecting Schofield.
Boston’s uncertainty is clearer. Alina Muller has seen her future shaped by expansion timing: after three seasons with the Fleet, she is now eligible to be signed by the new teams. Boston protected defenders Megan Keller and Haley Winn, and goalie Aerin Frankel.
Ottawa, meanwhile, carries momentum from its own leadership decisions. Brianne Jenner, the Charge captain for three seasons, is among the available players. Ottawa protected forward Rebecca Leslie, defender Ronja Savolainen, and goalie Gwyneth Philips.
Other protected cores were about holding steady.
The New York Sirens protected their young forwards: Sarah Fillier, Kristyna Kaltounkova, and Casey O’Brien. Montreal kept its veteran spine intact by protecting forwards Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey and goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens. Vancouver protected forward Sarah Nurse, defender Sophie Jaques, and goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.
The Goldeneyes also bring draft positioning into the expansion conversation, holding the No. 1 pick with U.S. national team defender and Olympic MVP Caroline Harvey projected to go first.
In Toronto, stability came through three-year protection decisions. The Toronto Sceptres locked up defender Renata Fast and goalie Raygan Kirk with three-year deals, and also protected defender Ella Shelton.
The lists also reflect how much the league’s new era depends on who is left unprotected. That group is now where the pressure—and opportunity—shifts to the expansion teams.
Phase 2 opens Friday, and the unprotected player pool becomes the battlefield for four new franchises. Each of Detroit. Las Vegas. San Jose and Hamilton. Ontario will sign five players to foundational contracts over the three-day window. With the existing teams limited to losing no more than three players each. every choice on Wednesday’s three-player lists carries consequences that won’t wait for long.
PWHL protected players for Phase 1, by team:
Boston Fleet: Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), Haley Winn (D)
Minnesota Frost: Taylor Heise (F), Kelly Pannek (F), Maddie Rooney (G)
Montréal Victoire: Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F)
New York Sirens: Sarah Fillier (F), Kristýna Kaltounková (F), Casey O’Brien (F)
Ottawa Charge: Rebecca Leslie (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D)
Seattle Torrent: Alex Carpenter (F), Hannah Murphy (G), Anna Wilgren (D)
Toronto Sceptres: Renata Fast (D), Raygan Kirk (G), Ella Shelton (D)
Vancouver Goldeneyes: Sophie Jaques (D), Emerance Maschmeyer (G), Sarah Nurse (F)
PWHL expansion Phase 1 protected list Phase 2 Hilary Knight Kendall Coyne Schofield Alina Muller Brianne Jenner Kelly Pannek Taylor Heise Raygan Kirk Renata Fast
Wait so they’re protecting players from other teams? Kinda like fantasy leagues but real money? lol
Hilary Knight being on the “available list” sounds dumb if she already agreed to go to Seattle. Like why is she even listed then? I’m probably misunderstanding it but still.
This expansion thing is confusing. So Detroit, Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton get to sign five players each, but the old teams can only lose three? That’s not gonna matter if they “lose” people secretly or whatever. Also Kendall Coyne Schofield is huge, surprised she’s eligible?
So basically they’re making a list so teams can grab whoever they want next? I thought the PWHL was already big, but I guess expansion means they’re just shuffling contracts. If Minnesota protected Pannek and Heise then that’s obvious, they’re like the only reason that team scores. Still, sounds like a lot of paperwork for “draft” day.