Overview
- Phase 2 of the PWHL’s six-phase expansion process opened June 5 and runs through June 8, letting each new franchise sign up to five players and use one binding Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO).
- Detroit used its EFO to sign Daryl Watts to a four-year deal that includes the EFO minimum first-year salary and bonus, making it the first PWHL contract to extend beyond three years and immediately raising the market floor for top free agents.
- Hamilton has filled most of its Phase 2 slots with veteran leaders and Olympians, signing Brianne Jenner, goalie Kayle Osborne, Alina Müller, Nicole Gosling and Emily Clark to multi-year standard contracts, moves that move players closer to home and reshape Ottawa and other incumbent rosters.
- San Jose has added goaltender Corinne Schroeder, defender Rory Guilday and used its EFO on Kristin O’Neill, while Las Vegas has begun adding defensive pieces, signaling different roster-building priorities across the expansion clubs.
- The Phase 1 rule that existing teams could protect only three under-contract players forced many incumbents to re-sign expiring players and left notable veterans exposed, creating rapid roster turnover that will affect competitive balance ahead of the June 17 draft and the June 19 open-signing window.