For PWHL stars, expansion process serves as a reminder that hockey is a business first

Sarah Nurse was shocked when her former Toronto Sceptres teammate, Jocelyne Larocque, was traded to Ottawa on New Year’s Eve. Larocque, a veteran shutdown defender, was someone Nurse and her teammates thought was untouchable. The trade served as a reminder that the PWHL is a business first and foremost, even though historically, women’s hockey hasn’t always been that way.

Now, Nurse finds herself making a move across the country to Vancouver after signing a one-year contract with the new team. She was left unprotected by Toronto ahead of the expansion draft, forcing her to navigate the emotional and business aspects of the game. Toronto, being her hometown, held a special place in Nurse’s heart. It was a city where she had always dreamed of playing professional hockey.

Despite the emotional ties to Toronto, Nurse saw the opportunity in Vancouver as something special. She was drawn to the culture that Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey is building within the team. The expansion draft saw Nurse join nine other players in signing with either Vancouver or Seattle, as both teams gear up for their inaugural season.

The expansion draft left existing teams scrambling to fill the voids left by the players they lost. Toronto fans will miss Nurse, a forward who has made significant contributions on and off the ice. Nurse had difficult conversations with Toronto GM Gina Kingsbury before ultimately deciding to join Vancouver.

Another player making a move is Emerance Maschmeyer, who signed a two-year deal with Vancouver. Maschmeyer had an emotional season with the Ottawa Charge before the injury sidelined her. She sees the move to Vancouver as an opportunity to share the net with Gwyneth Philips and be closer to her family in Alberta.

In Seattle, Hilary Knight is set to lead the new team and help grow women’s hockey in the Pacific Northwest. Knight, who plans to retire after the 2026 Olympics, signed a one-year deal with Seattle. She sees the expansion team as a chance to continue playing professionally and build something special in a new city.

The expansion draft on Monday will see more top talent up for grabs for Vancouver and Seattle. Players like Julia Gosling, Ashton Bell, and Emma Maltais are among those still available. The new teams will have to navigate the draft while staying compliant with the salary cap, ensuring a competitive and exciting season ahead.