PWHL Lays Out Six‑Phase Expansion Process as Seattle Simulation Predicts Major Roster Turnover

Overview

• The PWHL published a six‑phase expansion roster process that replaces a single expansion draft with staged protection lists, foundational signing windows, a team re‑signing period, and a final open signing period.
• Expansion clubs can make binding two‑year foundational offers with a set minimum pay floor, a rule designed to give new teams early leverage in assembling rosters.
• A Sound Of Hockey simulation applying the new rules to the Seattle Torrent projects a likely protection trio of Hannah Bilka, Danielle Serdachny, and Hannah Murphy and shows players such as Cayla Barnes and Corinne Schroeder as vulnerable to selection.
• Unrestricted free agents including Hillary Knight, Alex Carpenter, and Theresa Schafzahl are eligible to sign with expansion teams in the early windows, raising the risk that established veterans will depart their current clubs.
• Because expansion teams must sign multiple foundational players before the draft and fill out rosters in a compressed series of deadlines, existing teams will face quick contract decisions that are likely to produce substantial roster change next season.