PWHL Expansion Tracker: Every Player Who Signed a New Deal in Phase 1

The Professional Women’s Hockey League has entered a major expansion phase, with new franchises in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose preparing to build their inaugural rosters. The league’s six-phase roster process began Tuesday, allowing the existing eight teams to sign and protect three players each before expansion teams can start selecting talent. Protection lists are due Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, and teams must sign any player on an expiring contract before the end of Phase 1 if they want that player protected. Players with expiring deals are free to negotiate with any existing team during this window, and any player signed in Phase 1 automatically counts toward a team’s three protected spots.

Several major signings were reported as teams moved quickly to secure key players.

The Minnesota Frost locked in two of their top forwards, Kelly Pannek and Taylor Heise, each to three-year contracts. Pannek had a standout season, leading the league with 16 goals and 33 points while continuing to shine as one of the PWHL’s most dependable two-way forwards. She also helped Minnesota capture two Walter Cup championships and set a single-season PWHL scoring record. Heise, the first-ever pick in the PWHL draft in 2023, also signed through 2029. At 26, she already has back-to-back titles, playoff MVP honors and 65 career points in 78 games, tied for second all-time in league scoring. Her 2025-26 season was her best yet, with career highs of 13 goals and 30 points.

The Seattle Torrent retained Alex Carpenter on a three-year contract. Carpenter, one of the league’s most accomplished centers, led Seattle with 12 goals and 20 points and dominated faceoffs, finishing with 745 draws and 440 wins, both league-best numbers. She also added to her résumé with an Olympic gold medal for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Games. Carpenter remains one of the PWHL’s elite offensive players and a cornerstone for Seattle as the franchise continues to shape its identity.

Toronto also made two important moves, keeping defender Renata Fast and goaltender Raygan Kirk on three-year deals. Fast, last season’s Defender of the Year, remains one of the league’s top all-around blueliners, valued for her heavy minutes, physical play and penalty-killing ability. Kirk emerged as Toronto’s starter in her second season, posting a .934 save percentage and 1.87 goals-against average, among the best numbers in the league. Her strong play after a slow start helped keep Toronto in contention until the final day of the season.

In Vancouver, Sarah Nurse signed a two-year extension, staying with the Goldeneyes despite speculation she could have returned closer to home as the league expanded east. Nurse remained Vancouver’s most dangerous forward when healthy, tying for the team lead with nine goals despite missing 11 games and finishing with 15 points in 19 games. Her presence had a clear impact on Vancouver’s five-on-five results, helping the team outscore opponents with her on the ice.

With expansion looming, these early signings signal how aggressively PWHL teams are working to protect their stars and establish long-term cores.