The deck shuffling continued across the PWHL as teams prepare to field vastly different rosters than they did last season.
PWHL expansion has resulted in massive changes across the league to personnel, and while the internal movement ramped up on the first day of free agency, more is set to take place as trade talk heats up, and as teams struggling to sign during free agency turn their attention to the entry draft and secondary free agents.
Here’s a look at what we know after day one.
The Rich Got Richer In Vancouver
Cara Gardner Morey had a master plan. It involved picking up a select group of stars in the expansion signing window, followed by diverse role players in the expansion draft, and then going heavy offensively in free agency.
Not only did it work to build her team, it also crippled the ability of half the league to retool. On the first day of free agency Vancouver locked in Hannah Miller and Tereza Vanisova, and are reportedly set to add Michela Cava.
Montreal Targets Their Blueline
Montreal re-signed Kati Tabin and grabbed Jessica DiGirolamo from Boston to begin rebuilding a blueline that lost Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren in expansion, and will lose at least one more member in free agency (more on that tomorrow).
Toronto Keeps Key Players
Toronto was able to re-sign Kali Flanagan and Jesse Compher on the opening day of free agency, a pair of significant moves for the team that saw a wealth of talent head west. Toronto has not been linked to many free agents on the opening day of signing.
Defense A Focus Across The League
Teams that didn’t add to their blueline on the opening day of free agency may be in trouble. Boston got Zoe Boyd and another soon to be announced defender, and Minnesota brought in Sidney Morin. New York didn’t need help on the back end but were quiet to open free agency, while Ottawa struck out.
Who lost the battles?
On the opening day of free agency, some teams were far more successful than others. It was a hard day for the Ottawa Charge and New York Sirens. Across the league there was a lack of predictability as players repeatedly turned down higher paying contracts in favour of specific markets. Tereza Vanisova was perhaps the most coveted forward in the league receiving offers from most teams. Ottawa and Boston were in the mix, but ultimately Vancouver won this one. It’s believed Ottawa was also in on Jesse Compher and had talks either Natalie Spooner as well.