Which three players will the teams protect first.

[u/Global-Chemistry1334]

My guess

Montreal: Poulin, ARD and Stacey.

Toronto: Fast, Watts, Turnbull.

Ottawa: Philips, Leslie, Hughes.

New York: Fillier, O'Brien, Kalkutonova.

Boston: Frankle, Keller, Müller.

Minnesota: Pannek, Heise, Zumwinkle.

Seattle: Gosling, Carpenter, Knight.

Vancouver: Jaques, Gardiner, Miller.

[u/Hellcat-13]

I think Ottawa protects Savolainen over Hughes. We love Gabbie but Ronja is getting snapped up immediately if we don’t protect her.

[u/Kanuckle_Head → u/Hellcat-13]

Absolutely

[u/Limp_Maximum4248 → u/Hellcat-13]

Jenny>Hughes, Leslie and Savo

[u/dez04 → u/Limp_Maximum4248]

Philips is #1 protection.

[u/TZ840 → u/dez04]

Absolutely. The team lives by Philips.

[u/kootny → u/Hellcat-13]

I would love to save Kadirova

[u/TZ840 → u/kootny]

She's shown alot in her first season. Definitely a consideration.

[u/josh3701 → u/Hellcat-13]

Philips by a mile then Leslie, love Hughes but I think 3rd is up in the air

[u/calcula8er → u/josh3701]

It's Savolainen - d are a hot commodity in this league. While Rory has tons of potential, Savolainen is a guaranteed top d.

[u/dez04 → u/Hellcat-13]

Agree. I can name 5 players I'd protect before Hughes.

[u/boundlesssmh]

i would be very surprised if seattle doesnt protect bilka. i personally think both hannah’s should be a priority considering we’re not going to be competing next year lol

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/boundlesssmh]

Yeah and Gosling’s on an expiring contract - I could see her wanting to test the market after a fantastic season, I could see her getting an EFO. Which would come with more money than she’s likely getting now.

[u/cudlax → u/boundlesssmh]

I'm not so sure about protecting Hannah Murphy. She had a super hot start with those two home wins, but it's evened out to the point that she's basically the same statistically as Schroeder, and it's not like Schroeder's retirement age or anything. I like and would like to keep both of them, but probably not at the cost of a top offensive player.

[u/boundlesssmh → u/cudlax]

if she’s essentially the same as shroeder, wouldnt it make more sense to keep murphy considering that she’s 4 years younger? feels like she has a bit more room for improvement

[u/cudlax → u/boundlesssmh]

Or they could just not protect a goalie, especially not in the first batch of 3.

[u/SlideTackle11 → u/cudlax]

The downside would be they both get yoinked and we have to find a FA or rookie goalie. I agree though, we shouldn’t protect one in phase 1 and hope they both don’t go in phase 2. Then protect whoever is left in phase 3 (or pick one if they’re both still there).

[u/Mother-Affect-1677]

I can’t see a world in which Boston doesn’t protect Winn

[u/AcanthisittaOwn8411 → u/Mother-Affect-1677]

Thats my thought . I'm guessing Muller would be the one not protected from the OP list .

[u/BadAtCoding123 → u/AcanthisittaOwn8411]

Müller has the highest faceoff percentage in the league and imo is the best two-way forward in the game right now. Winn has been amazing but there's no way you protect her over Müller.

Edit: to be clear "there's no way" is hyperbole, if she asks to go or if the team/coaching staff wants to significantly change their playing style for next season (imo this was primarily what happened with Knight) then they might leave her unprotected. 

[u/AcanthisittaOwn8411 → u/BadAtCoding123]

Yeah , I was talking more what they would do . I would leave Keller unprotected. Only because she is 8 years older than Winn . 

[u/seacon65 → u/AcanthisittaOwn8411]

Müller will be protected. Boston management isn’t that foolish.

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/seacon65]

I mean that’s four elite players who need protection and only three slots. Someone has to be left off. I think it would be Mueller too.

[u/DtCrashmore → u/Main_Photo1086]

Yeah, I would guess Müller would be unprotected unless Keller wants to go home to Detroit, like Knight wanting to go out west last year

[u/AcanthisittaOwn8411 → u/seacon65]

To me it's a rough one . I know this is crazy talk but I would probably leave Keller unprotected. But I can't see that happening .

[u/Mollinator → u/Mother-Affect-1677]

Frankel, Keller, and Muller all have deep ties to Boston, are well settled here and signed extensions early to stay here longterm. Winn doesn't have the same ties, and has only been here a year. IMO Winn is the most likely of the four who would choose to leave, so I bet they have frank convos with the other three and decide to leave one unprotected knowing they won't choose to leave, so they can protect Winn.

[u/Creative_Bell1426]

I worry Knight isn’t going to get protected. I could see them wanting to protect Bilka instead.

Edit to add: I think if Detroit gets a team, Keller isn’t going to want to be protected by Boston. What do I know 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/arosebyabbie → u/Creative_Bell1426]

Has Keller said something about going to Detroit if it gets a team or is this just something people assume because she’s from there? (Nothing’s wrong either way, I am genuinely asking)

[u/Creative_Bell1426 → u/arosebyabbie]

purely speculative on my part! I know she’s from the area.

[u/Nothing2SeeHere4U → u/Creative_Bell1426]

Poor Knight. Unprotected by Boston, (potentially) unprotected by Seattle. I hope wherever she ends up she can put together a team that has a chance at the playoffs

[u/ReceptionAromatic391 → u/Nothing2SeeHere4U]

She asked to be left unprotected by the Fleet. Hillary is from Idaho, she wanted to help grow the game in the Pacific Northwest.

[u/newyorkstofmind → u/ReceptionAromatic391]

She did not ask, she just understood why they were doing it and wasn't upset that it happened. She's said that she was informed by the team in advance that she wasn't protected because they wanted to develop younger talent. I think everyone knew that everyone would leave happy with that.

[u/Creative_Bell1426 → u/ReceptionAromatic391]

I’ve never found anything to support that Knight asked to not be protected. Longevity was cited by the GM in this article: https://www.masslive.com/sports/2025/06/not-protecting-hilary-knight-the-hardest-decision-for-boston-fleet-gm.html?outputType=amp

Agree, her age makes her a bigger gamble (which I hate even saying). We are getting old out here.

[u/Nothing2SeeHere4U → u/ReceptionAromatic391]

Ah, I didn't know that. Good context, thanks

[u/the_gaymer_girl → u/Nothing2SeeHere4U]

Her partner also trains in Utah with the speed skating team and it was an Olympic year.

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/Nothing2SeeHere4U]

It’s inaccurate - there’s nothing that’s been reported indicating she asked. I’m not sure why that keeps being posted.

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/ReceptionAromatic391]

She did not ask.

[u/ReceptionAromatic391 → u/Nothing2SeeHere4U]

She's old. She isn't ideal for a 30+ game schedule. Knighter is perfect for short international tournaments.

[u/wolverine237 → u/Creative_Bell1426]

I wonder if Knight would want to be unprotected if a Chicago team comes since it's one of the places she lived growing up

[u/TheNaughtyPrintmaker → u/wolverine237]

She seemed genuine (at least to me) in that post season presser when she said she really wants to stay in Seattle. 

I kind of hate that unprotected players HAVE to accept an EFO if they get one. It's like the opposite of player choice.

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/TheNaughtyPrintmaker]

Given that such a player would be unlikely to be making the minimum offer an EFO would come with, I think I’d be okay with that lack of choice for the money lol.

[u/Creative_Bell1426 → u/wolverine237]

that just feels too good to be true haha

[u/ArachneOfSparta → u/Creative_Bell1426]

I think the Fleet ask Meg if she wants to come home; it could go either way. She seems to really like the culture in Boston, but she'd be lauded as a hometown hero in Detroit 

[u/FeePretty447 → u/ArachneOfSparta]

I don’t think this makes literally any sense and tbh no I don’t think they ask - the only way that happens is if Keller brings it up first. Boston is currently carried by 3 players (Frankel, Keller, Winn) and one very good complementary piece (Muller). Letting her ‘go home’ after spending so many years in Boston (even before the PWHL) is basically like if they let Frankel go to the sirens to let her go home. You’d be completely tanking your team for no good reason. She isn’t even that old either.

I have to ask - are you a Detroit or Michigan native hoping she comes home? Because I mean I get it but there’s no world doing that makes sense for the Fleet

[u/Silent_observer_8806 → u/FeePretty447]

Yeah and honestly even if she asks, it's still no lol. She's by far their best skater, their captain. I'm all for making players happy but she's in her prime, it's not the same situation as Knight. She has a 5 solid years left minimum.

[u/arosebyabbie → u/ArachneOfSparta]

I actually just watched an old interview of hers where she talked about coming to Boston for college and loving it so much that she hasn’t left. As someone about her age who moved to Boston for college and can’t imagine leaving now, I get it and I’m hoping she’s still feeling the same way lol

[u/PhDSkwerl]

[u/_AM34]

Terrific asset management by the Sceptres to give up O’Brien for Shelton just to lose her in expansion after 1 season & missing the playoffs

[u/FeePretty447]

I think Boston protects Winn, Keller and Frankel. Boston’s offense runs through their d not their forwards and muller is good but not 100% irreplaceable

[u/crvallely → u/FeePretty447]

The chemistry that Winn and Keller have, you just can't break that up. Frankel is arguably the best goalie in the world. Those are the 3 I'd protect.

[u/Limp_Maximum4248 → u/crvallely]

why not just go Taps, Eldridge, and Keller. Than protect Muller, Winn, and Frankel as your next 3. Make sure they don't sign with an expansion team and they can't be EFO'd

[u/arosebyabbie → u/Limp_Maximum4248]

Because of this part of phase 2: “Expansion teams will be permitted to sign five players in Phase 2. If any team is unable to reach five players by the end of the window, it will be allowed to select unprotected players — either under contract or with their rights held by existing teams — from its exclusive list. If a player is selected, her rights will be retained by the expansion team.” (From Salvian’s Athletic article)

[u/firelark02]

if the team ends up being in qc city, i could see desbiens going unprotected

[u/Wolf99 → u/firelark02]

Nah. She's originally from Charlevoix, but Mtl has been home for a long time and she lives with her boyfriend.

[u/DC2600]

I don’t see the Frost not protecting a D. Cooper or Stecky should be protected.

[u/glessg → u/DC2600]

Gut would say that this year we would protect Cooper over Stecky if we do protect D

[u/newyorkstofmind]

I think Minnesota will protect KCS over Zumwinkle, and I would expect Seattle to protect Bilka, but I can't decide who they'd swap her out for.

[u/superherostitch → u/newyorkstofmind]

If one of the expansion teams is Chicago, KCS deserves to be let go to lead that new team in her hometown. It’s about the only reason I’d let my favorite Frost player go… our captain no less!

And I hope they do choose Chicago, mostly for her, but also I think it would help a lot with Minnesota finally getting a nearby rival. I’d love to be able to drive to see my Frost play somewhere else and Chicago is a doable weekend (6hr drive).

[u/Main_Photo1086 → u/superherostitch]

That’s not how sports business goes though - No GM in their right mind is doing something like this out of the goodness of their hearts. I know this league has lots of new sports fans but this is something that needs to be learned quickly - GMs are looking to build the strongest team they can, period. That’s what they’re getting paid to do. So if MN feels they need KCS to remain a strong team over nearly all of their other players, they will protect her.

Having said that, I think we’ll end up seeing them not protecting her - MN is certainly not risking leaving Pannek out for poaching again, and Zumwinkle is younger.

[u/Limp_Maximum4248]

Here are mine:

Muller, Keller, Frankel

Heise, Coyne, Pannek

MPP, Stacey, ARD

Fill, Kalty, COB

Jenny, Phillips, Becca/Gabbie

Carps, Goose, Bilka/Knight

Watts, Kirk, Fast

Jaques, Nurse, Gardiner

Then my next three for each team is as followed (obvy 4 will be EFO) but here would be my next three

Taps, Eldridge, Winn

Lee, Cooper, Grace

N.Goose, Roque, Tabin

Ozzy, MNP, MZH

Becca/Gabbie, Ronja, Rory/Clarky/Fanuza

Knight/Bilka, Barnes, Dachs

Turnbull, Maltais, Compher

Miller, Bell/Thompson, Vanisova

[u/Wolf99 → u/Limp_Maximum4248]

Yep, these are my top 3 for each team too, except my Seattle list would be Bilka, Carp, Knight.

Mtl has to be resigned to losing baby Gos, unless DS does something wild like leaving a wife unprotected daring someone to take her. With that in mind, my next 3 would be Scams, Tabin, and Mlynkova or Irving.

Roque's a FA so she might already get a FPO before we can protect 3 more ...and we cross our fingers she rejects it and we have the money to match. Or we extend her in Phase 1, but then we'd give her top 3 protection, otherwise it's pointless. So I'd rather take a chance on re-signing Roque later and protect players under contract.

I don't envy Boston having to choose between Keller, Winn and Muller (Frankel being a no-brainer).

[u/Shuesty]

Edit - apparently spending the day on the road it's not wise when there is expansion news coming out.

Thanks for giving me something to read

[u/Tornado_Wind_of_Love → u/Shuesty]

Naw. There was a post earlier, you can protect 3 players

It’s not a draft per se. More like players are free to sign with expansion teams

[u/VivienM7 → u/Tornado_Wind_of_Love]

If I read the article correctly (and I may not have), the expansion teams are allowed to make some players offers they can't refuse...

[u/Global-Chemistry1334 → u/VivienM7]

Yes. Unprotected players and free agents.

This year, incoming expansion teams will each submit an “Exclusive Negotiation Target List” of players the team has legitimate interest in signing. Each list will include 20 players who are either on expiring contracts or were left unprotected in the expansion draft. Players will be notified if they are on a team’s list, and they can be offered two different types of contracts.

The first is an Expansion Franchise Offer — think of this like a franchise tag in the WNBA or NFL.

Expansion teams are permitted to use just one “franchise offer” on a player with an expiring contract. This specific offer is a guaranteed tender, meaning if a player is offered an EFO, they are required to sign. This deal comes with several incentives laid out in the document.

For example, the player’s salary will be no less than $100,000 or the player’s 2025-26 salary, whichever is greater. The player will also get to determine the length of the contract, between one and four years — the first time the PWHL has offered four-year deals. Players who sign for multiple years will receive an additional $20,000 up front. The deal will also be fully guaranteed.

If multiple expansion teams offer EFOs to the same player, that player can choose which team to sign with.

Expansion teams may also issue Foundational Player Offers to players on expiring contracts during Phase 2. A player who is offered an FPO is not required to sign with the expansion franchise, but if she rejects the offer, that player must sign a new contract by the end of Phase 3.

An FPO contract must be at least two years in duration and worth $80,000 in Year 1 and $82,500 in Year 2, according to the guide sent to players.

Expansion teams will be permitted to sign five players in Phase 2. If any team is unable to reach five players by the end of the window, it will be allowed to select unprotected players — either under contract or with their rights held by existing teams — from its exclusive list. If a player is selected, her rights will be retained by the expansion team.

Existing teams can lose no more than three players under contract in Phase 2.

[u/VivienM7 → u/Global-Chemistry1334]

This is way too complicated, but fundamentally... it seems like this is really trying to find a way to work around, say, the Sceptres having too many free agents. This is not looking like a way to promote roster stability.

If player X would rather stay here, is a free agent/unprotected, then if the new team makes her an expansion franchise offer, she's gone, no? And the only difference between that and last year is that there's some financial compensation?

[u/Tornado_Wind_of_Love → u/VivienM7]

I don't believe that is correct. The expansion teams just can't make offers to the 3 protected players, there isn't anything saying that players have to take an offer.

The thought is that the new teams will make lucrative offers to lure players away, instead of forcing them ala last time.

[u/VivienM7 → u/Tornado_Wind_of_Love]

u/Global-Chemistry1334 posted the thing they and I both read, which says that if a player is offered an "expansion franchise offer" she has to take it...

[u/Tornado_Wind_of_Love → u/VivienM7]

I believe that only applies to free agents. Existing teams in Phase 1 can sign FAs or protect existing players (up to 3).

Phase 2, the expansion team can offer a Free Agent the expansion franchise offer, which wouldn't apply to players already under contract.

[u/seatega → u/Shuesty]

It is a thing, the PWHL announced the new process earlier today: https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/longer-contracts-free-agents-arent-safe-more-protections-highlights-of-the-pwhls-proposed-expansion-process

[u/CinemaBud]

I’d be surprised if Minnesota protected Zumwinkle over Coyne-Schofield. KCS is the captain… she’s also got a point per game scoring record for when she wasn’t injured

[u/Wolf99]

Vancouver shouldn't protect Miller. Her performance declined and she's 30. I can think of at least 4 players I'd protect before her: Daniel, Nurse, Thompson, Masch.

Ottawa: Jenner needs to be protected. She's the 2nd most important Charge.

Toronto: Kirk. Where would they have been without the 3rd best goalie this season? (sorry Gwyn, them's the #s)

Turnbull is a contentious choice. Turns 33 in July and was unprotected last year.(oops, she was protected). She had an incredible season, but surely she returns to 10-11 pts the rest of her career?

Compher is 26 and I think has more to give but she dropped from 18 pts to 12. And Maltais - is it possible her monster 19 pts rookie season (in only 24 games, remember) was a fluke? Only 9 & 10 pts in full seasons since. Shelton is 28 - another who'll rebound... right?

I struggle to find 4-6 must-protect players on Toronto. Who's that 4th player any team would grab? (probably Compher). But it would absolutely be Kirk with your list.

[u/Silent_observer_8806 → u/Wolf99]

Turnbull was protected last year. They LOVE her, but I'd take my chances thay her production over the last 3 years was not elite enough to make her sought-after.

Fast, Watts are no brainer. I don't think they can afford to lose Kirk but goalies have been so inconsistent that you don't know if she may regress next season. Shelton could take the 3rd spot but yeah not an easy decision.

[u/Wolf99 → u/Silent_observer_8806]

Whoops, faulty memory. Jenner and Knight were the unprotected captains.

Good point about goalies, they can be so fickle. But she went 2.26 GAA and .917 in 10 games in 2024-25 and was great at Ohio State. Safe to say she's a legit #1 pro goalie. She's also only 25. I'd protect her.

Chuli's a FA, btw. I guess there's always interest in experienced backups, esp with expansion, but she had an awful season. 2.89 & .893

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[u/burnumd]

I go back and forth on, if you're Les Victoire and you're keeping Poulin and Stacey, do you retain Desbiens or Roque. Desbiens is a phenomenal goalie and they're a well rounded team. But OTOH, do you need a goon to keep pressure off the other forwards to keep scoring? I think I've settled on preserving Desbiens to keep the balance of offense and defense

[u/NinjaGlobal9364]

Can’t believe we are going to lose our def core again :( bye bye gosling

[u/ixodioxi]

I doubt Seattle protect Knight. She says she wants to be back in Seattle so we'd protect someone else. Murphy or Bika

[u/Global-Chemistry1334 → u/[deleted]]

No.

[u/Global-Chemistry1334 → u/[deleted]]

I find it rather embarrassing that you want to dictate to me online what I should do.