OTTAWA, ON - MAY 10: Haley Winn 8 of the Boston Fleet battles Rebecca Leslie 37 of the Ottawa Charge in front of Aerin Frankel 31 in Game Four of the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs on May 10, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire HOCKEY: MAY 10 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs - Boston Fleet at Ottawa Charge EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260510096
OTTAWA, ON - MAY 10: Haley Winn 8 of the Boston Fleet battles Rebecca Leslie 37 of the Ottawa Charge in front of Aerin Frankel 31 in Game Four of the 2026 Walter Cup Playoffs on May 10, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire HOCKEY: MAY 10 PWHL Walter Cup Playoffs - Boston Fleet at Ottawa Charge EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260510096
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) completed Phase 2 of its 2026 expansion roster-building process on June 9. It has been confirmed that six players who received Foundational Player Offers (FPOs) did not sign during this phase. They will now be entering the open market in Phase 3.
The players are forwards Izzy Daniel and Jenn Gardiner of the Vancouver Goldeneyes; Toronto Sceptres defender Kali Flanagan; Seattle Torrent forward Julia Gosling; Boston Fleet forward Susanna Tapani; and Minnesota Frost forward Grace Zumwinkle.
All these players have expiring contracts and were issued non-binding offers as part of the league's formal distribution process.
And the Foundational Player Offer is a non-binding contract offer, which is usually issued to eligible players who have expiring deals during Phase 2.
All six players are now flexible to sign with any of the league's 12 teams, with the existing franchises included when Phase 3 begins. Expansion teams Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose can each sign up to three additional players in this phase.
Expansion Teams Secure Key Players in Phase 2
While the FPO group moves ahead in Phase 3, all four expansion franchises have completed signing up before Monday's Phase 2 deadline.
Detroit secured the strongest spot of the phase by acquiring forward Daryl Watts on a four-year deal through an EFO, which is the longest contract available under such terms.
Detroit also signed defender Cayla Barnes and forward Hannah Bilka from Seattle, Jesse Compher from Toronto, and Britta Curl-Salemme from Minnesota.
Hamilton built a strong core with forward Brianne Jenner and forward Alina Müller among its five signings, and also defender Nicole Gosling from Montréal, forward Emily Clark from Ottawa, and goalkeeper Kayle Osborne from New York.
Las Vegas ended up using its EFO on forward Hilary Knight for a one-year deal. Las Vegas also added defender Erin Ambrose, defender Mae Batherson, defender Kendall Cooper, and forward Hayley Scamurra.
San Jose signed the forward Kristin O'Neill through an EFO, then left the rest of the five Phase 2 signings with forward Anne Cherkowski, defender Rory Guilday, goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder, and forward Maddi Wheeler.
Now the upcoming Phase 3 will allow all eight existing teams to lock in on three additional players for their rosters before a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12.
Before this Phase closes, the expansion teams will have finalized six players each before heading into the inaugural seasons.
Read more at NHL Fan Central!
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Ankita Yadav