With phase two of the PWHL’s expansion process in the books, the Toronto Sceptres are ready to look ahead. So far, the Sceptres have lost two players from last season’s roster. They’ll now get to protect an additional three players, for a total of six.
Toronto Sceptres’ Key Losses
Forward Jesse Compher signed with PWHL Detroit on June 8. Compher still had one year left on her current contract and joins Detroit on a three-year deal, good through the 2028-29 season. Compher had played in every game in Toronto Sceptres history. She recorded 35 points (16-19) in 84 regular season games and had four playoff points.
The Sceptres also lost pending free agent Daryl Watts. Watts became the first-ever member of PWHL Detroit after signing an expansion foundational offer on June 5. Watts appeared in 57 games for Toronto over the last two seasons, registering 46 points. (Note: since she was a pending free agent, Watts’ signing did not technically count as a player lost for the Sceptres.)
Toronto Sceptres’ Next Protections
Earlier in the process, the Sceptres used their three protection slots on defenders Renata Fast and Ella Shelton and goaltender Raygan Kirk.
Here’s where the Toronto Sceptres roster stands:
- Signed & eligible for protection: Emma Gentry, Jessie McPherson, Natalie Spooner
- Expiring contract, eligible for signing & protection: Elaine Chuli, Maggie Connors, Claire Dalton, Kristin Della Rovere, Kali Flanagan, Anna Kjellbin, Jessica Kondas, Emma Maltais, Lauren Messier, Allie Munroe, Anneke Rankila, Blayre Turnbull, Emma Woods
- Expiring contract, rights held: Hanna Baskin, Sara Hjalmarsson, Clara Van Wieren, Kiara Zanon
If I were general manager Gina Kingsbury, I would sign & protect Blayre Turnbull and Emma Maltais. I’d also sign & protect Kali Flanagan. These are three key pieces of the team’s core and also valuable pieces with experience who would be potentially high-value targets.
Initially, I really wanted to put Natalie Spooner on this list. Spooner isn’t quite back to form after her previous injury, but she’s still a solid piece of Toronto’s offensive core. This past season, she put up eight points in 30 games, including one game-winning goal.
She’s skated in 68 regular season games to date, all with Toronto, registering 40 points. (A whopping 27 points came in the inaugural season.) But her age and injury history are factors, and she hasn’t quite looked the same. In this case, unfortunately, I’d take the chance and leave her unprotected again.
Turnbull was second on the team in scoring last season with 17 points, including nine goals. In three seasons, she’s put up 37 points in 84 regular season games. She’s also scored five points, including four goals, in nine playoff games. Turnbull has previously expressed interest in staying in Toronto:
Maltais is also an original Sceptre. She had 10 points in 30 games this past season. In her PWHL career to date, she has 38 points, including 27 assists, in 84 regular season games. She also had four points in as many playoff games in 2025.
Flanagan, too, is an original Sceptres player. This season, she had seven points (2-5) in 30 games. She also registered 52 shots and 32 blocked shots. Over three seasons, she’s skated in 84 regular season games and has 20 points. She’s also put up four points in nine playoff games.
If the first protection slots focused on defense, it’s time to shore up the offense, especially with the loss of Compher and Watts. Protecting Turnbull and Maltais helps accomplish that, at least until the team can sign more or until the draft. These aren’t easy decisions to make, but a team has to start from somewhere.
