PWHL Free Agency is right around the corner. How much movement will there be, what reasons will impact that movement, and how will it impact parity in the league? Here's a look.
With roughly 80 players in the PWHL expected to be free agents and the exclusive re-signing window opening on June 1, it’s believed there have already been some important conversations among players, agents, and teams to negotiate extensions.
But will some of the discussions center around players looking to sign with a hometown team and/or a stronger team? A large portion of PWHL players are from Ontario and Quebec, which just happen to be home to the top two regular-season teams, and another large chunk has ties to Minnesota and Boston, the two finalists. Will this convergence of circumstances disrupt the parity among the six teams, possibly leaving New York and Ottawa even further behind?
Already, PWHL New York is the last-place team and doesn’t have a strong contingent of players from that area. And Ottawa has gathered a collection of international players, especially those Czech teammates who feel comfortable with coach Carla MacLeod. We could expect free agents to explore “going home,” although of course not everyone can be accommodated.
How much will the “hometown effect” influence the top-to-bottom strength of the six teams? The inaugural draft allowed GMs to select players from anywhere, and created a few unusual situations like long-time Boston fixture Jillian Dempsey going to PWHL Montreal, and sentimental Ottawa favorite Jamie Lee Rattray joining PWHL Boston (Rattray is signed for three years, so she won’t be moving unless it’s by a trade).
With the available dollars to attract players in limited supply, an offer that is a few thousand more for one team might not be a reason for a player to move. There’s incentive to stay if the player is in a good position with their team, but there’s also opportunity to be found higher in a lineup like New York’s, or a chance to play on a stronger team if that is the player’s preference. Will any Canadian players want to return closer to their home provinces?
Toronto general manager Gina Kingsbury opted for a strong Hockey Canada contingent on their roster, and if she decides to continue that pursuit, there will be several players that might be on the radar as free agents, like Boston’s Sophie Shirley. Montreal’s Claire Dalton is also from Ontario and was signed last offseason to play for the Toronto Six. They could also make a pitch for Michela Cava, but the incentive for her to leave a championship team for a home province without significant difference in salary might not be there. Cava did however, win the 2023 Isobel Cup with the Toronto Six.
They don’t have to worry in Toronto about Natalie Spooner, who is signed for two years, and although Ottawa’s Katerina Mrazova is a free agent, the built-in comfort she has with the Czech players and coach Carla MacLeod makes it almost certain she will re-sign there very quickly.
Boston’s Lexie Adzija loved her time in Ottawa, but obviously fit in well with her new Boston team and has ties to that area from attending Quinnipiac.
Players in the bottom six or lower defensive pairings could move more for practical considerations like being closer to home, or to find a different/more prominent role on another team. Players in a situation like this might include Samantha Cogan (Toronto) who is from Ottawa, Kayla Vespa (New York) from Hamilton, or Natalie Snodgrass (Ottawa) who’s from Minnesota.
And who makes a pitch for Daryl Watts, who’s already indicated she’s going to explore the market? She might be an interesting player for New York GM Pascal Daoust to target. Watts is an independent thinker who doesn’t follow expectations and might relish the chance to help lift a team like PWHL New York to the playoffs.
There might be a few splashy surprises in store during the first summer of free agency for the PWHL.