According to the information I have received, Montreal Victoire’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin has restructured her contract with the team, which was set to expire at the end of the season. 

This new agreement, as surprising as it may seem, will not make her the highest-paid player in the league. Indeed, Poulin, who was voted PWHL’s most valuable player and forward of the year in 2024-25, has accepted a salary reduction for the upcoming season. 

The reason is quite simple: to help Montreal balance its budget and comply with the salary cap, in order to have a competitive team and ultimately, to win a first Walter Cup.

And Poulin will not be the only one. Montreal is struggling to make the salary cap for next season and other top players with the team have received the same restructuring contract offer: less today, more tomorrow. 

Poulin A True Leader

Poulin is not the only hockey star to accept less money in hopes of playing with a winning team. Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron, and Martin Brodeur have all done it in the NHL.

Moreover, it is an open secret that Poulin, between her advertising contracts, sponsorships, Team Canada, and autograph signings, was one of the few to earn a good living even before the start of the PWHL.

This does not take away the fact that she agreed to such contract, though. 

On the contrary, it shows how Poulin is more than just a star player. She is a true leader and leads by example. It also demonstrates how Danièle Sauvageau and her team work tirelessly to have a competitive team on the ice, despite losing several players due to the expansion draft and the free agency market.

Trying to Make Everything Fit

Moreover, it’s no coincidence that Montreal is one of the only teams that have not announced any signings among its most recent draftees. The team is trying to make everything fit. 

It’s also my understanding that some recently signed players have accepted to take less this season than they were offered elsewhere and also less than they will make next season. 

The reasons to sign at a discount this year in Montreal are numerous. 

Playing with Poulin is an incentive for many. Playing for a potential Walter Cup champion team is another, as well as doing it in an incredible hockey market like Montreal. Also, let’s not forget that with Caroline Ouellette and Kori Cheverie on both Montreal and Team Canada’s coaching staff, and Poulin being Canada’s captain, it’s not a bad place for a Canadian to get notice. 

In the end, even if Poulin was the highest-paid player in the first two seasons, with a salary hovering around $120,000 US per year, she won’t be next season. Some media reported that Ottawa’s Emily Clark and New York’s Sarah Fillier would be the highest-paid players next year. And while they are not wrong, there is a difference to make between a season's salary and the average annual value of a contract.

Short-term league

Despite the loss of three defence players in Cayla Barnes, Anna Wilgren, and Mariah Keopple, and the loss of top forwards like Jennifer Gardiner and Abby Boreen, Montreal is faring well with the addition of Hayley Scamurra, Shiann Darkangelo, Jade Downie-Landry, as well as young draftees such as Nicole Gosling, and Natálie Mlýnková.

However, with a salary cap of just over $1,342,000 for 23 players (an average of $58,350), it requires a bit of gymnastics and goodwill from everyone. For now, the PWHL is a short-term league and the people in Montreal are working hard to win fast.