As expected, Phase 2 of the PWHL expansion process hit the Minnesota Frost hard. The Frost lost the third leading scorer in the league, Britta Curl-Salemme, and talented young defenders Kendall Cooper and May Batherson. However, Phase 2 didn’t go as poorly as it could have for the Frost. Let’s dive into what the Frost are losing in Curl-Salemme, Cooper, and Batherson, and look ahead to Phase 3.
Losses in Phase 2
In Phase 2, the Minnesota Frost lost the maximum of three players to expansion teams. On Friday night, Britta Curl-Salemme was signed by PWHL Detroit. Curl-Salemme had a breakout year in her second season with the Frost, leading the PWHL in assists (18) and finishing third in the league in scoring. She played throughout the lineup, even sliding into a center spot in the playoffs. Losing Curl-Salemme is a big hit to the Frost’s top six and their center depth.
A day later, PWHL Las Vegas announced that they had signed former Frost defenders Kendall Cooper and Mae Batherson. Both Cooper and Batherson were among the Frost’s best defenders last season. Cooper stepped in as a rookie and led all defenders in assists (17). She was second among Frost defenders in ice time, and she also chipped in six assists on the power play. Cooper just turned 24, and I’d expect her to be a cornerstone on the back end for PWHL Las Vegas for years to come.
Mae Batherson took a big step forward in her second season with the Minnesota Frost. She was fourth among Frost defenders in ice time, and her seven power-play points (1G, 6A) were tops among Frost defenders. Batherson improved in just about every statistical category in her second season in the PWHL. Losing both Batherson and Cooper puts a big dent in the Frost’s defender group going forward.
Current Roster
Here is how the Frost’s roster currently stands heading into Phase 3.
Forwards: Taylor Heise (protected), Kelly Pannek (protected), Abby Hustler, Dominique Petrie
Defenders: Natalie Buchbinder, Sidney Morin
Goalies: Maddie Rooney (protected)
Check out The Ice Garden’s 2026-2027 PWHL Roster Tracker for full team rosters.
Phase 3 preview
In Phase 3 of the PWHL expansion process, existing teams like the Frost can protect an additional three players. Those protections can be used for players who are signed, or for players who are currently unsigned and are signed during Phase 3.
After Phase 2, Grace Zumwinkle, Lee Stecklein, and Kendall Coyne Schofield remain unsigned. If those players are interested in returning to Minnesota, the Frost could sign and protect all three in Phase 3. They could also wait to sign them and use the three protections in Phase 3 on other players. Since there are no more EFO’s (binding contracts), there is no mechanism to force an unsigned player to sign with a team that isn’t their first choice.
Other protection options include Abby Hustler, who had a solid rookie season (4G, 9A, 13P). Sidney Morin is also an option; she was dependable all season and proved her offensive value in the playoffs with four goals in five games. Natalie Buchbinder didn’t put up gaudy offensive statistics for the Frost, but I thought she was one of the Frost’s best defenders in her own zone before her injury. Minnesota missed her ability to break pucks out in the playoffs. Lastly, Dominique Petrie is a solid middle-six center that can chip in offensively when she’s healthy. Petrie played only ten games this season before being shut down with a lower-body injury.
For me, it’s very close between those four in terms of who I’d want to protect, and I could understand an argument to protect any of the four. I think I’d rank the group as follows:
- Abby Hustler
- Natalie Buchbinder
- Sidney Morin
- Dominique Petrie
Phase 3 of the PWHL expansion process begins on June 10th and ends on June 12th.
ETA: After publication it was confirmed by The Ice Garden that Zumwinkle will need to sign in Phase 3.
