Fleet Announce Player Protection List For PWHL Expansion Process

The Boston Fleet and the five other inaugural PWHL teams began the 2025 expansion roster building process Tuesday.

Each of the six teams submitted the three players who would be protected from selection in the exclusive signing window and the expansion draft. The Fleet chose to protect goalie Aerin Frankel, defender Megan Keller and forward Alina Müller.

Here are the player protection lists from the other PWHL teams:

Minnesota Frost: Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Taylor Heise (F), Lee Stecklein (D)
Montréal Victoire: Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F)
New York Sirens: Sarah Fillier (F), Ella Shelton (D), Micah Zandee-Hart (D)
Ottawa Charge: Emily Clark (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D)
Toronto Sceptres: Renata Fast (D), Blayre Turnbull (F), Daryl Watts (F)

Teams initially can protect three players through the expansion process and once a team has relinquished two players, they are permitted to protect one additional player. Players eligible to be protected must either be under contract for the 2025–26 season or the team must hold their playing rights through the 2025–26 season.

Boston can select one of these players as its fourth protected pick: Sydney Bard (D), Hannah Bilka (F), Hannah Brandt (F), Emily Brown (D), Hadley Hartmetz (D), Hilary Knight (F), Shay Maloney (F), Ilona Markova (F), Daniela Pejšová (D), Jamie Lee Rattray (F), Sophie Shirley (F).

One of the most notable names on the list is Knight. The Fleet captain announced the 2026 Winter Olympics would be her last. However, the 35-year-old’s club career would continue, but there is a chance one of the expansion teams could select her to lead their franchise.

The Seattle and Vancouver franchises will acquire a combined four players from each of the six inaugural team rosters. The exclusive signing window begins Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET and concludes Sunday at 5 p.m. The expansion draft will be held Monday at 8:30 p.m.

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