PWHL Free Agency: Mid-July Roster Update

After a quick jump off the blocks at the opening of free agency, PWHL Toronto and PWHL Ottawa have continued building their rosters and announcing contracts. PWHL Boston welcomed three new teammates and PWHL Montreal continued their slow and steady approach. PWHL Minnesota and New York have been quiet for a while– in New York’s case, a long while. 

PWHL Boston

Boston entered the off-season with 11 contracts carrying over from year one. They extended five players before free agency began on June 21. In the last few days, they have announced three brand new signings, including two draft picks and one free agent:

Boston signed defender Sydney Bard to a two-year contract. The Colgate University graduate was Boston's fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Boston GM Danielle Marmer described Bard as a mobile defender with a high IQ, and said that her abilities in transition will fit with the team's style.

Boston’s first-round pick, Hannah Bilka, was signed to a three-year contract. After playing four years at Boston College, Bilka won an NCAA title with Ohio State this past March. She has three Women's World Championship medals with Team USA. Although a native Texan, Bilka called returning to Boston 'a dream come true'. 

Boston also announced the signing of free agent Emma Greco, stealing the back-to-back champion from PWHL Minnesota. The six-year pro has played in the CWHL, the PWHPA, and the NWHL/PHF, where she won an Isobel Cup in 2023 prior to winning a Walter Cup in 2024 with Minnesota. In a release, Danielle Marmer called Greco a 'steady, reliable defenseman with proven experience in this league.'

The signings bring Boston’s roster to 19 players: 11 forwards, six defenders, and two goaltenders.

J’s next player up: Boston traded up in the draft to secure Czech defender Daniela Pejšová at the top of the second round. With that show of confidence, locking the 21-year-old down next is a no-brainer.

PWHL Minnesota

With 13 returning players on the books, including seven three-year contract, Minnesota locked down their second and third-round draft picks early in free agency. Since June 21, the team has not announced any new signings. There has been speculation that the team may be in discussion with PWHL Montreal about Minnesota’s first-round pick Claire Thompson and Montreal’s third- round pick Abby Boreen, both of whom have strong ties to the other team. As Minnesota has recently posted a job announcement for a new general manager, we may see a pause before they continue to build their roster.

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Minnesota’s roster currently sits at 15 players: nine forwards, four defenders, and two goaltenders.

J’s next player up: 2024 sixth-round pick Mae Batherson. With only four defenders under contract and Claire Thompson's landing spot up in the air, Minnesota could sign the only other defender they selected in the 2024 draft. A positive, non-controversial showing that things are still moving along in the Twin Cities could be an easy win for the team.

PWHL Montreal

Entering the off-season, Montreal had x players returning on contracts. They announced the signing of 2023 draft pick Lina Ljungblom on the morning of the 2024 draft. Montreal then extended three more returning players and signed their first-round draft pick, Cayla Barnes, on the first day of free agency. A week later, they extended mid-season pickup Mikayla Grant-Mentis.

After the league's holiday break, Montreal announced the extension of Claire Dalton, who scored the first goal in franchise history on January 2. Dalton contributed nine points in her rookie season, including the team's second-ever hat trick. Montreal’s General Manager Danièle Sauvageau affirmed in a press release that the team expects Dalton to continue developing in her second year with the squad.

Montreal’s roster currently stands at 16: eight forwards, six defenders, and two goaltenders.

J’s next player up: Montreal’s second-round pick, NCAA Champion and 2023 Patty Kazmaier finalist Jennifer Gardiner. 

PWHL New York

New York had 11 returning players from the first season before announcing the extensions of Goaltender of the Year finalist Corinne Schroeder the day after the draft and backup goalie Abbey Levy ten days later. Since then, there was silence from the tri-state area until Thursday, when New York announced a three-year contract for second-round draft pick Maja Nylén Persson.

Named the Swedish league's Defender of the Year for the last three years straight, Nylén Persson is a slam dunk for New York’s first free agency signing. A two-time Olympian and current member of the Swedish national team, she brings a host of elite experience and leadership at only 23 years of age. New York's General Manager Pascal Daoust praised her play on and off the puck and her maturity and calmness.

PWHL New York's attentions may have been focused on putting together their new roster of coaches, as they have announced two new signings in that department in recent weeks. Perhaps with those matters settled, more signings will be coming soon.

New York now has 14 players on contract: seven forwards, five defenders, and two goaltenders.

J’s next player up: Sarah Fillier. There’s no doubt that she’ll be signed. My only question is whether it’ll be the three-year contract that Fillier could easily command, or a two-year contract that leaves room for a potential pay raise in the PWHL’s fourth season.

PWHL Ottawa

At the close of last season, Ottawa had only nine players on contract for year two. They announced three extensions before the 2024 draft, then hustled in free agency to extend another player and sign three free agents. After the initial burst, they announced only one additional contract since the league holiday began, but it was a big one.

Kateřina Mrázová was Ottawa’s second-leading scorer in the franchise’s first season. With six goals and 18 points, she finished tenth in the PWHL for scoring. An Olympian and core member of the Czech national team program, Mrázová has played seven years of pro hockey. Ottawa General Manager Mike Hirshfeld called her an elite passer and said that "everyone loves having her on their line."

Ottawa’s recent signings bring them in line with the rest of the league with 17 contracts on record for next season: 11 forwards, five defenders, and two goaltenders. 

J’s next player up: After signing two free agents from Toronto, how about locking down second overall pick Danielle Serdachny? 

PWHL Toronto

PWHL Toronto had 11 returning players for season two, and they didn't wait to start filling out their roster. The regular season champions extended two players and announced two free agents signings by June 21. Then they signed their first three draft picks and a second goaltender. Toronto was already up to 19 players before June was out, and they have added only one more contract so far in July.

Toronto’s third goalie in year one, Carly ‘CJ’ Jackson has been a fan favorite since their first pro season in 2020-21. Jackson was twice named one of the fans’ Three Starts of the Season in the NWHL/PHF, and won a Foundation Award as the player on her team who most exemplified hockey’s core values on and off-ice. Jackson earned similar reviews with PWHL Toronto: the team's General Manager Gina Kingsbury said that “CJ is a great competitor and one of the best teammates who makes our organization better on and off the ice.”

In the release for Jackson’s signing, Kingsbury said that Toronto has completed their goalie trio, indicating that last season’s backup, Erica Howe, will not be returning. In her tenth season of pro hockey, the Ontario native played in three games last year, recording one win and one loss.

Toronto currently has the most players on contract of any team in the league with 20: 12 forwards, five defenders, and three goaltenders.

J’s next player up: After picking up their first-ever player from outside North America in the fifth round of the draft, it may benefit PWHL Toronto to put pen to paper with Czech forward Noemi Neubauerová sooner rather than later. Toronto hasn’t had the kind of reps other teams have had with processing visas.