The PWHL announced their expansion rules. The rules, which only allow the existing six teams to initially protect three players, and a fourth after two players from their roster are relinquished, heavily favours the two expansion teams, and will gut the talent and dismantle the core of each of the league's existing teams.

When you look at each of the PWHL's existing rosters, it's easy to see that each team will lose significant stars, and that for the first protection in particular, extremely difficult decisions will need to be made. Here's a look at the most pressing scenarios for each team.

Boston Fleet

If the Boston Fleet protect their inaugural signings of Hilary Knight, Megan Keller, and Aerin Frankel, it means the team would be certain to lose Alina Muller and Hannah Bilka with the first two picks in expansion. The next issue for Boston is choosing who they'd protect after losing two key members of their core. If there's even a tiny silver lining in this situation that will gut Boston, it's that they should still have a chance to sign Susanna Tapani in free agency, although they'll now likely have to offer a significant raise to get her back. It makes sense that Boston would protect Daniela Pejsova next, but that's not a given considering how the team disregarded her development this year. It seems unlikely an expansion team will target Jamie Lee Rattray due to her contract, making it more plausible to see a defender like Emily Brown, or a forward like Shay Maloney who can play key minutes in a specific role chosen. Either way, Boston's loss of talent will be crippling to a team who has already struggled to score. It's highly likely Boston gets to pick second in the draft handing them Haley Winn or Kristyna Kaltounkova. 

Minnesota Frost

The biggest issue in Minnesota will be the decision of what defenders to protect. It's highly likely the Frost protect Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield. The problem comes with choosing one of Lee Stecklein, Sophie Jaques, and Claire Thompson knowing you will lose the other two instantly. Minnesota has leaned more heavily on Stecklein, and she is in their core with Coyne Schofield, but exposing two of three defender of the year nominees, or Stecklein who could have easily been a nominee for the award makes Minnesota a significantly worse team.  Once this initial group is picked, Minnesota will need to secure their final protected player, which will be one of Britta Curl-Salemme, Kelly Pannek, or Grace Zumwinkle. Minnesota will then likely lose the other two although it's possible both expansion teams will avoid picking Curl-Salemme to not start on the wrong foot with their fan bases. Nicole Hensley could be picked as a goaltender for one of the expansion clubs if they choose to avoid Curl-Salemme, although there may be equally capable options with lower price tags. That includes waiting to sign Maddie Rooney or Elaine Chuli.

Montreal Victoire

Picture this. Montreal protects their inaugural three of Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens. The result is a gutted blueline losing Erin Ambrose and Cayla Barnes, and risking the loss of free agent defenders Kati Tabin, Mariah Keopple, and Dominika Laskova. The alternative, which given the blueline questions Montreal could face, is that the team protects Poulin, Desbiens, and either Barnes or Ambrose. This scenario means Montreal would almost certainly lose the other defender and Laura Stacey, separating Stacey and Poulin, who are linemates and wives. After their initial picks, Montreal will need to look at protecting Jennifer Gardiner, or if they chose to protect their top line forwards, they may then need to secure Anna Wilgren. The result would be Montreal losing two of Jennifer Gardiner, Anna Wilgren, Maureen Murphy, Lina Ljungblom, Kristin O'Neill, or Abby Boreen. It's less likely O'Neill and Murphy become those picks given their inflated contracts.

New York Sirens

This is a no win situation for the New York Sirens who will likely see their hopes of winning a Walter Cup launched back to 2022 when no such thing existed. New York will almost certainly need to protect Sarah Fillier, but then risk another contract dispute that could see her walk after this season. They will also almost certainly protect two of Alex Carpenter, Ella Shelton, and Corinne Schroeder. The result will be New York losing Carpenter or Shelton. The next to leave their mix will likely be another defender. Seeing an expansion team pick from Micah Zandee-Hart, Jaime Bourbonnais, or perhaps even Maja Nylen Persson is something New York will want to avoid, but at the same time can handle. Where the expansion teams go next, and who New York will protect next is less of a given. It seems likely New York would use their next protection on one of Jessie Eldridge, Jaime Bourbonnais, or Micah Zandee-Hart. The other two will be gone, as well as one of Maja Nylen Persson, Abby Roque, or a young player like Ally Simpson or even Kayle Osborne considering she's on a cap friendly three-year deal. There won't be much left of New York's core when this is done, and they'll need Kristyna Kaltounkova or Haley Winn to play savior. Expect New York to pick Kaltounkova if they protect Shelton, and Winn if they protect Carpenter.

Ottawa Charge

There's a mess brewing in Ottawa. This city will not be pleased to see their core dismantled following the team's first trip to the Walter Cup finals. Ottawa will likely protect Gwyneth Philips, but following this pick, there aren't many easy answers. Emily Clark looks like a lock for protection, leaving the team to look at one of their defenders. Ashton Bell might be the logical player averaging more than 30 minutes a night in the playoffs, second only to Jocelyne Larocque. As impactful as Larocque was this season, and as costly as she was to acquire, protecting a player who is 37-years-old seems less likely. It would not be surprising to see an expansion team pick Emerance Maschmeyer with their first, and perhaps target the youthful upside of Danielle Serdachny, despite her numbers this year, with their second. Next up for Ottawa would be protecting Larocque, or Brianne Jenner. Regardless, Ottawa is set to lose four players from Maschmeyer, Larocque, Jenner, Serdachny, Aneta Tejralova, Ronja Savolainen, and Katerina Mrazova. Savolainen's three-year cap friendly deal might make her a prime candidate, and Mrazova's injury history will probably save her. 

Toronto Sceptres

Toronto will protect Renata Fast. That's pretty much all we know. With Daryl Watts having another season at a near league minimum salary remaining, she's a logical second protection. After this, it's Blayre Turnbull or Sarah Nurse. Toronto will likely lose three of Nurse, Turnbull, Emma Maltais, and Julia Gosling. After two of those players are selected, Toronto would be able to only protect one other. Their final loss will likely come from the blueline with either Savannah Harmon or Allie Munroe getting picked. If there's one saving grace to Toronto's netminding debacle at the end of the year, it's that it will almost certainly save one or both, and Toronto is unlikely to protect one or both. The other major losses to Toronto's lineup could come through free agency with Hannah Miller, Kali Flanagan, Jesse Compher, Hayley Scamurra, and Natalie Spooner all available. Expect Spooner to stay put. It's highly likely Hannah Miller ends up in Vancouver either in the exclusive free agency period or after. Jesse Compher could be a target of both teams after the drafts, and it would be shocking to not see Kali Flanagan listen to offers. Toronto has no money to offer and they've reportedly offered a pay cut to at least one of those significant free agents to stay.