Broadcasting deals, agents being compensated, Peslarova to the PWHL, roster shuffling the norm and more. Here's this week's PWHL Rumblings from Ian Kennedy.

It's another week of PWHL action, and work behind the scenes and on the ice continues. Roster shuffling from reserve to full time contracts has become a norm, an American national broadcasting deal was struck, the top netminder in the world outside the PWHL has declared her intent to come to the PWHL, a preseason memo deemed "dangerous to players" has been reversed, and the PWHL has taken over the national interest of fans from the Rivalry Series.

Here's what we're hearing and seeing from across the league this week.

Roster Changes Continue

Jill Saulnier is back off long term injured reserve for New York, Dominka Laskova is on LTIR for Montreal, Catherine Dubois was signed in Montreal, Alexa Gruschow is back to being a reserve in New York. Lauren Bench signed a contract in Minnesota, while Nicole Kosta was made a reserve in Boston, and Samantha Isbell signed a 10-day SPA in Boston. It seems like in the absence of a developmental league and as injuries continue to mount, the cycling of players between standard contracts, and reserve positions will become a regular aspect of player life in the PWHL.

PWHL Announces First National Broadcast Deal In The USA

This week the PWHL announced an exclusive broadcasting deal with Women's Sports Network, the league's first national media partner in the United States. 

“The PWHL is young and vibrant, and our games feature world-class athletes with compelling stories to share. We know WSN will tell those stories exceptionally well,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior VP of Business Operations. “This partnership will connect PWHL games and content with the ever-growing audience on WSN’s platforms, creating a true destination for outstanding coverage of our sport and our league.”

WSN also covers leagues and tours such as the LPGA, NWSL, USGA, Big East Conference, US Ski & Snowboard Association, and World Surf League.

"The work that the PWHL has done to elevate professional women’s hockey is incredible..." WSN President Carol Stiff said about the partnership, which broadcasted its first game February 14.

Best goalie in the world targeting the PWHL

Last week we reported a list of players unlikely to join the PWHL from Europe. We also listed players who had made their intent clear. This week, one of those players has jumped to the other side of the fence as netminder Klara Peslarova, widely considered the best goaltender in the world not playing in North America, has made her intentions clear that she wants to come to the PWHL next season. Peslarova signed with Hectate Hockey Group this week, an agency that represents several PWHL players, and it's clear her sole motivation with that move is to jump to North America next year. Peslarova was an Olympic and World Championship All-Star in 2022, and was the SDHL's top goaltender in 2022. This season she's again starring for Brynas, but her contract expires following the year. With Peslarova joining graduating NCAA goaltender of the year Gwyneth Philips, PWHL teams will need to take a long look at who they've committed to in the crease, because upgrades are certainly available for those who have question marks.

Preseason Memo Reversed Providing Lower Paid Players Protection

A preseason memo sent to players by the PWHL which agents called "extremely dangerous to players," has been reserved The Hockey News has learned. The memo, sent to players by the PWHL on behalf of the PWHLPA restricted compensation of agents for players making less than $50,000 this season, which is the majority of the PWHL. Agents and players felt this would provide less support and protection for the league's most vulnerable players who were already set to enter with no guaranteed contracts, and wages that were already well below national average salaries. Agents are now allowed to be compensated by all players in the PWHL, according to sources, which will ensure that all players maintain representation and have advocacy through their agents.

PWHL Takes Over Fan Following

The Rivalry Series is still exciting hockey, but from our own standpoint here at THN, readership and engagement for the PWHL has far surpassed that of the Rivalry Series this season. When the PWHL took their 10 day break recently, metrics fell. When the puck dropped on the return of the PWHL this week, numbers skyrocketed. Certainly international hockey will continue to capture the hearts of women's hockey fans as the international game has been the glue that held the movement together over the past two decades, but the fan and reader excitement for the PWHL is unrivalled.