According to a new report, the PWHL gave Natalie Darwitz three options to help buy time to plan an exit strategy. The situation involves influence from head coach Ken Klee, captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, and confusion from players who loved Darwitz.

The plot continues to thicken when it comes to not only why PWHL Minnesota general manager Natalie Darwitz was removed from her role, but more specifically, how. 

As previously reported by The Hockey News and Minnesota's Star Tribune, the decision came after a push from PWHL Minnesota head coach Ken Klee and captain Kendall Coyne Schofield sought to have Darwitz removed.

Their reasoning remains unknown, as the players The Hockey News and other outlets have been able to reach for comment spoke primarily in support of Darwitz.

A new report has surfaced from The Athletic however, explaining some of the options the PWHL presented to Darwitz in order to create an exit strategy and mitigate the current upheaval.

As The Athletic reported, "during a meeting with league officials, Darwitz was offered multiple options." Those options included "Take a position in the PWHL hockey operations department, issue a joint statement in which she would announce she had achieved everything she wanted in the first year of the franchise and was moving on to a new challenge or sit at Minnesota’s table for Monday’s PWHL draft but with no authority."

The tactics devised by the PWHL came in conjunction with an outside consulting firm according to the report.

According to one source, a player on PWHL Minnesota's roster, quoted by The Athletic, they stated Darwitz "was a pillar for me during a really tough season...When I felt I was spoken to inappropriately or I witnessed behavior and language that was way out of pocket, Natalie listened emphatically and always encouraged me both on and off the ice. This is a big hit to our team and I know several girls can attest to that. I’m extremely shocked and confused that she was let go.”

According to previous reports and sources, Ken Klee interviewed for both a head coaching job and general manager role prior to the PWHL's inaugural season but was not hired for either role. It was only following a similar ousting of previous Minnesota head coach Charlie Burggraf that Klee was brought in.

Now, Klee will serve as the acting general manager for PWHL Minnesota at the upcoming draft and heading into PWHL free agency.

Continue to follow The Hockey News for updates on this developing story.