The PWHL stated that existing teams were to submit a 10-player Negotiation List, which were to be the only players they could negotiate with during Phase 1. According to communication sent to players by the PWHLPA, that's no longer the case as all pending free agents are now free to negotiate.
The PWHL unveiled their "Expansion Player Distribution Process Manual" this week, which stated that on May 28, all teams were to submit a 10-player Negotiation List.
Those lists however, will not limit teams from speaking to any player in the league on an expiring contract, regardless of whether or not they appeared on the Negotiation List.
In a communication to all players, PWHLPA Executive Director Malaika Underwood clarified that all pending free agents, regardless of whether or not they're on a 10-player Negotiation List are free to begin actively negotiating contracts and speaking to all PWHL teams, including expansion and existing teams.
"Players on expiring contracts do not need to be included on the "Phase 1 Master Negotiation List" referenced in the league's manual in order to negotiate with all 12 teams during Phase 1," Underwood wrote in an email to players obtained by The Hockey News.
It's a stark contrast to the league's own public manual that stated "Only Players on the Phase 1 Master Negotiation List* can be contacted and signed in Phase 1."
The PWHLPA sent their own player guide to the league's player pool to help clarify the PWHL's Manual that the league made public. Underwood said that as outlined in the player guide, "players on expiring contracts may negotiate with any team during Phase 1, including both existing teams and expansion teams."
The only stipulation now, is that players may only sign with an existing team during Phase 1, and existing teams remain able to only sign or protect up to three players during Phase 1.
When Phase 2 opens late this week, the PWHL's four expansion teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose will then be able to officially sign players. Many of those deals may get worked out during Phase 1, but cannot become official until Phase 2.
It means that for the league's 117 pending free agents, all are now eligible to begin negotiating contracts with their previous team, another existing team from the eight who played in 2025-26, or the four expansion teams who will begin play next season.