In the process of expanding the PWHL to include two new teams, the original six rosters were flipped on their heads and shaken down for all they were worth.
Boston, New York, Minnesota, Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal all suffered sizable losses for Vancouver and Seattle, who had their pick of top players due to the league’s laissez-faire approach to protections.
The original six teams could protect three players initially, then a fourth once they had lost two to expansion, meaning many of the league’s stars found new homes. Among them was Fleet captain and MVP finalist Hilary Knight, whom the Fleet chose not to protect in favor of maintaining their younger core and building around Alina Müller.
Teams then had an opportunity to rebuild their rosters through free agency and the PWHL entry draft.
The free agent signing period opened June 16 and is ongoing. Signings will pause Friday at 2 p.m. and resume July 8 at 9 a.m.
Here’s a look at the Fleet’s departures and acquisitions during the tumultuous expansion period, plus projected lineups heading into next season:
DEPARTURES
The loss of Knight to Seattle was the shot heard ’round the league, but the Fleet quietly lost a few other stars.
Five defenders from the 2024-25 roster — Sydney Bard (Vancouver), Emily Brown (Seattle), Emma Greco (Vancouver), Jess DiGirolamo (Montreal), and Sidney Morin (Minnesota) — are headed elsewhere. The expansion teams poached Bard and Brown during the exclusive signing period, while Greco, DiGirolamo, and Morin were on expiring contracts and signed in free agency.
Forward Hannah Bilka signed with Seattle after a standout rookie year in which she netted five goals and added six assists in 16 games. She’ll be joined in Seattle by forward Lexie Adzija, who spent the past season and a half with Boston as a physical two-way player.
It’s also worth noting the Fleet are on the hunt for a new coach. Courtney Kessel left to take over the Princeton women’s hockey program after leading Boston to a 27-19-8 record over its first two seasons.
ACQUISITIONS
The Fleet recouped their losses by signing six players thus far in free agency: three forwards, two defenders, and a goalie.
Boston announced its first two signings, forwards Chloe Aurard and Liz Schepers, on June 18. Aurard, who inked a one-year deal, spent the past two seasons with New York and will reunite with Müller, her former Northeastern linemate. Aurard had two goals and two assists in 27 games with the last-place Sirens last season.
Schepers, who scored the winner for Minnesota in Game 5 of the past two Walter Cup Finals, signed a two-year deal. She had two goals and four assists in 27 games last season.
Rounding out the forward group is Laura Kluge, who signed a one-year deal June 20. Kluge joined Toronto on a training-camp invite in 2024, but didn’t sign a contract until February.
The Fleet also added defenders Rylind MacKinnon (Toronto) and Zoe Boyd (Ottawa), and goaltender Abbey Levy (New York), all on one-year contracts. At the end of her three-year stint at Boston College, Levy held the program records for save percentage (.940) and saves per game (31.96).
Boston also made six selections in the PWHL draft, using its first-round pick on Clarkson defender Haley Winn, named the 2024-25 ECAC Player and Defender of the Year after she finished second among NCAA defenders with 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games.
Also taken were forwards Ella Huber (Minnesota), Olivia Mobley (Minnesota Duluth), and Abby Newhook (Boston College); defender Riley Brengman (Ohio State); and goaltender Amanda Thiele (Ohio State).
STAYING PUT
Susanna Tapani, Theresa Schafzahl, and Jill Saulnier — all forwards who were on expiring contracts — signed one-year extensions.
QUESTION MARKS
Six players from last season’s roster remain unsigned: Emma Söderberg, Klara Peslarova, Loren Gabel, Amanda Pelkey, Jillian Dempsey, and Kelly Babstock.
Söderberg and Peslarova, both goaltenders, will not return to the PWHL this season and intend to sign with teams in the Swedish league, a team source told the Globe.
Dempsey and Babstock spent most of last season on reserve contracts and made nine appearances each in game action. Gabel appeared in 20 (2 goals, 1 assist), while Pelkey had 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 25 appearances.
PROJECTED LINES
Forwards
Chloe Aurard-Alina Müller-Hanna Brandt
Jamie Lee Rattray-Susanna Tapani-Shay Maloney
Jill Saulnier-Ella Huber*-Olivia Mobley*
Theresa Schafzahl-Liz Schepers-Laura Kluge
Abby Newhook*-Sophie Shirley
Defenders
Megan Keller-Haley Winn*
Zoe Boyd-Daniela Pejsova
Rylind MacKinnon-Riley Brengman*
Hadley Hartmetz
Goaltenders
Aerin Frankel
Abbey Levy
Amanda Thiele*
*Denotes rookie
Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy.