Natalie Spooner, Amanda Kessel and 16 other eligible USA and Canadian national team members were left unsigned during the PWHL free agency period.

PWHL Free Agency opened September 1, and it didn't take long for teams to secure their three allowed players prior to the PWHL Draft.

Among the best unsigned players who will now enter the PWHL draft are Canadian star Natalie Spooner and USA star Amanda Kessel. Kessel, 32, has four World Championship gold and an Olympic gold to her name as well as all-star honors from both tournaments, a Patty Kazmaier Award and three NCAA national titles. Teams may have hesitated on Kessel initially due to her new job with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins and decision to step back from Team USA this year. Spooner, 32, similarly is well decorated internationally with two Olympic gold and two World Championship gold along with seven additional medals at those events, and was twice a World Championship all-star.

Beyond this duo, two of the PWHPA's top-five scorers from last season and Canadian national team members Jessie Eldridge and Kristen O'Neill also both remained unsigned. Canada had several other unsigned players including Erin Ambrose, Kristen Campbell, Jocelyne Larocque, Jamie Bourbonnais, Ella Shelton, Rebecca Johnston, Jamie Lee Rattray, and Claire Thompson, as were eligible American national team members Nicole Hensley, Savannah Harmon, Becca Gilmore, and Hayley Scamurra.

No PHF players were signed in the initial round of free agency, with the league's star players and recent signings waiting for the draft as well. Some of the top eligible forwards include Loren Gabel, Kennedy Marchment, Brittany Howard, Sydney Brodt, Amanda Pelkey, Madison Packer, Jonna Albers, Jillian Dempsey, Taylor Girard, Susana Tapani, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Shiann Darkangelo, Jade Downie-Landry, Elizabeth Giguere, Ann-Sophie Bettez, Denisa Krizova, Emma Woods, Katerina Mrazova and others.

On the blueline, PHF standouts like Kali Flanagan, Kaleigh Fratkin, and Aneta Tejralova remained unsigned, as did netminders Corinne Schroeder and Noora Raty.

While 18 national team members were signed, the bulk of the PWHPA will wait for the draft. Many top players including Victoria Bach, Hannah Brandt, Jill Saulnier, Melodie Daoust, Sarah Potomack, Rebecca Leslie, Laura Fortino, Jincy Dunne, and Brigette Lacquette will be in the mix at the September 18 PWHL Draft.

Now, all remaining players who declared their eligibility, will enter the 15 round, 90 player PWHL Draft on September 18. Any player left unselected will immediately become a free agent and have the opportunity to sign with another team or attend a tryout.