Another PWHL expansion process is almost upon us, with PWHL Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose all joining the league ahead of the 2026-27 season. However, unlike last year, the PWHL will not hold a traditional expansion draft, instead opting for a six-phase process. Every existing team will protect three players by the end of Phase 1, which begins on June 2. A negotiation window opens on June 1 at 12 p.m. ET, during which all 12 teams can negotiate with any of the ten players they included on a list they submitted to the league yesterday, which will remain confidential to maintain competitiveness. However, only existing teams can sign players during Phase 1, and any player signed will count as one of their three protection slots.
Looking at how the Boston Fleet may handle Phase 1, it’s unlikely they will choose to sign any free agents, as they have four players under contract who all warrant a protection slot. They have other players signed, but they’re unlikely to be plucked away during the Phase 2 selection period, should it be necessary. That puts them in a better position than several teams, but they still face a difficult decision on the surface. However, once you dive into it, the three players Boston should protect become fairly clear.
Who is Most at Risk?
Contracted Players/RFAs Whose Rights Boston Holds
Aerin Frankel, Megan Keller, Haley Winn, and Alina Müller are likely the only contracted players who warrant being on an expansion team’s Phase 2 20-player Exclusive Negotiation Target List (ENTL). Players on that list who are under contract or whose rights are still held by a team are the only ones the expansion franchises can select during the Foundational Roster Completion, which is a selection process that will be triggered should any of the expansion teams not sign five players by the end of Phase 2. Abby Newhook (RFA on an expiring contract) and Daniela Pejšová (signed through 2026-27) are probably the most likely others in this category to land on an ENTL, but they should not be protected over the other four.
Other players still under contract: Ella Huber (F), Shay Maloney (F), and Liz Schepers (F).
Other RFAs whose rights are held by Boston: Riley Brengman (D), Olivia Mobley (F), and Amanda Thiele (G).
Free Agents
As for free agents, the only player that might warrant a binding Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO) is Jessie Eldridge. However, even that is not a guarantee, with each team only allowed one. Otherwise, there are the Foundational Player Offers (FPO), which Eldridge and Susanna Tapani are likely in line for. However, Boston would have the opportunity to sign any Fleet player offered an FPO to a contract worth at least 90% of the FPO, should they have the cap space and the player prefers to stay.
Boston has 12 other free agents, but none of them have put together seasons that are truly worth the minimum FPO salary of $80,000 in Year 1 and $82,500 in Year 2. Jamie Lee Rattray made $84,872 this past season and is arguably the most likely other Fleet FA to receive an FPO, given what she brings on and off the ice. However, her 33 points in 84 career regular-season games almost certainly put her in line for a significant pay cut, even with her excellent leadership qualities.
Other UFAs: Mia Biotti (D), Zoe Boyd (D), Loren Gabel (F), Hadley Hartmetz (D), Laura Kluge (F), Abigail Levy (G), Rylind MacKinnon (D), Noemi Neubauerová (D), Jill Saulnier (F), Sophie Shirley (F), and Olivia Zafuto (D).
So, Who Should the Fleet Protect?
Aerin Frankel (G)
Protecting Frankel is the no-brainer of all no-brainers. The Goaltender of the Year and Billie Jean King MVP Award finalist is the backbone of the Fleet. She plays in all but a few games every season while putting up sparkling numbers. In 2025-26, she posted a league-leading eight shutouts, while her video game-esque 1.17 GAA and 0.953 SV% were narrowly behind Montréal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens for the league lead. Frankel signed a contract extension last offseason through 2027-28, and she was the highest-paid goaltender in the league last season, making $92,500, but she’s worth every penny. Without her, Boston would’ve been scrapping for the playoffs at best this season instead of being the first team to clinch and finishing tied for first place. In short, Boston should never and will never willingly let her go.
Megan Keller (D)
Protecting Keller is almost as much of a no-brainer as protecting Frankel. Not only is she their captain, but she’s one of the best all-around defenders in the league. And, unlike Knight last year, who they exposed in favor of Müller, Keller is still in her prime at 30 years old. Keller led all PWHL defenders in scoring this year with 22 points in 30 games, and became just the second defender in league history to cross the 50 career point threshold. She did that while sitting tied for third in hits and logging big minutes in all situations, finishing second in the league with 799:32 TOI this regular season, just 3:02 behind her teammate and frequent partner Haley Winn for the league lead.
Like Frankel, Keller signed a contract extension last offseason through 2027-28. She was the Fleet’s highest-paid player last season, taking home $105,000, but she was worth it. While some questioned if she may want to play near her hometown of Farmington Hills, MI, in Detroit, Keller has made it clear she wants to stay in Boston, saying on breakup day that if she’s lucky, she’ll get to spend her whole career in the city she has called home since college. She is an indispensable player both now and in the future, and on and off the ice. Just like Frankel, she’s not someone the Fleet should ever or will ever let go willingly.
Alina Müller (F)
The biggest question the Fleet face is whether to protect Winn or Müller. However, it should be Müller in that third protection slot. The Fleet are already not a high-octane offensive team, with precious few high-end forwards. Someone has to create offense, and there are few better playmakers in the league than Müller. That’s not even mentioning that she has quite a shot herself when she decides to let it fly. In addition, Müller’s face-off skills and two-way play are invaluable, and she can elevate any linemate she plays with.
Müller is also the only Fleet offensive star still under contract next season, having signed an extension last offseason through 2027-28. She was Boston’s most expensive forward, earning $95,000 last season, but she was worth every penny of it. The 28-year-old is the Fleet’s all-time points leader with 16 points and 40 assists in 80 career regular-season games. That’s six points ahead of defender Megan Keller in second place and 12 points ahead of center Susanna Tapani in third (excluding Tapani’s five points with PWHL Minnesota in the inaugural season). In short, Müller is not only the Fleet’s best forward, but she’s one of the best centers in the world. She’s not the kind of player to let go for free, especially from a team that struggles offensively.
Which Makes the Odd One Out…
Haley Winn (D)
Unfortunately, protecting Frankel, Keller, and Müller exposes Winn. The 22-year-old had an outstanding rookie season for the Fleet, and she’s a finalist for both Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year to show for it. Her 19 points tied for third in defense scoring and second in rookie scoring with two of her fellow rookie defenders, Montréal’s Nicole Gosling and Minnesota’s Kendall Cooper. In addition, she led not just the Fleet, but the entire league in time on ice with 802:42 played across 30 games, or 26:45 per game, while finishing fourth in blocked shots with 45. She was a force for the Fleet at both ends of the ice in all situations, and she is one of the best young two-way defenders in the game.
Losing her for nothing in expansion would be a massive blow to the Fleet, simply put. However, at the end of the day, they’re going to have to expose an extraordinary player that they would never let go willingly. Defense is the only position where the Fleet currently have multiple bona fide stars still under contract. Having Keller makes a hole left by Winn slightly easier to paper over than one left by Müller, although it’s still a massive void to fill.
Final Thoughts
In an offseason where the Fleet are yet again looking for a new head coach while experiencing significant roster upheaval, protecting a superstar at each position is the best way for them to go. You need someone to build around at each position, and Boston is lucky to have some of the world’s best already under contract. In addition, maintaining a core group of leaders is vital when the team is changing so much, and Keller and Müller both wear letters for a reason. They are vital parts of building and maintaining the team’s strong culture, as is Frankel, even though she is not allowed to wear a letter. As difficult as exposing Winn will be, Boston needs both the on-ice impact and leadership of the other three more right now.
Luckily for Boston, they will at least have a chance to keep most of their high-end players should they want to stay, but there will still be a few significant losses. They will almost certainly lose whichever one of Winn or Müller is exposed. It’s also unlikely they’ll be able to keep both, and maybe not either, Tapani and Eldridge from an expansion team, although their odds are a little better if it’s Müller’s salary that comes off the books. Any of those losses will hurt. However, having the ability to at least try and keep most of your high-end players is not the worst position to be in when roster upheaval and significant losses are guaranteed.